Inflation Held in Check in Southland

Alan Greenspan, take note: Inflation seems to be well under control in Orange County.

Consumer prices in the greater Los Angeles area, which includes Orange County, rose just 1.5% in the year ended in September, the U.S. Department of Labor reported. So far this year, prices have gone up 1.4%, compared with a 2.3% increase in the same period last year.

The biggest factor behind rising prices lately is gasoline prices, which jumped 6.4% from August, following a 6.5% spurt the month before, the agency said. They’ve shot up 14.6% in the region since September 1996.

Apparel prices rose from August to September, as usual, but remained 4.5% lower than a year earlier. Food prices remained fairly steady on a monthly basis and are up moderately from last year.