April 2025 U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes

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U.S. import prices increased 0.1 percent in April following a 0.4-percent decrease in March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Higher prices for nonfuel imports more than offset lower prices for fuel imports in April. Prices for U.S. exports advanced 0.1 percent in April, after rising 0.1 percent the previous month.

Imports

Import prices rose 0.1 percent in April following a decrease of 0.4 percent in March and an advance of 0.2 percent in February. Prices for U.S. imports rose 0.1 percent from April 2024 to April 2025. (See table 1.)

Fuel Imports: Prices for import fuel declined 2.6 percent in April following a decrease of 3.4 percent in March and an increase of 1.6 percent in February. Lower prices for petroleum and natural gas drove the overall decline in import fuel prices. In April, prices for import petroleum and natural gas declined 2.0 percent and 17.5 percent, respectively. Import fuel prices decreased 12.0 percent over the past 12 months, the largest over-the-year decline since the index fell 15.4 percent for the 12 months ended October 2024. The price index for petroleum imports decreased 13.3 percent over the past 12 months. Prices for import natural gas increased 59.9 percent over the same period.

All Imports Excluding Fuel: Prices for nonfuel imports increased 0.4 percent in April following a decrease of 0.1 percent in March. Higher prices for capital goods, nonfuel industrial supplies and materials, consumer goods, and automotive vehicles drove the advance. The price index for nonfuel imports increased 1.2 percent over the past 12 months, led by higher prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials, automotive vehicles, and capital goods.

Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Foods, feeds, and beverages prices were unchanged in April following a decrease of 0.1 percent in March. Higher prices for green coffee offset lower prices for cocoa beans and vegetables in April.

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Import prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials increased 0.8 percent in April, after ticking up 0.1 percent in March. Higher prices for major nonferrous metals, finished nonmetals, and finished metals shapes and advanced manufacturing more than offset lower prices for chemicals in April.

Finished Goods: Prices for the major finished goods import categories were up in April. Import prices for capital goods increased 0.6 percent, the largest monthly advance since the index rose 0.9 percent in January 2022. The April advance was led by higher prices for computers, peripherals, and semiconductors and for scientific and medical machinery. The price index for automotive vehicles rose 0.2 percent in April, the largest 1-month advance since October 2024. Import prices for consumer goods increased 0.3 percent in April, the first monthly advance since October 2024. Higher prices for coins, gems, jewelry, and collectibles contributed to the increase in April.

Exports

Prices for U.S. exports advanced 0.1 percent for the second consecutive month in April. Higher prices for nonagricultural and agricultural exports each contributed to the monthly increase. The price index for U.S. exports has not declined on a 1-month basis since September 2024. U.S. export prices advanced 2.0 percent from April 2024 to April 2025. (See table 2.)

Agricultural Exports: Agricultural export prices advanced 0.5 percent in April following a 0.2-percent decrease in March. Higher prices for fruit and nuts more than offset lower prices for soybeans. The price index for agricultural exports increased 1.9 percent over the past 12 months, the largest over-the-year rise since the index advanced 3.1 percent for the year ended February 2023.

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: Nonagricultural export prices ticked up 0.1 percent in April, after rising 0.1 percent in March and 0.6 percent in February. Higher prices for consumer goods, capital goods, and automotive vehicles more than offset lower prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials. The price index for nonagricultural exports advanced 1.9 percent for the year ended April 2025 and has not declined on a 12-month basis since September 2024.

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials prices decreased 0.4 percent in April, after declining 0.2 percent the previous month. Lower prices for petroleum and natural gas contributed to the decrease in April.

Finished Goods: Export finished goods prices were up in April. The price index for consumer goods rose 0.8 percent in April, the largest monthly advance since the index increased 1.0 percent in January 2023. Higher prices for medicinal, dental, and pharmaceutical preparatory materials and for toys, shooting, and sporting goods contributed to the increase. Capital goods prices rose 0.2 percent in April. Higher prices for industrial and service machinery and for computers, peripherals, and semiconductors led the advance in capital goods prices. In April, automotive vehicles prices advanced 0.5 percent, the largest monthly increase since October 2024. Parts, engines, bodies, and chassis prices led the advance in automotive vehicles prices.

More information for the major import and export price indexes can be found at www.bls.gov/web/ximpim/largest.htm.

Measures of Import and Export Prices by Locality

Imports by Locality of Origin: Import prices from China decreased 0.1 percent in April, the fifth consecutive monthly decline. The index last increased on a monthly basis in October 2022. The decrease in April was driven by lower miscellaneous manufacturing prices. The price index for imports from China fell 1.3 percent over the past 12 months, the largest over-the-year decline since the index decreased 1.3 percent for the year ended August 2024. Prices for imports from Japan declined 0.2 percent in April following a decrease of 0.2 percent in March and an increase of 0.5 percent in February. Lower prices for chemical manufacturing in April led the decline. The price index for imports from Japan increased 1.0 percent over the past 12 months. Import prices from the European Union increased 0.6 percent in April. The price index for imports from Mexico decreased 0.3 percent in April, after falling 0.4 percent the previous month. Prices for imports from Canada decreased 0.1 percent in April. (See table 7.)

Exports by Locality of Destination: Prices for exports to China increased 0.7 percent in April, the largest monthly advance since January. The price index for exports to China increased 1.8 percent over the past 12 months. The index has not recorded an over-the-year decrease since December 2024. Prices for exports to Japan increased 1.6 percent in April following advances of 0.2 percent in March and 1.1 percent in February. The April rise was the largest monthly increase since the index advanced 2.6 percent in October 2024. The price index for exports to Japan increased 5.0 percent over the past year. Export prices to Mexico increased 0.1 percent in April, after rising 0.2 percent the previous month. Prices for exports to Canada increased 1.1 percent in April. The price index for exports to the European Union decreased 0.2 percent in April and declined 2.2 percent over the past 12 months. The over-the-year decrease in April was the largest 12-month decline since the index fell 4.2 percent for the year ended July 2023. (See table 8.)

Terms of Trade Indexes: Terms of Trade indexes are based on country, region, or grouping and measure the change in the purchasing power of exports relative to imports. The index for U.S. terms of trade with China increased 0.8 percent in April following a 0.7-percent advance in March. The April rise in U.S. terms of trade with China was driven by the increase in export prices to China. The index for U.S. terms of trade with Japan increased 1.8 percent in April. U.S. terms of trade with the European Union decreased 0.7 percent in April, after rising 0.4 percent in March. In April, the indexes for U.S. terms of trade with Canada and Mexico increased 1.3 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively. (See table 9.)

Import and Export Services

Imports: Import air passenger fares decreased 3.0 percent in April following increases of 0.6 percent in March and 3.4 percent in February. Lower prices for European and Asian fares more than offset higher prices for Latin American/Caribbean fares. The index for import air passenger fares decreased 6.9 percent for the year ended in April, the largest 12-month drop since August 2023. Prices for import air freight increased 2.5 percent in April, led by higher Asian and European air freight prices. Import air freight prices increased 1.6 percent over the past 12 months. (See table 10.)

Exports: Export air passenger fares increased 1.2 percent in April following a 2.6-percent advance the previous month. Higher prices for Latin American/Caribbean and European fares more than offset lower prices for Asian fares. The price index for export air passenger fares decreased 0.4 percent from April 2024 to April 2025. Export air freight prices increased 1.5 percent in April following an advance of 1.7 percent in March and a decline of 1.8 percent in February. The index for export air freight prices rose 4.3 percent over the past year. The 12-month increase in April was the largest over-the-year advance since the index rose 5.7 percent in October 2024.

U.S. Import and Export Price Index data for May 2025 are scheduled for release on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. (ET).