The .gov means it's official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information,
make sure you're on a federal government site.
The site is secure. The
https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any
information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.
Import prices up 4.8 percent, export prices up 4.3 percent, for year ending July 2018
August 16, 2018
For the year ending July 2018, U.S. import prices rose 4.8 percent and export prices rose 4.3 percent. The increase in import prices is the largest 12-month increase since the index rose 5.1 percent from February 2011 to February 2012. Import prices have not fallen on an over-the-year basis since a 0.2-percent decrease for the year ending October 2016.
Percent change in U.S. import and export price indexes for selected categories of goods, July 2017 to July 2018
Category
Imports
Exports
All imports
4.8%
Fuel imports
40.7
Nonfuel imports
1.3
All exports
4.3%
Agricultural exports
-2.0
Nonagricultural exports
5.0
Mineral products
40.8
27.1
Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw, basketware and wickerwork
11.0
8.2
Base metals and articles of base metals
9.4
8.1
Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products
8.1
3.8
Products of the chemical or allied industries
5.1
3.6
Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco
2.9
1.5
Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics, glass, etc.
1.8
1.0
Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof
1.5
6.4
Textile and textile articles
1.0
4.0
Optical photo, measuring, medical & musical instruments and timepieces
0.9
2.7
Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment
0.5
1.9
Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image, and sound recorders, parts, etc.
-0.2
1.3
Live animals; animal products
-1.7
-0.5
Vegetable products
-13.6
-3.9
From July 2017 to July 2018, import fuel prices increased 40.7 percent, the largest over-the-year advance since prices rose 50.9 percent for the year ending March 2017. The increase was led by a 43.6-percent increase in petroleum prices that more than offset a 0.5-percent decline in natural gas prices.
Prices for nonfuel imports increased 1.3 percent for the year ending July 2018, primarily driven by higher prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials. Prices for capital goods, consumer goods, and automotive vehicles also increased.
From July 2017 to July 2018, prices for agricultural exports decreased 2.0 percent, the first 12-month drop since prices fell 1.8 percent for the year ending July 2017. Nonagricultural export prices rose 5.0 percent for the year ending July 2018.
United States Department of Labor
