By Leika Kihara
TOKYO, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Japan's wholesale prices rose 7.1% in the year to October, data showed on Thursday, accelerating from the previous month and keeping alive market expectations of a near-term interest rate hike.
The data will be among the factors the Bank of Japan will scrutinise at its next policy meeting on December 17 and 18.
The rise in the corporate goods price index, which measures the price companies charge each other for their goods and services, was faster than a median market forecast for a 6.5% increase. It followed a 6.8% increase in September.
The yen-based import price index rose 24.8% in October from a year earlier, the data released by the BOJ showed, a sign that the currency's weakness continued to push up the cost of raw material imports.
(Reporting by Leika Kihara; Editing by Sam Holmes)