US inflation flat on lower petrol prices US consumer prices held steady in April, in line with estimates, as declines in fuel costs offset rising prices of food, clothing and housing. The core consumer price index, which strips out food and energy costs, edged 0.2 per cent higher, also as expected, according to labour department statistics. In March, CPI had increased 0.3 per cent as the cost of food and petrol continued to climb, while core CPI rose 0.2 per cent. Last month's easing was driven by petrol prices, which fell 2.6 per cent, the biggest decline in six months. Food prices and housing costs both edged up 0.2 per cent. US retail and food services sales rose 0.1 per cent to $408bn, as analysts had forecast, according to a commerce department report. The rise was slower than the March increase of 0.7 per cent, but sales were 6.4 per cent above April 2011. Motor vehicle sales lifted the overall figure, gaining 0.5 per cent in April after a 0.2 per cent gain the previous month. Petrol sales declined 0.3 per cent, following a 1 per cent increase in March. Sales excluding the auto sector rose 0.1 per cent last month. Building materials and garden supplies sales were weaker in April after a strong month in March. But furniture and home furnishings, sporting goods and book and music stores all saw increases. Also on Tuesday, the New York Federal Reserve's Empire State manufacturing index rose to 17.09 in May from a five-month low of 6.6 in April. This beat expectations of a level of 10. The survey polls 175 manufacturing executives in New York State on the first of every month as a gauge of the region's economic health. Readings above zero indicate expansion in the manufacturing sector.