MNI DATA ANALYSIS: September US Import Prices Rise 0.7%>

--Import Prices Ex. Fuels Up 0.3%, Ex-Petro Also Up 0.3%

--Import Prices Up 2.7% Year/Year, Ex-Fuels Up 1.3% Year/Year

--Fuel Prices Rise 3.9%, Petroleum Up 4.5%, Natural Gas Down 7.8%

By Kevin Kastner

     WASHINGTON (MNI) - U.S. import prices rose by 0.7% in September on 

a 3.9% gain in fuel prices as well as combined gain in the other 

components, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Tuesday. 

     Petroleum prices rose 4.5% in September, offset by a 7.8% decline 

in natural gas prices. The BLS had no comment regarding the hurricane 

impacts. 

     Import prices rose 0.3% excluding petroleum and were also up 0.3% 

excluding all fuels. 

     Overall import prices were up 2.7% year/year, while prices 

excluding fuels were up 1.3% year/year and prices excluding petroleum 

were up 1.2% year/year, indicating that energy prices were the key 

driver of imported inflation. 

     The 0.3% gain in import prices outside of fuels was the result of 

price increases for foods, industrial supplies outside of fuels, capital 

goods, and autos. There was some offset from a 0.1% decline for consumer 

goods prices. 

     Excluding both fuels and feed, import prices were up 0.2%. The 

year-over-year rate of increase for this category was 1.1%. 

     By region, prices for imports from Canada, the EU, Mexico and Japan 

were all higher, while prices from China were flat. 

     Total export prices rose 0.8% in September as agricultural export 

prices fell 0.7%. Export prices excluding agriculture were up 1.0%. 

     Export prices were up 2.9% from a year earlier and were still up 

3.0% excluding agricultural. 

     ** MNI Washington Bureau: 202-371-2121 ** 

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