The biggest jump in gasoline costs in more than a year propelled US wholesale prices higher in April. Excluding fuel and food, prices rose less than forecast, supporting the view that the Federal Reserve may pause in its interest-rate hikes.

　　The 0.9 percent increase in the measure of all prices paid to factories, farmers and other producers was the biggest in seven months, the Labor Department said in Washington yesterday. The core rate, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.1 percent for a second month.

　　Treasury prices rose on signs that small increases in core prices and a larger-than-expected drop in home construction may give Fed policy-makers an opportunity to hold rates steady in coming months. US companies have relied on productivity gains to offset rising commodities costs, allowing them to hold the line on prices to protect market share.

　　“Getting outside of energy, inflation thus far has been relatively tranquil,” said Richard DeKaser, chief economist at National City Corp in Cleveland, Ohio. “Unless and until we start to see evidence of an acceleration in core inflation, the Fed will stay the course” and hold rates steady.

Economists forecast a 0.8 percent increase in the April producer price index after a 0.5 percent rise, based on the median of 69 estimates in a Bloomberg News survey. The core rate was forecast to increase 0.2 percent.