September 2021 U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes — 2021-10-15

Prices for U.S. imports increased 0.4 percent in September, after decreasing 0.3 percent the previous month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The advance in September was driven by higher fuel prices. U.S. export prices ticked up 0.1 percent in September following advances of 0.4 percent in August and 1.1 percent in July. U.S. import prices advanced 0.4 percent in September following a 0.3-percent drop in August and a 0.3- percent increase in July. The September rise was the largest 1-month increase since the index rose 1.1 percent in June. In September, the advance was led by higher fuel prices; nonfuel prices were unchanged. The price index for U.S. imports increased 9.2 percent over the past 12 months. (See table 1.) Fuel Imports: Prices for import fuel increased 3.7 percent in September, after decreasing 3.0 percent the previous month. The advance was primarily led by higher petroleum prices; natural gas prices also rose.