Food prices rose 0.2 percent, mostly because of higher costs for meat, poultry, fish and eggs.

But without the volatile prices for food and energy, the core index for consumer prices remained flat, as they did in March. Over the 12-month period that ended in April, the core index rose 0.9 percent, which economists said was the lowest it has been since the 1960s.

Image Energy prices led the decline, falling by 1.4 percent in April, the Labor Department said. Credit... Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press

Other costs that fell in that period included housing, down 0.7 percent, and apparel, down 0.9 percent, the largest decline of all the nonenergy components.

“I think what you are seeing is a continuation of a very soft trend,” said Michael Feroli, chief United States economist at JPMorgan Economics. “And there is no evidence that it is about to turn around any time soon.”

Altogether, the figures suggested that the government would be under no pressure to raise benchmark interest rates to curb inflation.

Joshua Shapiro, the chief United States economist for MFR, said that core inflation pressures remained “benign” and would remain so throughout the middle of next year, giving the Federal Reserve leeway to keep rates where they are.