April 2017 U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes

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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.

Imports

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.

Fuel Imports: Fuel prices rose 1.6 percent in April following a 0.9-percent decline the previous month. A 1.6-percent advance in petroleum prices and a 4.0-percent rise in natural gas prices each contributed to the April increase in overall fuel prices. The price index for import fuel advanced 42.7 percent over the past year in contrast to a 31.7-percent decline for the previous 12-month period ended April 2016. Petroleum prices rose 43.8 percent between April 2016 and April 2017 and natural gas prices increased 48.9 percent over the same period.

All Imports Excluding Fuel: The price index for nonfuel prices advanced 0.3 percent in April, after increasing 0.2 percent in March and 0.4 percent in February. In April, higher prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials; foods, feeds, and beverages; and each of the major finished goods categories all contributed to the overall rise in nonfuel prices. Prices for nonfuel imports advanced 1.1 percent for the year ended in April. Rising prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials; automotive vehicles; foods, feeds, and beverages; and consumer goods more than offset lower capital goods prices for the year.

Exports

All Exports: U.S. export prices continued to rise in April, increasing 0.2 percent. Higher prices for both agricultural and nonagricultural exports contributed to the overall advance in export prices. Prices for U.S. exports rose 3.0 percent over the past 12 months following a 5.1-percent drop for the year ended April 2016.

Agricultural Exports: Agricultural export prices advanced 0.3 percent in April, after a 0.8-percent increase the previous month. In April, a 37.9-percent jump in vegetable prices more than offset falling prices for soybeans, corn, and wheat. The increase in vegetable prices was the largest monthly advance since the index was first published monthly in December 1996. The price index for agricultural exports rose 4.6 percent over the past year.

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: Prices for nonagricultural exports ticked up 0.1 percent for the second consecutive month in April. Higher prices for capital goods and automotive vehicles more than offset a drop in prices for industrial supplies and materials. The price index for nonagricultural exports increased 2.9 percent over the past 12 months. The advance was primarily driven by a 9.6-percent rise in nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials prices. Consumer goods prices recorded no change in April.

SELECTED APRIL HIGHLIGHTS

Import Prices

Imports by Locality of Origin: Prices for imports from China edged down 0.1 percent in April, after rising 0.2 percent in March and 0.1 percent in February. Despite the recent increases, import prices from China fell 1.2 percent over the past year and have not risen on a 12-month basis since October 2014. In contrast, the price indexes for imports from Mexico, Canada, and the European Union all increased in April, rising 2.2 percent, 0.6 percent, and 0.2 percent, respectively. Prices for imports from Japan recorded no change in April following a 0.1-percent advance in March and a 0.2-percent rise in February.

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials increased 0.8 percent in April, after advancing 1.5 percent the previous month. The April rise was led by a 2.6-percent advance in building materials prices.

Finished Goods: Prices for each of the major finished goods categories increased in April. Automotive vehicles prices increased 0.5 percent, the largest monthly advance for the index since a 0.7-percent rise in April 2012. The price indexes for capital goods and consumer goods each ticked up 0.1 percent in April. Capital goods prices declined 0.3 percent over the past year and prices for consumer goods advanced 0.2 percent.

Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Foods, feeds, and beverages prices advanced 0.3 percent in April following a 0.5-percent decrease in March. The April increase was led by a 3.6-percent rise in fruit prices, which also advanced 33.0 percent over the past 12 months.

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares decreased 3.2 percent in April, after declining 6.4 percent over the previous 3 months. The April decline was driven by a 7.5-percent drop in European fares. The index for import air passenger fares declined 9.1 percent between April 2016 and April 2017. Import air freight prices increased 0.7 percent in April and 7.5 percent over the past 12 months.

Export Prices

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials prices edged down 0.1 percent for the second consecutive month in April. The decrease was led by lower prices for chemicals, coal, and paper stocks.

Finished Goods: Finished goods prices were mostly up in April. Capital goods prices increased 0.2 percent for the fifth consecutive month and have not recorded a monthly decline since October. Prices for automotive vehicles advanced 0.3 percent, driven by a 0.7-percent rise in non-engine automobile parts. The price index for consumer goods recorded no change in April, after rising 0.3 percent in March.

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares declined 5.8 percent in April following a 3.0-percent advance in March. The April downturn was led by a 10.1-percent decrease in European fares. The index for export air passenger fares fell 1.4 percent for the year ended in April. Lower European and Asian fares over the past year both contributed to the decline. Prices for export air freight decreased 0.2 percent in April and rose 3.2 percent over the past year.

Import and Export Price Index data for May 2017 are scheduled for release on Thursday, June 15, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).