April 2010 U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes — 2010-05-13

U.S. import prices advanced 0.9 percent in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, following a 0.5 percent increase the previous month. Higher prices for fuel and nonfuel imports contributed to the overall advance. Prices for U.S. exports also increased in April, rising 1.2 percent after a 0.7 percent advance in March. All Imports: The price index for U.S. imports increased 0.9 percent in April, continuing the upward trend of the past year. The April advance followed a 0.5 percent rise in March and approximately 55 percent of the increase was attributable to higher fuel prices. Import prices rose 11.1 percent over the past 12 months, similar to the 11.3 to 11.4 percent year-over-year increases recorded in each of the three previous months. Fuel Imports: Fuel prices also continued to trend up in April, rising 2.3 percent after increasing 1.7 percent in March.