Wholesale Prices Move Up 0.1 Percent Last Month

Published February 16, 2012 1:36PM (EST)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Wholesale prices moved up slightly last month, held back by cheaper energy and food costs.

The Labor Department says the producer price index, which tracks price changes before they reach the consumer, rose 0.1 percent. Wholesale prices fell by the same amount in December. In the past 12 months, they have increased 4.1 percent, the smallest rise in a year.

Wholesale gas prices rose, but were offset by steep drops in home heating oil, natural gas, and electricity, which fell by the most in more than seven years.

Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, so-called "core" prices increased 0.4 percent, the most in six months.

Pharmaceutical costs drove much of the increase in the core. Household appliance prices rose by the most in three decades.


By Salon Staff

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