US core consumer prices rose at their quickest pace in 15 months in January, suggesting a long period of slowing inflation has run its course.

The core Consumer Price Index, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, increased 0.2 percent last month after a 0.1 percent rise in December.

It is the largest increase since October 2009. Economists agree inflation has bottomed out but say the turnaround in prices is unlikely to be so swift as to trouble policymakers at the Federal Reserve.

Meanwhile, US crude futures rose sharply due to protests in Bahrain, Libya and Yemen. This kept the potential for supply disruption in focus, and traders moved to narrow the record deficit to Brent crude.