Higher prices at the pump helped spur consumer prices to their biggest jump since September, raising fears that inflation could force the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates sooner than some hope. Nevertheless, news that the 2% payroll tax holiday could get extended through the rest of 2012 helped push stocks slightly higher, as the Dow Jones Industrials
Among Dow stocks, 3M
Coca-Cola
Finally, energy stocks Chevron and ExxonMobil
The Dow's up today, but it's important to remember that what happens to the market on a day-to-day basis doesn't matter nearly as much as how our stocks perform over the long run. If you're interested in the one stock that our chief investment officer picked to crush the market, check out our brand-new report, "The Motley Fool's Top Stock for 2012." It highlights a company that is revolutionizing commerce in Latin America. For a limited time, you can get instant access to the name of this company for free by clicking here.