Inflation Risks Loom as U.S. Import Prices Edge Higher on Fuel Costs

On an annual basis, import prices rose 1.3%, marking their strongest year-over-year gain since July 2024. However, fuel imports remain 8.6% lower year-over-year, reflecting ongoing volatility in energy markets.

How Did Export Prices Perform?

Export prices were unchanged in November, as higher nonagricultural export prices balanced declines in agricultural goods. Agricultural export prices fell 0.4%, led by lower prices for soybeans and fruit, while nonagricultural exports rose 0.1%, driven by capital goods and industrial materials. Year-over-year, export prices increased 0.8%, their largest annual gain since mid-2024.

Regionally, export prices to key trading partners such as China and Japan declined in November, contributing to a weaker U.S. terms of trade. For instance, export prices to China dropped 0.5%, while those to Japan fell 1.0%.