WASHINGTON, Jumada II 15, 1438, March 14, 2017, SPA -- U.S. producer prices rose more than expected in February and the year-on-year gain was the largest in almost five years, the government said Tuesday. The Labor Department reported that its producer price index for final demand increased 0.3 percent last month after climbing 0.6 percent in January. In the twelve months through February, the index jumped 2.2 percent, the biggest advance since March 2012. It followed a 1.6 percent rise in January. Producer prices are climbing as the prior weak readings, induced by cheap oil, drop out of the calculation. Crude oil prices have risen above $50 per barrel. Also pushing price pressures are the dollar’s 1.5 percent drop against the currencies of the U.S.’s main trading partners since January and overall commodity price gains in tandem with a firming global economy. 004//End//GC 18:00 LOCAL TIME 15:00 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w353299