February 2013 U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes — 2013-03-13

The price index for U.S. imports rose 1.1 percent in February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, after increasing 0.6 percent the previous month. The February and January rises were both driven by higher fuel prices. U.S. export prices advanced 0.8 percent in February following a 0.3 percent increase in January. All Imports: Import prices increased 1.1 percent in February, the largest monthly advance since a 1.2 percent rise in August 2012. The advance followed a 0.6 percent increase in January, after import prices fell the final quarter of 2012. Despite the February advance, import prices fell 0.3 percent over the past year, and have not recorded a year-over-year increase since April 2012. Fuel Imports: The price index for import fuel rose 4.9 percent in February after advancing 2.6 percent in January.