U.S. consumer price gains slowed by more than anticipated in January, decelerating closer to the Federal Reserve’s 2% target level, thanks in part to a fall in energy prices.Headline U.S. consumer prices rose by 2.4% in the twelve months to January, compared to estimates of 2.5% and December’s pace of 2.7%. On a monthly basis, the Labor Department’s consumer price index -- a key gauge of U.S. inflation -- increased by 0.2%, versus economists’ expectations that it would match December’s rate of 0.3%. An uptick in shelter and food costs accounted for much of the monthly increase, but were partially offset by a drop in energy prices, the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics said. Stripping out volatile items like food and fuel, so-called "core" CPI rose 2.5% year-on-year and 0.3% month-on-month, in line with forecasts, as higher prices for services like air travel and medical care were tempered by lower costs of used cars and trucks, household furnishings, and motor vehicle insurance.