Import Prices Flat, Export Prices Decline 0.5%

The strong dollar dampers the tariff impact on import prices except energy. Export prices decline led by agriculture.

BLS Highlights

BLS Charts and Comments on Import and Export Price Indexes for July 2018

Prices for U.S. imports recorded no change in July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, after edging down 0.1 percent in June. Falling nonfuel prices in July offset higher fuel prices. U.S. export prices decreased 0.5 percent in July following a 0.2-percent increase in June. The July decline was driven by a drop in agricultural export prices.

Import Prices

Import Comments

All Imports: Import prices recorded no change in July, after falling 0.1 percent in June and rising 0.9 percent in May. U.S. import prices increased 4.8 percent for the year ended in July, the largest 12-month advance since the index rose 5.1 percent in February 2012. Import prices have not fallen on an over-the-year basis since the index fell 0.2 percent in October 2016.

Fuel Imports: Prices for import fuel advanced 1.6 percent in July following a 1.3-percent increase in June and a 6.5-percent rise in May. In July, increasing prices for petroleum and natural gas contributed to the rise in fuel prices. Petroleum prices advanced 0.9 percent in July, after rising 1.4 percent in June and 7.8 percent in May. Prices for natural gas increased 36.7 percent in July, the first monthly advance since January and the largest since the index rose 43.2 percent in November 2006. The price index for fuels increased 40.7 percent between July 2017 and July 2018, the largest over-the-year advance since the index rose 50.9 percent in March 2017. The 12-month rise in import fuel prices was led by a 43.6-percent advance in petroleum prices which more than offset a 0.5-percent decline in natural gas prices.

All Imports Excluding Fuel: Nonfuel import prices fell 0.3 percent for the second consecutive month in July. Lower prices in July for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials; foods, feeds, and beverages; and capital goods led the decline which more than offset rising prices for consumer goods. Automotive vehicles prices recorded no change. Despite the recent declines, nonfuel import prices rose 1.3 percent for the year ended in July. The 12-month advance was largely driven by higher nonfuel industrial supplies and materials prices although prices for consumer goods, capital goods, and automotive vehicles also increased over the past year.