April 2008 U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes — 2008-05-13

The U.S. Import Price Index increased 1.8 percent in April, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. For the second consecutive month, higher prices for both petroleum and nonpetroleum imports contributed to the advance. The rise followed a 2.9 percent increase in March. Export prices also increased in April, rising 0.3 percent after advancing at least 1.0 percent in each of the previous three months. Percent changes in import and export price indexes by End Use category - not seasonally adjusted - The 1.8 percent rise in April followed increases of 2.9 percent, 0.2 percent, and 1.5 percent in March, February, and January, respectively. Petroleum prices advanced 4.4 percent in April after a 9.2 percent rise in March. Prices for petroleum rose 57.2 percent for the year ended in April following a 1.1 percent drop over the previous 12-month period.