August 2015 U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes — 2015-09-10

U.S. import prices declined 1.8 percent in August following a 0.9-percent drop the previous month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The August decrease was primarily driven by lower fuel prices, although falling nonfuel prices contributed to the decline as well. Prices for U.S. exports also fell in August, decreasing 1.4 percent, after a 0.4-percent decline in July. All Imports: The price index for U.S. imports decreased 1.8 percent in August, the largest monthly decline since the index fell 3.2 percent in January. A sharp drop in fuel prices and lower nonfuel prices both contributed to the decrease in August. With the exception of May and June, import prices trended down over the past year, falling 11.4 percent between August 2014 and August 2015. The 12-month drop in August was the largest year-over-year decline since the index fell 12.0 percent in September 2009.