August 14, 2003 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Import prices in July

The U.S. Import Price Index rose 0.5 percent in July following a 0.7-percent advance in June. A continued rise in petroleum prices was the primary contributor to the advance in import prices.

Over-the-month percent change in price index for imports, July 2002–July 2003 (not seasonally adjusted)
[Chart data—TXT]

The petroleum price index increased 3.7 percent in July and 4.2 percent in June and was up 11.6 percent over the past 12 months. The price index for nonpetroleum imports edged up 0.1 percent in July and was up 1.2 percent over the July 2002-2003 period. Overall imports rose 2.1 percent over the past year.

Export prices dipped 0.1 percent in July after falling 0.2 percent in June.

These data are from the BLS International Price program. Import and export price data are subject to revision. Learn more in "U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes - July 2003" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 03-430.