September 2026 U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes

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U.S. import prices increased 1.1 percent in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, following a 0.5-percent rise in August. Higher prices for nonfuel imports and fuel imports drove the advance in September. Prices for U.S. exports increased 2.2 percent in September after rising 1.2 percent the previous month.

Imports

Import prices advanced 1.1 percent in September following an increase of 0.5 percent in August. Prices for U.S. imports rose 8.1 percent from September 2025 to September 2026, the largest 12-month advance since the index increased 8.8 percent for the year ended July 2022. (See table 1.)

Fuel Imports: Prices for import fuel increased 4.8 percent in September following decreases of 0.2 percent in August and 6.8 percent in July. In September, higher prices for petroleum and petroleum products as well as natural gas drove the advance. Import prices for petroleum and petroleum products increased 4.6 percent, and prices for import natural gas rose 1.6 percent. From September 2025 to September 2026, fuel import prices increased 34.5 percent, the price index for import petroleum and petroleum products advanced 35.4 percent, and prices for import natural gas increased 96.5 percent. The over-the-year rise for import natural gas prices was the largest such movement since the index advanced 149.5 percent for the year ended June 2022.

All Imports Excluding Fuel: Prices for nonfuel imports increased 0.7 percent in September and have not declined on a monthly basis since August 2025. Higher prices for capital goods; nonfuel industrial supplies and materials; consumer goods, excluding automotives; as well as automotive vehicles, parts and engines drove the increase in September. Nonfuel import prices rose 6.0 percent from September 2025 to September 2026, the largest over-the-year increase since the index advanced 7.2 percent for the 12-month period ended April 2022. Higher prices for capital goods; nonfuel industrial supplies and materials; consumer goods, excluding automotives; foods, feeds, and beverages; and automotive vehicles, parts, and engines drove the 12-month increase for the year ended in September.

Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Import prices for foods, feeds, and beverages were unchanged in September following a decrease of 0.6 percent in August. Higher prices for vegetables, green coffee, and fruit offset lower prices for cane and beet sugar as well as fish and shellfish in September.

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Import prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials increased 1.4 percent in September after a 1.3-percent advance in August. Higher prices for finished metals shapes and advanced manufacturing; finished nonmetals (boxes, belting, glass, etc.); and agricultural products used for industrial supplies and materials drove the increase in September.

Finished Goods: Prices for the major finished goods import categories were up in September. Import capital goods prices rose 0.9 percent for the second consecutive month in September. Higher prices for computers, peripherals, and semiconductors as well as industrial and service machinery more than offset lower prices for scientific and medical machinery. In September, import prices for automotive vehicles, parts, and engines increased 0.3 percent, and the price index for import consumer goods, excluding automotives, rose 0.4 percent over the same period.

Exports

Prices for U.S. exports increased 2.2 percent in September following an advance of 1.2 percent in August. In September, higher prices for nonagricultural exports and agricultural exports drove the increase. U.S. export prices increased 11.6 percent for the year ended September 2026, the largest over-the-year rise since the index advanced 12.9 percent from July 2021 to July 2022. (See table 2.)

Agricultural Exports: Prices for agricultural exports increased 2.6 percent in September, the largest monthly rise since the index advanced 2.8 percent in November 2022. Higher prices for soybeans, corn, and wheat drove the advance in September. Agricultural export prices have not declined on a monthly basis since December 2025. Over the past 12 months, agricultural export prices increased 9.0 percent, as higher prices for soybeans, corn, as well as oilseeds and food oils drove the rise for the year ended in September.

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: Nonagricultural export prices increased 2.1 percent in September after rising 1.3 percent in August. Higher prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials; capital goods; consumer goods, excluding automotives; and automotive vehicles, parts, and engines drove the advance. Prices for nonagricultural exports increased 11.8 percent from September 2025 to September 2026. Higher prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials; capital goods; and consumer goods, excluding automotives, drove the 12-month rise.

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials prices advanced 4.0 percent in September after an increase of 2.5 percent the previous month. Higher prices for petroleum and petroleum products; natural gas; and chemicals more than offset lower prices for nonferrous and other metals in September.

Finished Goods: Prices for the major finished goods export categories were up in September. Capital goods prices increased 0.5 percent. Higher prices for computers, peripherals, and semiconductors; as well as oil drilling, mining, and construction machinery, and equipment; more than offset lower prices for civilian aircraft, aircraft engines, and parts. Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines prices increased 0.8 percent in September and prices for consumer goods, excluding automotives, rose 1.1 percent 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 0.7 percent in September, the largest monthly advance since December 2021. Over the past 12 months, the price index for imports from China increased 3.1 percent. Prices for imports from Japan increased 0.6 percent in September following an advance of 0.2 percent in August and a decline of 0.1 percent in July. The price index for imports from Japan increased 1.1 percent from September 2025 to September 2026. The price index for imports from the European Union increased 0.3 percent in September, and import prices from Mexico rose 0.6 percent over the same period. In September, prices for imports from Canada increased 1.3 percent. (See table 7.)

Exports by Locality of Destination: Prices for exports to China advanced 2.7 percent in September, the largest monthly rise since the index increased 5.0 percent in March 2022. The price index for exports to China increased 7.5 percent over the past 12 months. Prices for exports to Japan increased 1.7 percent in September following decreases of 0.5 percent in August and 0.4 percent in July. The price index for exports to Japan increased 6.1 percent over the past 12 months. The price index for exports to the European Union increased 3.9 percent in September, and export prices to Mexico increased 2.5 percent over the same period. Prices for exports to Canada increased 1.0 percent in September. (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 increased 2.0 percent in September following a 0.6-percent decline in August. The September rise in the 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 advanced 1.1 percent in September after decreasing 0.7 percent in August. The index for U.S. terms of trade with the European Union increased 3.6 percent in September, the largest 1- month advance for this index since percent changes were first published on a monthly basis in January 2018. In September, the U.S. terms of trade index with Canada fell 0.3 percent, and the U.S. terms of trade index with Mexico increased 1.9 percent. (See table 9.)

Import and Export Services

Imports: Import air passenger fares increased 12.6 percent in September after decreases of 11.2 percent in August and 11.0 percent in July. Higher prices for European and Asian fares in September more than offset lower prices for Latin American/Caribbean fares. Import air passenger fares advanced 11.8 percent for the year ended September 2026. Prices for import air freight ticked up 0.1 percent in September after rising 2.2 percent the previous month. Higher Asian air freight prices more than offset lower European air freight prices in September. From September 2025 to September 2026, import air freight prices advanced 25.7 percent. (See table 10.)

Exports: Export air passenger fares decreased 1.7 percent in September following a 4.3-percent decline the previous month. Lower prices for Asian and Latin American/Caribbean fares more than offset higher prices for European fares in September. Despite the recent monthly declines, the price index for export air passenger fares increased 5.2 percent from September 2025 to September 2026. Export air freight prices fell 2.2 percent in September following an advance of 2.5 percent in August. Lower prices for European and Asian air freight drove the decrease in September. Over the past year, prices for export air freight increased 18.8 percent, the largest over-the-year rise since September 2022.

The U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes news release for October is scheduled to be published on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. (ET).