September 17, 2007 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Import prices down in August 2007

The U.S. Import Price Index decreased 0.3 percent in August.

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

The decline in import prices in August was the first since a 1.2-percent drop in January. 

A comparatively modest 1.3-percent decrease in petroleum prices followed six months of higher prices during which the index rose 34.9 percent. Nonpetroleum prices also decreased in August, falling 0.1 percent.

Nonpetroleum prices rose 2.3 percent for the year ended in August, while overall import prices increased 1.9 percent for the same period. Petroleum prices rose 1.5 percent over the past 12 months.

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 -- August 2007" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 07-1382.