The report said consumer prices inched up by 0.1 percent in July after falling by 0.4 percent in June. The uptick in consumer prices matched economist estimates. Excluding the slump in energy prices and an uptick in food prices, core consumer prices rose by 0.2 percent in July after coming in unchanged in June. The annual rate of growth by core consumer prices slipped to 2.5 percent in July from 2.6 percent in June. The modest monthly increase in core consumer prices reflected higher prices for shelter, medical care, airline fares, communication, education, and recreation, while prices for motor vehicle insurance decreased.