Washington  - Higher US petrol prices drove US inflation up to a seasonally adjusted 1.1 per cent in June, the largest monthly increase since 2005, government statistics showed Wednesday.

The Consumer Price Index increased from 0.6 per cent the previous month, the US Labour Department said.

Soaring energy prices made up two-thirds of the increase, with the energy index rising 6.6 per cent from a 4.4 per cent increase in May. Food prices rose 0.8 per cent, while core prices, which exclude food and energy, were up 0.3 per cent.

Consumer prices were up 5 per cent from June 2007, the highest such increase since May 1991, compared to a 4.2 per cent gain in May. (dpa)