August 2016 U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes — 2016-09-14

U.S. import prices declined 0.2 percent in August, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, after ticking up 0.1 percent in July. The August downturn was driven by lower fuel prices. Prices for U.S. exports decreased 0.8 percent in August following a 0.2-percent increase in July. All Imports: Prices for U.S. imports fell 0.2 percent in August, the first monthly decrease since the index fell 0.5 percent in February. Over the 5 months previous to August, import prices advanced 3.1 percent. The August decline was led by falling fuel prices which decreased for the second consecutive month. The price index for U.S. imports decreased 2.2 percent for the year ended in August, after declining 11.4 percent over the previous 12-month period. Fuel Imports: Fuel prices declined 2.1 percent in August following a 2.5-percent drop in July. The July decrease was the first monthly decline since the index fell 6.8 percent in February.