consumer price data showed that inflation remains lowdespite a tight labor market, bolstering the likelihood theFederal Reserve would keep interest rates unchanged. The U.S. consumer price index rose for the first time infour months in February, but the pace of the increase wasmodest, resulting in the smallest annual gain in nearly 2-1/2years. The central bank uses the core personalconsumption expenditures (CPE) price index to track inflationagainst its 2 percent target, but Tuesday's CPI readingnevertheless offers insight into the state of U.S. inflation.