March 2008 U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes — 2008-04-11

The U.S. Import Price Index increased 2.8 percent in March, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today, as higher prices for both petroleum and nonpetroleum imports contributed to the advance. The rise followed 0.2 percent and 1.5 percent increases in February and January. Export prices rose 1.5 percent in March, after advancing 1.1 percent and 1.2 percent for the prior two months. Percent changes in import and export price indexes by End Use category - not seasonally adjusted - The price index for overall imports rose 2.8 percent in March, led by a 9.1 percent advance in petroleum prices. Petroleum prices resumed an upward trend following a 1.9 percent downturn in February. Prices for petroleum rose 60.0 percent for the year ended in March following a comparatively modest 3.1 percent rise over the previous 12-month period.