June 2015 U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes

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The price index for U.S. imports edged down 0.1 percent in June following a 1.2-percent increase the previous month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The June drop was led by lower nonfuel prices, which more than offset an increase in fuel prices. U.S. export prices fell 0.2 percent in June, after rising 0.6 percent in May.

Imports

All Imports: Overall import prices declined 0.1 percent in June, resuming a downward trend over the past year, after the index rose 1.2 percent in May. Prices for U.S imports also decreased over the past 12 months, falling 10.0 percent from June 2014 to June 2015. Overall import prices have not recorded a year-over-year advance since the index rose 0.9 percent for the year ended in July 2014.

All Imports Excluding Fuel: Nonfuel import prices led the overall decrease in import prices in June, declining 0.2 percent. Nonfuel import prices have not recorded an advance since the index ticked up 0.1 percent in July 2014. Lower prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials; and foods, feeds, and beverages drove the decline in nonfuel import prices in June. The price indexes for the major finished goods categories were mostly unchanged from May to June. The price index for nonfuel imports declined 2.3 percent for the year ended in June. The decrease was led by a 6.7-percent drop in nonfuel industrial supplies and materials prices, although the price indexes for capital goods; automotive vehicles; consumer goods; and foods, feeds, and beverages all declined as well.

Fuel Imports: Import fuel prices increased 0.7 percent in June following a 10.8-percent rise the previous month. Both the price indexes for petroleum and natural gas contributed to the June advance, rising 0.8 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively. Prices for import fuel have not recorded a decline since the index fell 1.9 percent in February. Despite the recent increases, the index declined 40.7 percent for the year ended in June. Petroleum prices decreased 41.3 percent over the past year, and prices for natural gas declined 42.7 percent.

Exports

All Exports: The price index for U.S. exports declined 0.2 percent in June, after rising 0.6 percent the previous month, which was the largest advance since the index rose 0.9 percent in March 2014. Falling agricultural prices drove the June decline, although nonagricultural prices also decreased. Export prices declined 5.7 percent over the past year, and have not recorded a 12-month advance since the index rose 0.4 percent for the year ended in August 2014.

Agricultural Exports: Export agricultural prices fell 1.5 percent in June following a 1.2-percent drop in May. The June decline was led by a 4.1-percent decrease in soybean prices, a 6.1-percent decline in fruit prices, and a 1.8-percent drop in meat prices. Those decreases more than offset a 4.5-percent advance in wheat prices. Agricultural prices have not recorded a 1-month rise since the index ticked up 0.1 percent in November 2014, and fell 16.7 percent over the past 12 months.

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: Prices for nonagricultural exports edged down 0.1 percent in June, after a 0.7-percent advance the previous month. In June, lower nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials prices more than offset higher prices for consumer goods and automotive vehicles. The price index for nonagricultural exports declined 4.5 percent over the past year, driven by lower prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials and consumer goods.

SELECTED JUNE HIGHLIGHTS

Import Prices

Imports by Locality of Origin: Import prices from China fell 0.1 percent in June, after a 0.3-percent drop in May. Prices for imports from China have not recorded a monthly advance since a 0.1-percent increase in December 2014, and declined 1.2 percent over the past 12 months. The price index for imports from Japan also decreased in June, falling 0.4 percent. Import prices from Japan last increased on a 1-month basis in March 2014, and declined 2.9 percent for the year ended in June. In contrast, prices for imports from Canada, the European Union, and Mexico all rose in June; up 0.4 percent, 0.2 percent, and 0.1 percent, respectively.

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials fell 0.5 percent in June, after edging down 0.1 percent in May. The June decline was led by a 1.3-percent drop in unfinished metal prices and a 0.5-percent decrease in chemical prices.

Finished Goods: Most of the major finished goods categories recorded little change in June. Automotive vehicles prices edged down 0.1 percent, driven by a 0.4-percent drop in automobile parts prices. The price indexes for capital goods and consumer goods recorded no change in June.

Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Prices for foods, feeds, and beverages declined 0.6 percent in June following a 0.2-percent increase in May. The June decrease was led by a 2.8-percent drop in fruit prices and a 1.7- percent decline both in fish and shellfish prices and vegetable prices.

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares increased 8.9 percent in June, led by a 6.4-percent advance in European fares and a 9.1-percent rise in Asian fares. The June increase in overall import passenger fares was the largest monthly rise since a 10.7-percent advance in June 2013. Despite the advance, import air passenger fares declined 1.1 percent over the past year. Import air freight prices fell in June, decreasing 0.9 percent for the month and 1.1 percent over the past year.

Export Prices

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: The price index for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials exports declined 0.2 percent in June following a 2.2-percent rise in May. The June decrease was driven by a 1.5-percent decline in nonferrous metal prices and a 0.6-percent drop in chemical prices.

Finished Goods: Finished goods prices rose overall in June. Prices for consumer goods increased 0.3 percent, the largest monthly advance since a 0.3-percent rise in July 2014. Automotive vehicles prices also rose in June, ticking up 0.1 percent. The price index for capital goods recorded no change in June.

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares advanced 1.4 percent in June following a 2.8-percent rise in May. The June increase was led by an 8.4-percent advance in European fares, in contrast to May, when higher Asian fares were the largest contributor to the advance. Export air passenger fares declined 15.9 percent over the past year. Prices for export air freight advanced 0.3 percent in June, and decreased 1.6 percent over the past 12 months.

Import and Export Price Index data for July 2015 are scheduled for release on Thursday, August 13, 2015 at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).