October 2020 U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes — 2020-11-17

U.S. import prices edged down 0.1 percent in October, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, after rising 0.2 percent the previous month. The October decline was driven by lower fuel prices which more than offset higher nonfuel prices. In contrast, prices for U.S. exports increased 0.2 percent in October following a 0.6-percent advance in September. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Impact on October 2020 Import and Export Price Index Data The Bureau of Labor Statistics did not make changes to either the collection method or estimation methodology for the October release of U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes. Survey response rates for October were 5.7-percentage points lower than those in October 2019. A small number of indexes that are normally published were not published in October. Additional information is available at www.bls.gov/covid19/import-export-price-indexes-covid19-impacts-october-2020.htm. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Prices for U.S. imports fell 0.1 percent in October, the first 1-month decline for the index since a 2.6-percent drop in April.