September 14, 2001 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Small change in import prices in August

The U.S. Import Price Index declined 0.1 percent in August. Falling prices for nonpetroleum imports more than offset a small increase in petroleum prices.

Over-the-month percent change in price index for imports, August 2000-August 2001 (not seasonally adjusted)
[Chart data—TXT]

The modest decrease in the import price index marked the sixth decrease in the past seven months in this series. The price index for nonpetroleum imports fell 0.4 percent over the month. Imported petroleum prices rose 1.7 percent in August.

The price index for all imports declined 4.4 percent from August 2000 to August 2001. The price index for nonpetroleum imports decreased 2.8 percent for the year ended in August. Prices of petroleum imports were down 15.0 percent over the past 12 months.

These data are a product of the BLS International Price program. Learn more in "U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes - August 2001," news release USDL 01-296. Note: import price data are subject to revision in each of the three months after original publication.

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