February 2008 U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes — 2008-03-13

The U.S. Import Price Index advanced 0.2 percent in February, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today, as a 0.6 percent increase in nonpetroleum prices more than offset a 1.5 percent downturn in petroleum prices. Prices for U.S. exports rose 0.9 percent in February after increasing 1.2 percent the previous month. Percent changes in import and export price indexes by End Use category - not seasonally adjusted - Import prices ticked up 0.2 percent in February following a 1.6 percent increase in January. The index advanced 13.6 percent over the past year. Petroleum prices fell for the second time in three months in February, declining 1.5 percent after rising 4.8 percent in January. Prices increased 60.9 percent for the year ended in February. Nonpetroleum prices advanced 0.6 percent in February after a 0.7 percent increase the previous month.