June 2016 U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes

Historical release narrative reproduced from the official public-domain source. Statistical tables, standard technical appendices, administrative material and attendance rosters are omitted; formatting is adapted for reading. Figures retain the release's historical context and may have been revised. Consult the linked source for the complete document.

U.S. import prices rose 0.2 percent in June, after rising 1.4 percent in May, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The June advance was driven by higher fuel prices which more than offset a decline in nonfuel prices. Prices for U.S. exports also increased in June, rising 0.8 percent following advances of 1.2 percent in May and 0.4 percent in April.

Imports

All Imports: Prices for U.S. imports continued to trend up in June, rising 0.2 percent, after increasing 2.6 percent between February and May. That was the largest 3-month rise since import prices increased 5.8 percent between February and May 2011. Most of the recent increase in import prices was led by higher fuel prices. Despite the recent advances, import prices remain down on a 12-month basis, falling 4.8 percent for the year ended in June. That was the smallest over-the-year decline since the index fell 3.1 percent for the 12 months ended in November 2014.

Fuel Imports: Fuel prices increased 6.2 percent in June, after recording advances of 14.9 percent in May, 9.8 percent in April, and 8.5 percent in March. In June, higher prices for both petroleum and natural gas contributed to the overall increase. Petroleum prices advanced 6.4 percent in June and prices for natural gas rose 5.2 percent. Even with the recent increase in fuel prices, the price index for import fuel decreased 26.0 percent from June 2015 to June 2016. Prices for petroleum and natural gas fell 26.6 percent and 26.8 percent, respectively, over the same period.

All Imports Excluding Fuel: Prices for nonfuel imports declined 0.3 percent in June following increases in each of the previous 2 months. The 0.3-percent decrease was the largest monthly drop since the index declined 0.3 percent for 6 consecutive months from July to December 2015. In June, nonfuel prices were driven down by falling prices for capital goods; foods, feeds, and beverages; consumer goods; and industrial supplies and materials. Nonfuel import prices also decreased over the past 12 months, falling 1.8 percent.

Exports

All Exports: Export prices advanced 0.8 percent in June following a 1.2-percent increase the previous month. The 2.4-percent rise in the second quarter of 2016 was the largest 3-month advance in export prices since the index rose 2.7 percent between February and May 2011. In June, higher agricultural and nonagricultural prices both contributed to the overall increase in export prices. The price index for U.S. exports decreased 3.5 percent over the past 12 months, the smallest over-the-year decline since the index fell 3.0 percent in December 2014.

Agricultural Exports: Prices for agricultural exports advanced 2.4 percent in June, after a 2.9-percent increase in May. Those were the 2 largest 1-month increases since the index advanced 4.8 percent in August 2012. Both the June and May increases were led by higher soybean and corn prices. Soybean prices advanced 8.6 percent in June following an 11.3-percent advance in May and prices for corn rose 6.0 percent in June and 6.7 percent in May. Despite the recent increases, agricultural export prices declined 1.4 percent for the year ended in June.

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: The price index for nonagricultural prices increased 0.5 percent in June, after rising 1.0 percent the previous month. The June advance was mostly led by higher nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials prices, although capital goods prices also rose. In contrast, consumer goods prices fell in June. Nonagricultural prices decreased 3.8 percent over the past year.

SELECTED JUNE HIGHLIGHTS

Import Prices

Imports by Locality of Origin: Import prices from China declined 0.4 percent in June, after recording no change in May. The June decrease was driven by a 0.5-percent drop in the price index for computer and electronic product manufacturing and was the largest monthly decline since the index fell 0.6 percent in May 2013. In contrast, the price indexes for imports from Canada, Mexico, and the European Union all rose in June, increasing 1.4 percent, 0.2 percent, and 0.1 percent, respectively. Each index was led by higher fuel prices. Prices for imports from Japan recorded no change in June following a 0.1-percent advance the previous month.

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: The price index for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials declined 0.3 percent in June, after increasing 1.7 percent in May, 0.4 percent in April, and 0.6 percent in March. The June downturn was driven by a 5.2-percent drop in gold prices and an 8.6-percent decline in the prices for other precious metals.

Finished Goods: Finished goods prices were mostly down in June, after recording increases the previous month. Capital goods prices fell 0.3 percent in June, led by a 0.8-percent drop in the price index for computers, peripherals, and semiconductors. Prices for consumer goods fell 0.2 percent in June following a 0.2-percent rise the previous month. The price index for automotive vehicles recorded no change in June, after increasing 0.4 percent the previous month.

Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Foods, feeds, and beverages prices decreased 1.3 percent in June following a 0.5-percent increase in May and a 1.3-percent rise in April. The June downturn resulted from a 12.8-percent drop in fruit prices, a 3.9-percent decrease in meat prices, and a 2.2-percent decline in the price index for fish and shellfish.

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares advanced 0.3 percent in June following a 1.5-percent rise in May and a 3.5-percent increase in April. The June rise was led by a 5.9-percent increase in Asian fares. Despite the recent increases, import air passenger fares fell 8.4 percent over the past 12 months. The price index for import air freight declined 2.0 percent in June and 13.0 percent over the past year.

Export Prices

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: Prices for export nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials rose 2.0 percent in June, after increasing 3.2 percent the previous month. Both increases were driven by higher fuel prices which advanced 10.4 percent in June and 11.1 percent in May.

Finished Goods: Finished goods prices were mixed in June. Consumer goods prices fell 0.4 percent, the largest 1-month decline since the index decreased 0.8 percent in January. In contrast, capital goods prices ticked up 0.1 percent and the price index for automotive vehicles recorded no change.

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares increased 3.5 percent in June, driven by a 9.0-percent advance in European fares. Even with the June increase, export air passenger fares fell 10.0 percent over the past year. Prices for export air freight decreased 0.4 percent in June and 2.7 percent between June 2015 and June 2016.

Import and Export Price Index data for July 2016 are scheduled for release on Thursday, August 11, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).