December 2012 U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes — 2013-01-11

The price index for U.S. imports edged down 0.1 percent in December, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, after declining 0.8 percent the previous month. Falling fuel and nonfuel prices each contributed to the December decrease. U.S. export prices also fell 0.1 percent in December following a 0.7 percent drop in November. All Imports: Import prices declined for the second consecutive month in December after increasing the three months prior to November. Overall, import prices fell 1.5 percent in 2012, the first calendar year decrease for the index since a 10.1 percent drop in 2008. Import prices had risen 8.5 percent in 2011, 5.3 percent in 2010, and 8.6 percent in 2009. Fuel Imports: The price index for import fuel edged down 0.1 percent in December after declining 2.8 percent the previous month. The decrease in both months was led by falling petroleum prices, down 0.8 percent in December and 3.4 percent in November.