Official figures have shown that British producer prices, or the cost of goods at the factory gate, rose by 0.3% in January from the previous month, the biggest increase for six months.
Producer prices rose at an annual rate of 2.1%, the Office for National Statistics said in a release. The figures exceeded analysts' consensus forecasts for a 0.1% monthly gain, and an annual rise of 1.9%.
The monthly increase was owing mostly to the rising prices of alcohol, building materials, tobacco and metals, the ONS added.
