Consumer prices edge up in February as food prices jump

``The price of food jumped 0.4% -- the largest gain since September 2011 -- because of higher costs of meat, poultry, fish, dairy and vegetables. Yet while food prices have only risen 1.4% over the past year, they are likely to increase in the coming months because of drought in California and unusually cold weather in other parts of the country. By some estimates, food prices at grocery stores could rise 3% or more in 2014 and give a sharp pinch to consumers.''