August 2026 U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes

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U.S. import prices increased 0.7 percent in August, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, following a 0.3-percent decrease in July. Higher prices for nonfuel imports more than offset lower prices for fuel imports in August. Prices for U.S. exports advanced 0.6 percent in August after falling 1.4 percent the previous month.

Imports

Import prices rose 0.7 percent in August following consecutive declines of 0.3 percent in July and June. Prices for U.S. imports advanced 7.0 percent from August 2025 to August 2026, the largest over-the-year increase since the index rose 7.7 percent for the 12-month period ended August 2022. (See table 1.)

Fuel Imports: Fuel prices edged down 0.1 percent in August following a decrease of 6.6 percent in July and a decline of 3.7 percent in June. Import fuel prices declined 10.2 percent for the 3-month period ended in August, the largest quarterly decrease since the index fell 10.6 percent for the 3-months ended May 2025. In August, lower prices for natural gas, down 1.0 percent for the month, more than offset higher prices for petroleum and petroleum products, which ticked up 0.1 percent. Despite the recent monthly declines, import fuel prices increased 26.8 percent from August 2025 to August 2026. The price index for petroleum and petroleum products imports increased 27.3 percent over the past 12 months. Prices for import natural gas advanced 102.6 percent over the same period.

All Imports Excluding Fuel: Prices for nonfuel imports increased 0.8 percent in August following an advance of 0.3 percent in July. Higher prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials; capital goods; as well as consumer goods, excluding automotives, drove the increase in August. Nonfuel import prices rose 5.5 percent from August 2025 to August 2026, the largest over-the-year increase since the index advanced 5.9 percent for the 12-month period ended May 2022. Higher prices for capital goods; nonfuel industrial supplies and materials; consumer goods, excluding automotives; foods, feeds, and beverages; as well as automotive vehicles, parts, and engines drove the 12-month increase for the year ended in August.

Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Import prices for foods, feeds, and beverages ticked up 0.1 percent in August following an increase of 0.7 percent in July and a decrease of 0.1 percent in June. Higher prices for fish and shellfish, bakery and confectionery products, cane and beet sugar, as well as distilled alcoholic beverages more than offset lower prices for other animal and vegetable preparations and products as well as meat.

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Import prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials increased 2.0 percent in August after a 0.9-percent decrease in July. Higher prices for finished metals shapes and advanced manufacturing as well as finished nonmetals (boxes, belting, glass, etc.) drove the increase in August.

Finished Goods: Prices for the major finished goods import categories were mostly up in August. Import capital goods prices increased 0.9 percent. Higher prices for computers, peripherals, and semiconductors; industrial and service machinery; as well as telecommunications equipment drove the increase. The price index for import consumer goods, excluding automotives, increased 0.5 percent in August, and import prices for automotive vehicles, parts, and engines were unchanged over the same period.

Exports

Prices for U.S. exports increased 0.6 percent in August. Prices for both nonagricultural exports and agricultural exports increased. U.S. export prices advanced 8.6 percent over the 12-month period ended in August. (See table 2.)

Agricultural Exports: The price index for agricultural exports advanced 0.5 percent in August following a 0.4-percent increase in July. The price index hasn't declined on a monthly basis since December 2025. Higher prices for corn and animal feeds more than offset lower prices for meat. Agricultural export prices rose 5.8 percent from August 2025 to August 2026, the largest over-the-year increase since the index advanced 9.3 percent for the 12-month period ended December 2022. Higher prices for corn, soybeans, oilseeds and food oils, as well as animal feeds drove the 12-month rise for the year ended in August.

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: Nonagricultural export prices rose 0.7 percent in August after declines of 1.6 percent in July and 0.8 percent in June. Higher prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials; capital goods; as well as automotive vehicles, parts, and engines drove the increase. Prices for nonagricultural exports increased 8.9 percent from August 2025 to August 2026. Higher prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials; capital goods; consumer goods, excluding automotives; as well as automotive vehicles, parts, and engines drove the 12-month increase.

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials prices increased 1.4 percent in August after a decrease of 4.0 percent the previous month. Higher prices for petroleum and petroleum products as well as for nonferrous and other metals more than offset lower prices for natural gas.

Finished Goods: Prices for the major finished goods export categories were mostly up in August. Capital goods prices increased 0.2 percent. Higher prices for telecommunications equipment; industrial and service machinery; as well as computers, peripherals, and semiconductors drove the increase. Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines prices increased 0.3 percent in August and prices for consumer goods, excluding automotives, were unchanged over the same period.

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 increased 1.0 percent in August, the largest monthly advance since the index was first published in January 2004. Higher prices for computer and electronic product manufacturing drove the increase. The index for import prices from China rose 3.0 percent over the past 12 months. Prices for imports from Japan increased 0.2 percent in August following decreases of 0.2 percent in July and 0.5 percent in June. Import prices from Japan rose 1.1 percent over the past 12 months. The price indexes for imports from the European Union and from Mexico increased in August, rising 0.9 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively. In contrast, prices for imports from Canada decreased 0.8 percent in August following a decline of 2.3 percent in July. (See table 7.)

Exports by Locality of Destination: Prices for exports to China decreased 1.1 percent in August, the largest monthly decline since the index fell 2.6 percent in June 2025. Despite recent monthly declines, the price index for exports to China advanced 4.4 percent over the past 12 months. Prices for exports to Japan decreased 0.4 percent in August following a decline of 0.8 percent in July and an increase of 0.6 percent in June. The price index for exports to Japan increased 6.1 percent over the past 12 months. In August, export prices to the European Union increased 0.6 percent, and the price index for exports to Mexico increased 1.3 percent following a 0.7-percent rise the previous month. Prices for exports to Canada advanced 1.6 percent in August after declining 0.2 percent in July and 0.5 percent in June. (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 U.S. terms of trade index with China decreased 2.1 percent in August following a 0.7-percent decline in July. Lower export prices to China and higher import prices from China contributed to the decrease in the U.S. terms of trade index with China. The index for U.S. terms of trade with Japan decreased 0.5 percent. The index for U.S. terms of trade with the European Union decreased 0.4 percent in August after falling 1.8 percent in July. In August, the U.S. terms of trade indexes with Canada and Mexico increased 2.4 percent and 1.1 percent, respectively. (See table 9.)

Import and Export Services

Imports: Import air passenger fares decreased 11.2 percent in August after a decline of 11.0 percent in July. The decrease in August was the largest monthly drop since the index declined 14.3 percent in July 2025. In August, lower prices for European and Asian fares more than offset higher prices for Latin American/Caribbean fares. Despite the recent monthly declines, import air passenger fares increased 13.2 percent over the past year. Prices for import air freight increased 1.8 percent in August and advanced 27.0 percent over the past 12 months. (See table 10.)

Exports: Export air passenger fares decreased 4.3 percent in August following a 0.1-percent increase the previous month. Lower prices for European and Asian fares more than offset higher prices for Latin American/Caribbean fares. The price index for export air passenger fares increased 5.7 percent from August 2025 to August 2026, the largest over-the-year rise since the index advanced 9.1 percent for the 12 months ended April 2023. Export air freight prices rose 2.8 percent in August and increased 18.1 percent over the past year. The 12-month movement in August for export air freight prices was the largest over-the-year increase since the index advanced 18.8 percent for the 12 months ended September 2022.

The U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes news release for September is scheduled to be published on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. (ET).