February 2015 U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes — 2015-03-12

U.S. import prices increased 0.4 percent in February following declines of 3.1 percent in January and 2.5 percent in December, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. An upturn in fuel prices led the February rise. Prices for U.S. exports edged down 0.1 percent in February, after a 1.9-percent drop the previous month. All Imports: Import prices advanced 0.4 percent in February, the first monthly rise since a 0.3-percent increase in June 2014, and the largest 1-month advance since the index rose 0.5 percent in March 2014. In February, an upturn in fuel prices more than offset declining nonfuel prices. Despite the February increase, import prices fell 9.4 percent over the past 12 months, the largest year-over-year decrease since the index fell 12.0 percent between September 2008 and September 2009. Fuel Imports: The price index for import fuel increased 6.5 percent in February, the first advance since a 1.6-percent rise in June 2014.