September 15, 2006 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Import prices in August 2006

The U.S. Import Price Index rose 0.8 percent in August. The increase was led by an advance in petroleum prices, although a rise in nonpetroleum prices was also a contributing factor.

Over-the-month percent change in price index for imports, August 2005–August 2006 (not seasonally adjusted)
[Chart data—TXT]

Petroleum prices rose 2.3 percent in August, and were up 25.9 percent over the past five months.

Nonpetroleum prices also increased in August, rising 0.5 percent. For the year ended in August, prices for nonpetroleum imports rose 2.7 percent while overall import prices advanced 6.6 percent.

Export prices rose 0.4 percent in August as higher prices for both agricultural exports and nonagricultural exports contributed to the increase. 

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 - August 2006" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 06-1586.

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