PPI increased 1.0% in January versus an expected rise of 0.4% as a result of higher prices paid for food, energy and medicines. But the core PPI, which excludes food and energy prices, was also up 0.4%, versus an expected 0.2%.
The Conference Board said that its Consumer Confidence Index plunged to 75.0 in February from 87.3 in January, the lowest since February 2003.
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