December 2014 U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes

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The price index for U.S. imports fell 2.5 percent in December following a 1.8-percent drop in November and a 1.4-percent decline in October, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Each of the monthly decreases was driven by lower fuel prices. U.S. export prices declined 1.2 percent in December, after decreasing 0.8 percent the previous month.

Imports

All Imports: U.S. import prices fell 2.5 percent in December, the largest 1-month decline since a 4.6- percent drop in December 2008. Import prices have not recorded a monthly advance since rising 0.3 percent in June and fell 7.3 percent over the second half of 2014. The price index for imports decreased 5.5 percent overall in 2014, the largest calendar-year drop since falling 10.1 percent in 2008.

Fuel Imports: Fuel prices declined 15.1 percent in December following an 8.7-percent decrease in November and a 6.7-percent drop in October. The December decrease was led by a 16.6-percent decline in petroleum prices which more than offset a 15.3-percent increase in natural gas prices. Overall fuel prices fell 28.6 percent in 2014, the largest calendar-year decrease since a 47.0-percent drop in 2008. Petroleum prices decreased 30.1 percent for the year ended in December while prices for natural gas declined 1.6 percent over the same period.

All Imports Excluding Fuel: The price index for nonfuel imports edged down 0.1 percent in December, after falling 0.3 percent the previous month. The December drop was driven by lower prices for consumer goods, nonfuel industrial supplies and materials, and capital goods which more than offset rising foods, feeds, and beverages prices. Overall nonfuel prices recorded no change in 2014 following a 1.2-percent decline the previous year. In 2014, lower prices for capital goods, automotive vehicles, and nonfuel industrial supplies and materials offset higher foods, feeds, and beverages prices and prices for consumer goods.

Exports

All Exports: Prices for overall exports declined 1.2 percent in December following a 0.8-percent decrease in November and a 0.9-percent drop in October. In December, both agricultural and nonagricultural export prices contributed to the 1.2-percent decrease, which was the largest monthly decline since the index fell 1.7 percent in June 2012. The price index for U.S. exports decreased 3.2 percent in 2014, the largest calendar- year drop since the index declined 3.4 percent in 1998.

Agricultural Exports: The price index for agricultural exports decreased 0.7 percent in December, after rising 0.4 percent the previous month. The December drop was led by a 4.6-percent decline in meat prices and a 3.4-percent decrease in soybean prices. Agricultural export prices fell 4.9 percent in 2014, driven by lower prices for soybeans and corn.

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: Nonagricultural prices fell 1.2 percent in December following a 1.0- percent drop in November and a 0.7-percent decline in October. The December drop was led by declining prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials and consumer goods. The price index for nonagricultural exports decreased 2.9 percent in 2014, the largest calendar-year decline since the index was first published in March 1985. The 2014 drop was driven by a 24.2-percent decrease in export fuel prices.

SELECTED DECEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

Import Prices

Imports by Locality of Origin: Prices for imports from China recorded no change for the fourth consecutive month in December and edged down 0.1 percent over the past 12 months. The decline over the past year followed a 0.7-percent decrease in 2013 and a 0.6-percent drop in 2012. Import prices from Japan fell 0.5 percent in December, the largest 1-month drop since the index fell 0.8 percent in April 2013. The price index for imports from Japan declined 1.4 percent in 2014, after decreasing 3.4 percent in 2013. Prices for imports from Canada fell 4.7 percent in December, while import prices from Mexico declined 1.5 percent. Each index was led by falling fuel prices. The price index for imports from the European Union also declined in December, dropping 0.4 percent.

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonfuel industrial supplies and materials prices fell 0.2 percent in December. The decline was led by lower prices for iron and steel mill products, industrial organic chemicals, and aluminum which more than offset a 3.7-percent upturn in gold prices.

Finished Goods: The major finished goods areas mostly declined in December. Prices for consumer goods decreased 0.2 percent, capital goods prices edged down 0.1 percent, and prices for automotive vehicles were unchanged. Despite recording no change in December, automotive vehicle prices fell 0.8 percent in 2014, after declining 1.4 percent the previous year.

Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Foods, feeds, and beverages prices increased 0.9 percent in December, driven by a 14.9-percent advance in vegetable prices.

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares increased 7.9 percent in December following a 1.0- percent advance in November and a 2.4-percent rise in October. The December increase was led by a 16.2- percent rise in Asian fares. Overall import air passenger fares advanced 2.7 percent over the past 12 months. In contrast, import air freight prices fell 1.8 percent in December and declined 5.6 percent in 2014.

Export Prices

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials prices fell 3.5 percent in December, after declining 2.6 percent in November. The decrease was primarily led by a 10.4-percent drop in export fuel prices.

Finished Goods: Consumer goods prices decreased 0.2 percent in December while the price indexes for capital goods and for automotive vehicles each recorded no change. In 2014, the major finished goods categories were mostly up. Capital goods prices rose 0.7 percent and prices for automotive vehicles advanced 0.5 percent. In contrast, consumer goods prices decreased 0.6 percent.

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares rose 7.9 percent in December, after declining 5.0 percent the previous month. Higher Asian, Latin American/Caribbean, and European fares all contributed to the December advance. Despite the December increase, overall export air passenger prices declined 2.3 percent in 2014. The price index for export air freight decreased 1.7 percent in December and increased 5.7 percent over the past year.

Import and Export Price Index data for January 2015 are scheduled for release on Friday, February 13, 2015 at 8:30 a.m. (EST).