Wholesale prices in the United States rose by 0.3 percent in January, half of the 0.6 percent surge witnessed in December, the Labor Department reported on Friday.

The 0.3 percent rise in the department's Producer Price Index (PPI), designed to measure inflation pressures before they reach the consumer, was the lowest increase since a 0.4 percent drop in November.

According to the department, the rise in wholesale prices resulted from higher prices for new cars and light trucks, pharmaceutical products, books and civilian aircraft.

While excluding volatile energy and food prices, the "core" PPI jumped by 0.4 percent in January, marking the biggest one-month rise since a 0.6 percent advance in the same month last year.

The 0.4 percent jump in core prices, following increases of 0.1 percent in November and December, is certain to attract attention at the Federal Reserve. The central bank is watching closely, as the surge in energy prices could lead to widespread inflation pressures.

Source: Xinhua