WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. wholesale prices surged by a record 1.3% in January, led by big gains in health care and energy prices. The Labor Department reported Wednesday that the bigger-than-expected increase in the producer price index, was the largest one-month gain on records that go back to 2009. It followed much milder inflation readings of 0.3% in December and 0.1% in November. The increase reflected 1.2% jump in health care services and a 5.1% rise in energy prices, the biggest gain since a 9% rise in June. The January increase left wholesale prices rising over the past 12 months by 1.7%, the largest 12-month increase in a year.
