The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition that inflation eased slightly last month. An Associated Press dispatch to The Globe reports that consumer prices rose 0.3 per cent in December, the same as November, according to the Labor Department. Core prices, excluding food and energy, increased 0.2 per cent, also matching the prior month. If this pace continues, inflation could approach the Fed's 2-per-cent target. Even with easing inflation, rising costs for essentials like groceries, rent and health care have left many U.S. households feeling squeezed, making affordability a political issue. Food prices have surged about 25 per cent since the pandemic. Tuesday's report is the first clear measure of inflation since September, as a six-week government shutdown halted price data collection. Consequently, there were no reports in October, and November's figures were affected by the shutdown. Most November prices were collected in the second half of the month after the government reopened and holiday discounts began, potentially lowering inflation. As well, since rental prices were not fully collected in October, placeholder estimates used in November may have further biased prices down, according to economists.