U.S. wholesale prices increased 1.7%, the fastest pace since 1990, in October as food and energy costs soared. Inflation outside those sectors remained mild, the U.S. Labor Department said today.

The core producer price index, which excludes energy and food items, rose a moderate 0.3%, the same rate as in September.

Economists had called for a 0.6% increase in the overall index and a 0.1% gain in core prices.

In annual terms, producer prices rose 4.4%, but the growth of core producer prices actually moderated — to a 1.8% rate from 1.9% in the year through September.

The report said energy prices rose 6.8% in October, the biggest increase in 20 months. Gasoline prices registered their largest jump since June 2000, rising 17.3%. Residential electric-power prices rose 2.3%, the biggest advance in nearly 14 years. Excluding energy items producer prices were up 0.7%.

Food prices also registered a big increase — a 1.6% gain that was the largest in a year.