TREASURIES-Yields rise on higher inflation, before Yellen

* Consumer prices rise in December

* Yellen to speak on monetary policy

By Karen Brettell

NEW YORK, Jan 18 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury yields rose on

Wednesday after data showed rising consumer prices and as

investors awaited a speech by Federal Reserve Chair Janet

Yellen.

U.S. consumer prices increased in December as households

paid more for gasoline and rental accommodations, leading to the

largest year-on-year rise in 2-1/2 years.

Bond prices had fallen before the consumer price figures,

which analysts attributed to investors preparing for new data

this week and Yellen's speech, with no news headlines seen as

driving the move.

"CPI came right in as expected," said Mary Ann Hurley, vice

president in fixed income trading at D.A. Davidson in Seattle.

Benchmark 10-year notes fell 14/32 in price to

yield 2.38 percent, up from 2.33 percent late Tuesday.

Some of Wednesday's bond weakness is probably due to "the

compilation of different Fed officials comments indicating that

if things continue as they are, rates are going to continue to

go higher," Hurley said.

Yellen is due to speak at 3 p.m. EST (2000 GMT) about

monetary policy to the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco.

The Treasury Department on Thursday will auction $13 billion

of 10-year Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, which will

gauge concern about rising inflation as President-elect Donald

Trump prepares to take office.

(Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)