It stood 7 percent above the rate a year earlier as prices edged back down after rising in August.

The price of oil also edged higher, up 16 cents, to $22.04 a barrel.

Germany's wholesale prices edged up 1.5% in the year to December.

From 2000 to last year, the price of a pint rose 20 percent, or 70 cents, and has edged up further since.

Volume increased 3.3 percent and the average price edged up 4 cents a barrel, to $14.46.

The price of the 30-year bond edged up, pushing its yield down slightly to 6.75 percent.

At the pumps and on supermarket shelves, prices are edging higher.

"In general, prices have edged up slightly, particularly on the West Side," he said.

Prices received by American producers edged up 0.2 percent for the second straight month in March.

The price of the 30-year Treasury bond edged up, leaving its yield unchanged at 6.93 percent.