Food and energy prices helped boost wholesale prices 1.3%, the Labor Department reports, their biggest increase in three months.(THE NUMBERS)

American Drycleaner, April, 2007 by O'Rourke, Shelly

FOOD AND ENERGY PRICES helped boost wholesale prices 1.3%, the Labor Department reports, their biggest increase in three months. While the core producer price index (PPI), which excludes food and energy, increased only 0.4%, it still doubled the previous month's gains. Wholesale prices have risen 2.5% in the last 12 months, while the PPI grew 1.8%.

After January's 4.6% drop in wholesale energy prices, February showed an increase of 3.5% due to a hefty 5.3% rise in gasoline prices and a 4.1% increase for natural gas. High prices for fresh fruits and vegetables caused food prices to jump 1.9%, the biggest monthly increase seen since October 2003.