US import prices were unexpectedly the same in April as a fall in the cost of petroleum offset increases in the prices of food and other products.
- The unchanged figure in import prices comes after a 2.9% surge in March. In the 12 months through April, import prices increased 12.0% after expanding 13.0% in the year through March.
- Import prices rose 6.8% over the first quarter. With oil prices increasing further in May, consumer and producer prices are likely to increase.
- Imported fuel prices fell 2.4% last month after rising 17.3% in March. Petroleum prices fell 2.9% as the cost of imported food rose 0.9%.
- Prices of imported capital goods increased by 0.4%, marching gains in March. The cost of imported consumer goods, excluding motor vehicles, was unchanged.
Import prices, excluding volatile food and food prices, rose by 0.4%. These so-called core import prices rose by 1.3% in March. They rose 6.9% on a year-on-year basis in April.
DXY up +0.08%, EURUSD down -0.07%
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
