October 12, 2007 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Import prices up in September 2007

Import prices resumed an upward trend in September, rising 1.0 percent for the month.

Over-the-month percent change in price index for imports, September 2006-September 2007 (not seasonally adjusted)
[Chart data—TXT]

Higher prices for import petroleum accounted for the increase, rising 5.4 percent in September after dipping in August. Since January, petroleum prices have jumped 40.3 percent.

In contrast, nonpetroleum import prices edged down 0.2 percent in September, following a 0.1 percent drop in August.

These data are from the BLS International Price program. Import price data are subject to revision. Learn more in "U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes -- September 2007" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 07-1548.

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