October 15, 2004 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Import prices in September 2004

Import prices increased for the third consecutive month, up 0.2 percent in September.

[Chart data—TXT]

Higher petroleum prices again were the primary factor behind the increase, rising a more modest 0.6 percent in September compared with increases of 8.3 percent and 2.2 percent in the previous two months. Prices for petroleum were up 48.7 percent over the past year.

Nonpetroleum prices also contributed to the September increase in overall import prices, rising 0.1 percent. For the year ended in September, nonpetroleum prices were up 2.9 percent and overall import prices rose 7.8 percent.

Export prices rose 0.4 percent in September as higher prices for agricultural exports and for nonagricultural exports contributed to the overall increase. The price index for agricultural exports was up 1.6 percent in September, following decreases in each of the previous three months.

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 - September 2004" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 04-2102.