U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES - SEPTEMBER 2013

U.S. import prices advanced 0.2 percent for the second consecutive month in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.

The increase in each of the past two months was led by rising fuel prices.

The price index for U.S. exports rose 0.3 percent in September after falling the previous six months.

U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES - OCTOBER 2012

The price index for U.S. imports rose 0.5 percent in October, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, following increases for each of the previous two months. 

Higher fuel and nonfuel prices each contributed to the October advance. U.S. export prices were unchanged in October after increasing 0.8 percent in September.

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U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES – OCTOBER 2009

The U.S. Import Price Index rose 0.7 percent in October, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, led by a 1.8 percent increase in fuel prices.

The rise followed a 0.2 percent increase in September. U.S. export prices advanced 0.3 percent in October after decreasing 0.2 percent the previous month.

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All Imports: The increase in U.S. imports in October continued the recent upward trend for the index.

Import prices have risen in seven of the past eight months and were up 8.1 percent over that period. Despite the recent increases, import prices declined 5.7 percent for the year ended in October driven by a 12.8 percent drop in prices between October 2008 and January 2009.

Fuel Imports: Prices for import fuel advanced 1.8 percent in October after a 1.5 percent decline the previous month. A 24.1 percent increase in natural gas prices led the overall advance in October, while petroleum prices were also a contributing factor, advancing 0.9 percent.

However, the price indexes for natural gas and petroleum both declined over the past year, falling 46.4 percent and 12.2 percent, respectively.

All Imports Excluding Fuel: Nonfuel import prices rose 0.4 percent in October as higher prices for industrial supplies and materials, finished goods, and foods, feeds, and beverages all contributed to the advance. Prices for nonfuel imports rose between 0.4 percent and 0.5 percent in each of the past three months, the largest monthly advances since a 0.6 percent increase in July 2008.

The index declined 2.9 percent over the past 12 months as sharp decreases at the end of 2008 more than offset the recent rises.

Source of information BLS

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Original content Bob DeMarco, All American Investor

Import Prices Rise, Export Prices Fall

Import Goods/Prices

Import prices increased for the first time since July, advancing 0.5 percent in March after edging down 0.1 percent in February. The March advance was led by a 10.5 percent rise in petroleum prices.

The price index for petroleum increased for the second consecutive month after falling 69.2 percent from July through January. In contrast, nonpetroleum prices decreased for the eighth consecutive month, falling 0.7 percent in March. For the year ended in March, petroleum prices fell 52.0 percent and prices for nonpetroleum imports declined 3.7 percent.

Prices for foods, feeds, and beverages decreased 1.0 percent this month primarily because of
lower fruit prices. The March drop followed a 3.2 percent decline in February.

Export Goods/Prices

Export prices decreased 0.6 percent in March because of lower prices for both agricultural and nonagricultural exports. The index decreased 9.8 percent over the past eight months and 6.7 percent for the year ended in March. Agricultural prices fell 3.5 percent in March, led by declines for soybeans, corn, and wheat.

Imports by Locality of Origin

Prices for imports from China fell for the seventh consecutive month, decreasing 0.6 percent in March. Import prices from China edged down 0.2 percent for the year ended in March.

Import prices from Canada and from Mexico also continued to decline in March, falling 0.7 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively. Prices for imports from Canada fell for the eighth consecutive month, and decreased 18.4 percent over the past year, the largest annual decline since the index was first published in December 1990. The price index for imports from Mexico decreased 11.7 percent for the
March 2008-2009 period, the largest annual decline since the index was first published in December 2003.

Import and Export Services

Import air passenger fares decreased 4.7 percent in March following a 4.6 percent drop the previous month. The March decrease was again led by lower European fares, which fell 7.8 percent after decreasing 5.7 percent in February. Despite the recent downward pattern, the index for import air passenger fares rose 2.7 percent for the year ended in March. Export air passenger fares also decreased in March, falling 5.1 percent as lower fares from Europe, the Latin America/Caribbean region, and Asia
all contributed to the overall decrease. Fares for export air passengers decreased 10.5 percent over the past 12 months, the largest annual decline since the index was first published in September 1986.

Import air freight prices fell 2.2 percent in March, as both European and Asian air freight prices declined. The price index for import air freight decreased 8.0 percent over the past year. Prices for export air freight declined 2.8 percent in March and 7.0 percent for the March 2008-2009 period.

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