U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes summary

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                             U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES - SEPTEMBER 2026                              

U.S. import prices increased 1.1 percent in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, 
following a 0.5-percent rise in August. Higher prices for nonfuel imports and fuel imports drove the advance 
in September. Prices for U.S. exports increased 2.2 percent in September after rising 1.2 percent the 
previous month.

Imports

Import prices advanced 1.1 percent in September following an increase of 0.5 percent in August. Prices for 
U.S. imports rose 8.1 percent from September 2025 to September 2026, the largest 12-month advance since 
the index increased 8.8 percent for the year ended July 2022. (See table 1.)

Fuel Imports: Prices for import fuel increased 4.8 percent in September following decreases of 0.2 percent 
in August and 6.8 percent in July. In September, higher prices for petroleum and petroleum products as well 
as natural gas drove the advance. Import prices for petroleum and petroleum products increased 4.6 percent, 
and prices for import natural gas rose 1.6 percent. From September 2025 to September 2026, fuel import 
prices increased 34.5 percent, the price index for import petroleum and petroleum products advanced 35.4 
percent, and prices for import natural gas increased 96.5 percent. The over-the-year rise for import natural 
gas prices was the largest such movement since the index advanced 149.5 percent for the year ended June 
2022.

All Imports Excluding Fuel: Prices for nonfuel imports increased 0.7 percent in September and have not 
declined on a monthly basis since August 2025. Higher prices for capital goods; nonfuel industrial supplies 
and materials; consumer goods, excluding automotives; as well as automotive vehicles, parts and engines 
drove the increase in September. Nonfuel import prices rose 6.0 percent from September 2025 to September 
2026, the largest over-the-year increase since the index advanced 7.2 percent for the 12-month period ended 
April 2022. Higher prices for capital goods; nonfuel industrial supplies and materials; consumer goods, 
excluding automotives; foods, feeds, and beverages; and automotive vehicles, parts, and engines drove the 
12-month increase for the year ended in September.

Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Import prices for foods, feeds, and beverages were unchanged in September 
following a decrease of 0.6 percent in August. Higher prices for vegetables, green coffee, and fruit offset 
lower prices for cane and beet sugar as well as fish and shellfish in September.

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Import prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials 
increased 1.4 percent in September after a 1.3-percent advance in August. Higher prices for finished metals 
shapes and advanced manufacturing; finished nonmetals (boxes, belting, glass, etc.); and agricultural 
products used for industrial supplies and materials drove the increase in September.

Finished Goods: Prices for the major finished goods import categories were up in September. Import capital 
goods prices rose 0.9 percent for the second consecutive month in September. Higher prices for computers, 
peripherals, and semiconductors as well as industrial and service machinery more than offset lower prices 
for scientific and medical machinery. In September, import prices for automotive vehicles, parts, and 
engines increased 0.3 percent, and the price index for import consumer goods, excluding automotives, rose 
0.4 percent over the same period.

Table A. Percent change in Import and Export Price Indexes, selected categories

Exports

Prices for U.S. exports increased 2.2 percent in September following an advance of 1.2 percent in August. In 
September, higher prices for nonagricultural exports and agricultural exports drove the increase. U.S. export 
prices increased 11.6 percent for the year ended September 2026, the largest over-the-year rise since the 
index advanced 12.9 percent from July 2021 to July 2022. (See table 2.)

Agricultural Exports: Prices for agricultural exports increased 2.6 percent in September, the largest 
monthly rise since the index advanced 2.8 percent in November 2022. Higher prices for soybeans, corn, and 
wheat drove the advance in September. Agricultural export prices have not declined on a monthly basis 
since December 2025. Over the past 12 months, agricultural export prices increased 9.0 percent, as higher 
prices for soybeans, corn, as well as oilseeds and food oils drove the rise for the year ended in September.

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: Nonagricultural export prices increased 2.1 percent in September after 
rising 1.3 percent in August. Higher prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials; capital 
goods; consumer goods, excluding automotives; and automotive vehicles, parts, and engines drove the 
advance. Prices for nonagricultural exports increased 11.8 percent from September 2025 to September 2026. 
Higher prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials; capital goods; and consumer goods, 
excluding automotives, drove the 12-month rise.

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials prices 
advanced 4.0 percent in September after an increase of 2.5 percent the previous month. Higher prices for 
petroleum and petroleum products; natural gas; and chemicals more than offset lower prices for nonferrous 
and other metals in September.

Finished Goods: Prices for the major finished goods export categories were up in September. Capital goods 
prices increased 0.5 percent. Higher prices for computers, peripherals, and semiconductors; as well as oil 
drilling, mining, and construction machinery, and equipment; more than offset lower prices for civilian 
aircraft, aircraft engines, and parts. Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines prices increased 0.8 percent in 
September and prices for consumer goods, excluding automotives, rose 1.1 percent over the same period.

More information for the major import and export price indexes can be found at 
www.bls.gov/web/ximpim/largest.htm.

Measures of Import and Export Prices by Locality

Imports by Locality of Origin: Import prices from China increased 0.7 percent in September, the largest 
monthly advance since December 2021. Over the past 12 months, the price index for imports from China 
increased 3.1 percent. Prices for imports from Japan increased 0.6 percent in September following an 
advance of 0.2 percent in August and a decline of 0.1 percent in July. The price index for imports from 
Japan increased 1.1 percent from September 2025 to September 2026. The price index for imports from the 
European Union increased 0.3 percent in September, and import prices from Mexico rose 0.6 percent over 
the same period. In September, prices for imports from Canada increased 1.3 percent. (See table 7.)

Exports by Locality of Destination: Prices for exports to China advanced 2.7 percent in September, the 
largest monthly rise since the index increased 5.0 percent in March 2022. The price index for exports to 
China increased 7.5 percent over the past 12 months. Prices for exports to Japan increased 1.7 percent in 
September following decreases of 0.5 percent in August and 0.4 percent in July. The price index for exports 
to Japan increased 6.1 percent over the past 12 months. The price index for exports to the European Union 
increased 3.9 percent in September, and export prices to Mexico increased 2.5 percent over the same period. 
Prices for exports to Canada increased 1.0 percent in September. (See table 8.)

Terms of Trade Indexes: 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 U.S. terms of trade index with China 
increased 2.0 percent in September following a 0.6-percent decline in August. The September rise in the 
U.S. terms of trade with China was driven by the increase in export prices to China. The index for U.S. 
terms of trade with Japan advanced 1.1 percent in September after decreasing 0.7 percent in August. The 
index for U.S. terms of trade with the European Union increased 3.6 percent in September, the largest 1-
month advance for this index since percent changes were first published on a monthly basis in January 2018. 
In September, the U.S. terms of trade index with Canada fell 0.3 percent, and the U.S. terms of trade index 
with Mexico increased 1.9 percent. (See table 9.)

Import and Export Services

Imports: Import air passenger fares increased 12.6 percent in September after decreases of 11.2 percent in 
August and 11.0 percent in July. Higher prices for European and Asian fares in September more than offset 
lower prices for Latin American/Caribbean fares. Import air passenger fares advanced 11.8 percent for the 
year ended September 2026. Prices for import air freight ticked up 0.1 percent in September after rising 2.2 
percent the previous month. Higher Asian air freight prices more than offset lower European air freight 
prices in September. From September 2025 to September 2026, import air freight prices advanced 25.7 
percent. (See table 10.)

Exports: Export air passenger fares decreased 1.7 percent in September following a 4.3-percent decline the 
previous month. Lower prices for Asian and Latin American/Caribbean fares more than offset higher prices 
for European fares in September. Despite the recent monthly declines, the price index for export air 
passenger fares increased 5.2 percent from September 2025 to September 2026. Export air freight prices fell 
2.2 percent in September following an advance of 2.5 percent in August. Lower prices for European and 
Asian air freight drove the decrease in September. Over the past year, prices for export air freight increased 
18.8 percent, the largest over-the-year rise since September 2022.

The U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes news release for October is scheduled to be published on Tuesday, 
November 17, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. (ET).