U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes - August 2026
Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until 8:30 am (ET) September 16, 2026
USDL-00-0000
Top Takeaways
All Imports, 1-month percent change
+0.7%
August 2026, not seasonally adjusted
All Exports, 1-month percent change
+0.6%
August 2026, not seasonally adjusted
Abstract
In August, U.S. import prices advanced 0.7 percent following a drop of 0.3 percent in July. U.S. export prices rose 0.6 percent in August after declining 1.4 percent in July. Over the past 12 months, import prices advanced 7.0 percent, and export prices rose 8.6 percent.
Imports
All imports and imports excluding food and fuels price indexes, 1-month percent change, August 2025 to August 2026
| Reference period |
All imports |
Imports excluding food and fuels |
Aug 2025 |
-0.1% |
0.2% |
Sep 2025 |
-0.1% |
0.0% |
Oct 2025 |
|
|
Nov 2025 |
|
|
Dec 2025 |
0.1% |
0.3% |
Jan 2026 |
0.5% |
0.7% |
Feb 2026 |
1.0% |
0.9% |
Mar 2026 |
0.9% |
0.1% |
Apr 2026 |
2.3% |
1.0% |
May 2026 |
1.8% |
0.7% |
Jun 2026 |
-0.3% |
0.2% |
Jul 2026 |
-0.3% |
0.3% |
Aug 2026 |
0.7% |
0.8% |
Imports, 1-month change
- U.S. import prices rose 0.7 percent in August, the largest over-the-month increase since May 2026 (+1.8 percent).
- Higher prices for nonfuel imports more than offset lower prices for fuel imports.
- The increase in August followed consecutive declines of 0.3 percent in July and June.
- The price index for imports excluding food and fuels increased 0.8 percent in August after increasing 0.3 percent in July.
All imports and imports excluding food and fuels price indexes, 12-month percent change, August 2025 to August 2026
| Reference period |
All imports |
Imports excluding food and fuels |
Aug 2025 |
-0.3% |
0.7% |
Sep 2025 |
-0.1% |
0.5% |
Oct 2025 |
|
|
Nov 2025 |
-0.1% |
0.7% |
Dec 2025 |
0.0% |
1.2% |
Jan 2026 |
0.2% |
1.9% |
Feb 2026 |
1.0% |
2.7% |
Mar 2026 |
2.3% |
2.9% |
Apr 2026 |
4.5% |
3.6% |
May 2026 |
6.9% |
4.3% |
Jun 2026 |
6.7% |
4.7% |
Jul 2026 |
6.1% |
4.9% |
Aug 2026 |
7.0% |
5.6% |
Imports, 12-month change
- The price index for U.S. imports increased 7.0 percent from August 2025 to August 2026.
- This was the largest over-the-year advance since the index rose 7.7 percent for the 12-month period ended August 2022.
- Imports excluding food and fuels prices rose 5.6 percent over the past 12 months, the largest over-the-year increase since April 2022 (+6.9 percent).
- The index for imports excluding food and fuels has not declined on a 12-month basis since March 2023.
Import price indexes, major categories, 1-month percent change, August 2026
| Category |
Percent change |
Foods, feeds, and beverages |
0.1% |
Fuels and lubricants |
-0.1% |
Industrial supplies and materials excluding fuels |
2.0% |
Capital goods |
0.9% |
Automotive vehicles |
0.0% |
Consumer goods |
0.5% |
Major categories, 1-month change
- The price index for fuels and lubricants decreased 0.1 percent in August after decreasing 6.6 percent in July.
- Industrial supplies and materials excluding fuels prices rose 2.0 percent in August, the largest over-the-month increase since February 2026 (+2.3 percent).
- Higher prices for finished metals shapes and advanced manufacturing as well as finished nonmetals (boxes, belting, glass, etc.) drove the increase in August.
- Prices for capital goods advanced 0.9 percent in August, the 8th consecutive increase.
- Higher prices for computers, peripherals, and semiconductors; industrial and service machinery; as well as telecommunications equipment drove the increase.
- Prices for consumer goods advanced 0.5 percent in August, the first increase since May 2026 (+0.4 percent).
Import price indexes, major categories, 12-month percent change, August 2026
| Category |
Percent change |
Foods, feeds, and beverages |
3.0% |
Fuels and lubricants |
26.8% |
Industrial supplies and materials excluding fuels |
12.6% |
Capital goods |
7.3% |
Automotive vehicles |
0.8% |
Consumer goods |
2.4% |
Major categories, 12-month change
- Foods, feeds, and beverages prices rose 3.0 percent over the past 12 months, the largest over-the-year increase since June 2025 (+4.0 percent).
- Prices for fuels and lubricants advanced 26.8 percent over the past 12 months, the 6th consecutive increase.
- Industrial supplies and materials excluding fuels prices rose 12.6 percent over the past 12 months, the largest over-the-year increase since May 2022 (+13.2 percent).
- Capital goods prices rose 7.3 percent over the past 12 months, the largest over-the-year increase since March 1988 (+8.4 percent).
- The price index for consumer goods increased 2.4 percent from August 2025 to August 2026.
Locality of origin price indexes, 1-month percent change, August 2026
| Locality of origin |
Percent change |
Canada |
-0.8% |
China |
1.0% |
European Union |
0.9% |
Japan |
0.2% |
Mexico |
0.1% |
Locality of origin
- The price index for U.S. imports from Canada decreased 0.8 percent in August after decreasing 2.3 percent in July.
- U.S. import prices from China rose 1.0 percent in August, the largest over-the-month increase since the index began in December 2003.
- Prices for U.S. imports from the European Union advanced 0.9 percent in August, the first increase since May 2026 (+0.7 percent).
- The price index for U.S. imports from Japan increased 0.2 percent in August after decreasing 0.2 percent in July.
- The price index for U.S. imports from Mexico increased 0.1 percent in August after decreasing 0.3 percent in July.
Exports
All exports and exports excluding food and fuels price indexes, 1-month percent change, August 2025 to August 2026
| Reference period |
All exports |
Exports excluding food and fuels |
Aug 2025 |
0.1% |
0.3% |
Sep 2025 |
0.0% |
0.3% |
Oct 2025 |
|
|
Nov 2025 |
|
|
Dec 2025 |
0.6% |
0.3% |
Jan 2026 |
0.5% |
0.9% |
Feb 2026 |
1.9% |
1.0% |
Mar 2026 |
1.7% |
0.2% |
Apr 2026 |
3.5% |
1.0% |
May 2026 |
1.2% |
0.9% |
Jun 2026 |
-0.7% |
0.4% |
Jul 2026 |
-1.4% |
-0.3% |
Aug 2026 |
0.6% |
0.1% |
Exports, 1-month change
- U.S. export prices rose 0.6 percent in August, the largest over-the-month increase since May 2026 (+1.2 percent).
- The August advance was driven by higher fuel prices.
- The price index for exports excluding food and fuels increased 0.1 percent in August after decreasing 0.3 percent in July.
- Higher prices for capital goods as well as automotive vehicles, parts, and engines contributed to the increase.
All exports and exports excluding food and fuels price indexes, 12-month percent change, August 2025 to August 2026
| Reference period |
All exports |
Exports excluding food and fuels |
Aug 2025 |
3.2% |
4.0% |
Sep 2025 |
3.9% |
4.1% |
Oct 2025 |
|
|
Nov 2025 |
3.3% |
4.3% |
Dec 2025 |
3.4% |
4.8% |
Jan 2026 |
2.5% |
5.3% |
Feb 2026 |
3.8% |
5.9% |
Mar 2026 |
5.6% |
5.7% |
Apr 2026 |
9.3% |
5.9% |
May 2026 |
11.3% |
6.4% |
Jun 2026 |
10.0% |
6.6% |
Jul 2026 |
8.1% |
6.0% |
Aug 2026 |
8.6% |
5.8% |
Exports, 12-month change
- The price index for U.S. exports increased 8.6 percent from August 2025 to August 2026.
- U.S. export prices have not declined on an over-the-year basis since the index decreased 1.8 percent for the 12-months ended September 2024.
- Exports excluding food and fuels prices rose 5.8 percent over the past 12 months, the largest over-the-year increase since July 2026 (+6.0 percent).
- Higher prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials as well as capital goods drove the 12-month increase.
Export price indexes, major categories, 1-month percent change, August 2026
| Category |
Percent change |
Foods, feeds, and beverages |
0.4% |
Fuels and lubricants |
3.0% |
Industrial supplies and materials excluding fuels |
0.0% |
Capital goods |
0.2% |
Automotive vehicles |
0.3% |
Consumer goods |
0.0% |
Major categories, 1-month change
- The price index for foods, feeds, and beverages increased 0.4 percent in August after increasing 0.4 percent in July.
- Fuels and lubricants prices rose 3.0 percent in August, the largest over-the-month increase since April 2026 (+15.5 percent).
- Prices for capital goods advanced 0.2 percent in August, the 9th consecutive increase.
- Higher prices for telecommunications equipment; industrial and service machinery; as well as computers, peripherals, and semiconductors drove the increase.
- The price index for automotive vehicles increased 0.3 percent in August after increasing 0.5 percent in July.
- Prices for industrial supplies and materials excluding fuel as well as consumer goods were unchanged in August.
Export price indexes, major categories, 12-month percent change, August 2026
| Category |
Percent change |
Foods, feeds, and beverages |
5.7% |
Fuels and lubricants |
23.3% |
Industrial supplies and materials excluding fuels |
12.5% |
Capital goods |
3.4% |
Automotive vehicles |
2.3% |
Consumer goods |
2.7% |
Major categories, 12-month change
- The price index for foods, feeds, and beverages increased 5.7 percent from August 2025 to August 2026.
- Prices for fuels and lubricants advanced 23.3 percent over the past 12 months, the 6th consecutive increase.
- Industrial supplies and materials excluding fuels prices rose 12.5 percent over the past 12 months.
- Prices for capital goods advanced 3.4 percent over the past 12 months, the 10th consecutive increase.
- Automotive vehicles prices rose 2.3 percent over the past 12 months, the largest over-the-year increase since March 2026 (+2.4 percent).
- Prices for consumer goods advanced 2.7 percent over the past 12 months, the 10th consecutive increase.
Locality of destination price indexes, 1-month percent change, August 2026
| Locality of destination |
Percent change |
Canada |
1.6% |
China |
-1.1% |
European Union |
0.6% |
Japan |
-0.4% |
Mexico |
1.3% |
Locality of destination
- Prices for U.S. exports to China fell 1.1 percent in August, the largest over-the-month decrease since June 2025 (-2.6 percent).
- U.S. export prices to Canada rose 1.6 percent in August, the largest over-the-month increase since February 2026 (+1.7 percent).
- The price index for U.S. exports to the European Union increased 0.6 percent in August after decreasing 2.0 percent in July.
- The price index for U.S. exports to Japan decreased 0.4 percent in August after decreasing 0.8 percent in July.
- Prices for U.S. exports to Mexico increased 1.3 percent in August after a 0.7-percent rise the previous month.
Additional Measures
Terms of Trade- Terms of trade indexes are based on country, region, or grouping and measure the change in the purchasing power of exports relative to imports.
- The index for U.S. terms of trade with Canada increased 2.4 percent in August after increasing 2.1 percent in July.
- The U.S. terms of trade with China fell 2.1 percent in August, the largest over-the-month decrease since June 2025 (-2.5 percent).
- The U.S. terms of trade with the European Union declined 0.4 percent in August, the 3rd consecutive decrease.
- The index for U.S. terms of trade with Japan decreased 0.5 percent in August after decreasing 0.6 percent in July.
- The U.S. terms of trade with Mexico advanced 1.1 percent in August, the 7th consecutive increase.
- U.S. terms of trade with Mexico rose 8.3 percent over the past 12 months, the largest over-the-year increase since June 2022 (+10.3 percent).
Air Passenger Fares- Import air passenger fares fell 11.2 percent in August, the largest over-the-month decrease since July 2025 (-14.3 percent).
- Lower prices for European and Asian fares more than offset higher prices for Latin American/Caribbean fares.
- The index for import air passenger fares increased 13.2 percent from August 2025 to August 2026.
- The index for export air passenger fares decreased 4.3 percent in August after increasing 0.1 percent in July.
- Export air passenger fares rose 5.7 percent over the past 12 months, the largest over-the-year increase since April 2023 (+9.1 percent).
Air Freight- The price index for import air freight increased 1.8 percent in August after decreasing 1.7 percent in July.
- Prices for import air freight advanced 27.0 percent over the past 12 months, the 7th consecutive increase.
- The price index for export air freight increased 2.8 percent in August after decreasing 0.5 percent in July.
- Export air freight prices rose 18.1 percent over the past 12 months, the largest over-the-year increase since September 2022 (+18.8 percent).
Next Release
- October 16, 2026 at 8:30 am (ET)
What are the U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes (MXPI)?
The U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes (MXPI) measure the changes in the prices of nonmilitary goods and services traded between the United States and the rest of the world. Indexes are published monthly using the BEA End Use, NAICS, and Harmonized classification systems and are also available by locality for select countries, regions, and groupings.
The MXPI are primarily used to deflate trade statistics produced by the U.S. Government, namely the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and have been designated a Principal Federal Economic Indicator (PFEI).
United States Department of Labor
