By Michael P. Regan March 18 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. stock-index futures rose after government reports showed a drop in jobless claims and no change in consumer prices. Futures on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index expiring in June increased 0.1 percent to 1,161.7 at 8:34 a.m. in New York. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 12 points, or 0.1 percent, to 10,677. U.S. stocks rose yesterday, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average to the highest level since October 2008, on evidence the economic recovery isn’t stoking inflation. The S&P 500 closed at 1,150.23 on Jan. 19, the highest level since October 2008, and then plunged 8.1 percent through Feb. 8 on concern that European nations including Greece will fail to pay back debt and speculation that the Fed will need to rein in emergency stimulus measures as the economy improves. The index has since erased that loss and extended its rebound since March 9, 2009, to 72 percent.

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