inflation rate

Consumer prices jumped 4.2% in the 12 months through to April, up from 2.6% in March and marking the biggest increase since September 2008.

The report from the US Labor Department comes amid fears that rising consumer prices could push up interest rates.

Some analysts said that the figures could be rising because of temporary factors like supply bottlenecks.

Inflation, which measures the rate at which the prices for goods and services increase, was pushed up by higher prices for cars and food in April.

The Reserve Bank says domestic inflation fell by 4.3 percent, which it attributed to lower food prices, as well as cheaper household operations components.

The rate of inflation for imports was much smaller -- 0.4 percent -- which it attributed to lower transport costs partially due to falling global oil prices.