The Labor Department announced on Thursday the U.S. consumer price index (CPI) was unchanged m-o-m in September, following a 0.1 percent m-o-m increase in the previous month.

Over the last 12 months, the CPI rose 1.7 percent y-o-y last month, the same pace as in the 12 months through August.

Economists had forecast the CPI to increase 0.1 percent m-o-m and 1.8 percent y-o-y in the 12-month period.

According to the report, gains in the indexes for shelter (+0.3 percent m-o-m) and food (+0.1 percent m-o-m) were offset by declines in the indexes for energy (-1.4 percent m-o-m) and used cars and trucks (-1.6 percent m-o-m) to result in the seasonally adjusted all items index being flat.

Meanwhile, the core CPI excluding volatile food and fuel costs edged up 0.1 percent m-o-m in September, following a 0.3 percent m-o-m gain in the previous month.

In the 12 months through September, the core CPI rose 2.4 percent, the same pace as in the 12 months ending August.

Economists had forecast the core CPI to rise 0.2 percent m-o-m and 2.4 percent y-o-y last month.