The cost of passenger cars rose 0.8 percent last month, the most since November.
Prices of capital goods rose 0.2 percent last month after a 0.1 percent rise in February.
Oil prices have retreated after reaching the highest level this year. Brent oil for May delivery has dropped 5 percent through yesterday's close since from a peak of $126.22 a barrel on March 13.
"The recent increase in oil and gasoline prices will push up inflation temporarily, but the Committee anticipates that subsequently inflation will run at or below the rate that it judges most consistent with its dual mandate," the Federal Open Market Committee said in the minutes of its March 13 meeting.
The central bank officials indicated they will probably hold off on more monetary accommodation unless prices rise more slowly than their 2 percent target or the economic expansion falters, according to the minutes. Their preferred price gauge, tied to consumer spending and issued by the Commerce Department, rose 2.3 percent in the year ended in February.
At the same time, gains in commodity prices over the past year are making it difficult for some companies.
"We continue to experience increases in the cost of raw materials," Mark Bachmann, chief financial officer at Zep Inc., an Atlanta-based maker of detergents, hand cleaners and lubricants, said on an April 9 conference call. "The tremendous volatility in raw material prices makes it difficult for us to pass through sufficient price increases, creating an imbalance between price and cost."
The cost of intermediate goods rose 0.7 percent for a second month, reflecting higher chemicals. Crude prices dropped 2.5 percent.
Producer prices are one of three monthly inflation gauges reported by the Labor Department. The consumer price index, due tomorrow, rose 0.3 percent in March after gaining 0.4 percent in the prior month, according to the median estimate in the Bloomberg survey.
The cost of goods imported into the U.S. rose 1.3 percent last month, reflecting more expensive fuel and metals costs, Labor Department data showed yesterday.