UPDATE 1-US inflation pressures mount in Dec - ECRI

(Adds further comment, historical figures)

NEW YORK Jan 8 (Reuters) - A monthly gauge of U.S. inflation pressures rose for the ninth straight month in December, indicating a sustained, steady rise in prices in the near-term, a research group said on Friday.

The Economic Cycle Research Institute's U.S. Future Inflation Gauge (USFIG), designed to anticipate cyclical swings in the rate of inflation, rose to 98.2 in December from 95.6 in November, which was revised slightly lower from 95.7.

It was the ninth consecutive month the index has risen, after sinking to a 51-year low in March of 2009. "Thus, underlying inflation pressures are building steadily, pointing to higher inflation in the months ahead," said Lakshman Achuthan, managing director at ECRI.

The December USFIG annualized growth rate, which smooths out monthly fluctuations, also climbed higher to 31.8 percent from 27.3 percent in November, which was revised up from an originally repported 26.8

But the figures do not suggest inflation is rising too rapidly, according to ECRI.

"In the big picture, this is exactly what policy makers wanted ... for deflationary pressures to recede, and for underlying inflationary pressures to turn up," Achuthan said, adding that the moves signal a cyclical upturn in the inflation cycle, but not yet to "surging" inflation. (Reporting by Camille Drummond; Editing by Theodore d'Afflisio)