April 2017 U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes — 2017-05-10

The price index for U.S. imports advanced 0.5 percent in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, after ticking up 0.1 percent the previous month. Higher fuel prices and nonfuel prices each contributed to the increase in April. U.S. export prices rose 0.2 percent in April following a 0.1-percent advance in March. Prices for U.S. exports have not recorded a monthly decline since the index fell 0.8 percent in August 2016. All Imports: Import prices rose 0.5 percent in April and have not recorded a monthly decline since the index edged down 0.1 percent in November. Prices for U.S. imports rose 4.1 percent for the year ended in April, continuing the recent trend of 12-month increases over 4.0 percent, which are the largest over-the- year advances for the index since a 5.1-percent increase in February 2012. Import prices have risen on a 12- month basis since November.