ZCZC
BCN-19
US-EXPORT-IMPORT-PRICE
U.S. prices of imports, exports declines in August
HOUSTON, Sept. 15, 2018 (BSS/Xinhua) – United States import prices
declined 0.6 percent and exports prices edged down 0.1 percent in August, the
U.S. Department of Labor reported on Friday.
The decline of import prices in August was the largest monthly drop since
the index fell 1.3 percent in January 2016.
Prices for U.S. imports advanced 3.7 percent over the past year.
Import fuel prices decreased 3.9 percent in August, the first decline for
the index since a 2.6-percent drop in March and the largest monthly decline
since a 6.8-percent decrease in February 2016.
Petroleum prices declined 3.9 percent in August, after increasing in each
of the previous 4 months, and natural gas prices fell 6.3 percent following
an 18.0-percent increase in July.
Nonfuel import prices edged down 0.1 percent in August. Despite the
downward trend over the past 3 months, nonfuel import prices increased 0.9
percent for the year ended in August. The increase was led by a 6.4-percent
rise in nonfuel industrial supplies and materials prices.
Prices for all export decreased 0.1 percent in August, after declining 0.5
percent in July. The price index for overall exports advanced 3.6 percent for
the year ended in August.
The price index for agricultural exports rose 0.2 percent in August
following a 5.2-percent decline the previous month. Agricultural prices
decreased 1.7 percent for the year ended in August.
Nonagricultural export prices fell 0.2 percent in August, after recording
no change in July. Prices for nonagricultural exports increased 4.1 percent
over the past year.
BSS/XINHUA/HR/1115