March 2014 U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes — 2014-04-10

U.S. import prices advanced 0.6 percent in March, after a 0.9-percent increase in February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Higher fuel prices and nonfuel prices each contributed to the rise in import prices in March. U.S. export prices increased 0.8 percent in March following a 0.7-percent advance the previous month. All Imports: Import prices rose 0.6 percent in March and increased 1.9 percent over the first quarter of 2014. The advance from December 2013 to March 2014 was the largest 3-month rise since the index increased 2.5 percent between July and October 2012. Despite the recent advances, import prices fell 0.6 percent over the past year. Import prices have not recorded a 12-month rise since the index increased 0.9 percent for the year ended July 2013. Fuel Imports: Fuel prices advanced 1.2 percent in March following a 5.3-percent rise the previous month.