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Cheaper gas helps to tame inflation (MARTIN CRUTSINGER, 8/16/07, The Associated Press)

A big drop in the cost of gasoline in July contributed to the smallest rise in consumer prices in eight months.

Consumer prices, which had been surging earlier in the year, edged up a tiny 0.1 percent last month, the smallest advance since prices were flat last November, the Labor Department reported Wednesday.

Core inflation, which excludes volatile energy and food, was also well-behaved, rising by just 0.2 percent, the same as June.