The government this week reported on the November Producer Price Index, which is commonly described as a guage of prices at the wholesale level. The wholesale price index, according to an Associated Press story, was up 2 percent in November. This followed declines of 1.3 percent and 1.6 percent in September and October, respectively.

The big jump in November's wholesale prices was caused, the report said, almost entirely by a jump in energy prices. The overall wholesale price jump was the largest for one month in more than 30 years. Gasoline prices led the way, with a 17.9 percent jump. But natural gas, fuel oil, and heating oil prices were up sharply also. 

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