U.S. Producer Prices Accelerate Amid Broadening Inflation Pressures

• U.S. producer prices increased by the most in eight months in January amid a surge in the cost of hospital outpatient care and goods such as food and motor vehicles, another sign that high inflation could persist through much of this year. 
• The producer price index for final demand jumped 1.0% last month, the biggest advance since May, after climbing 0.4% in December, the Labour Department said. 
• In the 12 months through January, the PPI rose 9.7%. That followed a 9.8% surge in December. Year-on-year PPI is slowing as last year's large increases drop out of the calculation.

(Source: Reuters)