MW: U.S. August import prices rise 0.6%, led by fuel
By Ruth Mantell
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Prices of goods imported into the United States increased 0.6% in August in the largest gain since April, the Labor Department reported Wednesday. Fuel-import prices rose 1.7% in August, led by a 2.1% increase in petroleum prices. Meanwhile, prices for non-fuel imports rose 0.3%, driven by higher prices for finished goods and foods, feeds and beverages. Import prices are up 4.1% in the past year, the smallest 12-month gain since November 2009. Over the past year prices for fuel imports are up 9.1%, while prices for non-fuel imports are up 2.9%. Export prices rose 0.8% in August, the largest gain since April. Prices for agricultural exports rose 4.2%, the largest increase since June 2009. Meanwhile, prices for non-agricultural exports rose 0.5%. For the year, export prices are up 4.1%. In July, overall import prices rose 0.1%, while export prices fell 0.2%.
