The U.S. Consumer Price Index for the month of February was relatively contained at +0.3%, rising less dramatically than the previous month as energy prices were well behaved, while core prices again rose +0.3% on widespread strength, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday. Energy prices fell 0.2% in February compared with a 3.9% rise in January, "largely as a result of a downturn in the index for utility natural gas -- down 2.4% after increasing 17.4% in January," the BLS said in the release. This was the biggest decline in energy prices since the 2.5% drop in August 2000.