August 13, 2007 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Import prices in July 2007

The U.S. Import Price Index rose 1.5 percent in July, the sixth consecutive increase for the index.

[Chart data—TXT]

Petroleum prices were also up for sixth month in a row, increasing 7.0 percent in July after a 4.4-percent rise in the previous month. Over the past 12 months, the price index for petroleum imports was up 4.1 percent, while overall import prices rose 2.8 percent.

Nonpetroleum prices also advanced in July, rising 0.2 percent after rising 0.1 percent in June. For the year ended in July, prices for nonpetroleum imports increased 2.8 percent.

Export prices advanced 0.2 percent in July following increases of 0.3 percent and 0.2 percent in June and May, respectively.

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 2007" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 07-1204.