Input price inflation leapt up to an annualised rate of 6.9%, compared with 4% in the previous month, while factory gate, or the price at which manufacturers sell products, rose by 0.5% during the month to an annualised rate of 3.5%, according to figures released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

The increase followed last week's decision by the Bank of England to hold interest rates at 0.5%, but supported predictions from economists that interest rates would have to rise in the coming months to combat inflation.

Rising oil prices and the continued effects of the weak pound are behind the increase in input costs with the "narrow" input index, which excludes volatile prices such as oil, rising by just 1% in the year to December 2009.

Speaking ahead of the publication of the results of the BPIF's quarterly printing survey this week, corporate affairs director Andrew Brown said that one third of respondents had experienced rising costs over the three-month period.

However, no printers could raise prices in response. "Most reported stable prices despite the rising costs," he said. "However, there was still a number of printers cutting costs, which indicates that the pressure is still on."

Last year was a torrid year for the industry and one that saw the collapse of more than 70 companies with a turnover of more than £2m. However, according to Team Impressions managing director Peter Crowson, the failures did not result in rising prices.

In January, Crowson hit out at the "silly" pricing in the industry. Last week, he said that pricing did not improve despite two rises in paper prices and increased chemistry costs.

He said that the 3.5% increase in raw material costs reported by the ONS concurred with his experiences in the print industry.

"The difficulty is charging that out at the other end," he said. "While you have people out there doing what they are doing [with low prices], you just have to focus on running your business properly and offering clients value."