BUSINESS OUTLOOK: THE WEEK AHEAD

PRODUCER PRICE INDEX Friday, Feb. 11, 8:30 a.m.

The MMS median forecast projects that producer prices of finished goods rose 0.3% in January. If so, that would be the first increase in producer prices since September. In December, prices fell 0.1%. Fuel prices probably firmed last month because of strong weather-related demand. Excluding food and energy, prices probably rose 0.2% in January, the same rise as in December.