January 12, 2001 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Imported petroleum prices drop in December

The U.S. Import Price Index decreased 0.5 percent in December. The decline followed a 0.1-percent increase in the previous month and reflected a 9.3-percent over-the-month downturn for imported petroleum prices.

Over-the-month percent change in import price indexes, petroleum imports, December 1999- December 2000 (not seasonally adjusted)
[Chart data—TXT]

The volatile petroleum index still rose 18.8 percent for the year ended in December 2000 after surging 136.8 percent from December 1998 to December 1999.

From December 1999 to December 2000, import prices rose 3.5 percent after gaining 7.1 percent in the December 1998-99 period. The increase in both years was largely attributable to rising petroleum prices. 

These data are a product of the BLS International Price program. Learn more in "U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes - December 2000," news release USDL 01-10. Note: export price data are subject to revision in each of the three months after original publication.

 

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