(RTTNews) - The annual rate of U.S. consumer price growth accelerated more than expected in the month of January, the Labor Department revealed in a highly anticipated report on Thursday. The report showed consumer prices in January were up by 7.5 percent compared to the same month a year ago, reflecting the fastest annual growth since February of 1982. The faster year-over-year growth came as the Labor Department said its consumer price index climbed by 0.6 percent in January, matching the upwardly revised advance seen in December.