Jan 15 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures extended

gains on Wednesday as investors assessed a broadly in-line

consumer inflation report to gauge its effect on the Federal

Reserve's monetary policy easing this year.

Data from the Labor Department showed the consumer price

index rose 2.9% on an annual basis in December 2024, in line

with the expectations of economists polled by Reuters. On a

monthly basis, the index rose 0.4%.

Excluding volatile food and energy components, core CPI

increased 3.2% on an annual basis, compared with an expected

3.3% rise.

At 08:32 a.m., Dow E-minis were up 476 points, or

1.11%, S&P 500 E-minis were up 66.5 points, or 1.13%,

and Nasdaq 100 E-minis were up 280.25 points, or 1.34%.