U.S. import prices decreased 0.4 percent in July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, following a 0.3-percent decline in June. Lower prices for fuel imports more than offset higher prices for nonfuel imports in July. Prices for U.S. exports decreased 1.3 percent in July after falling 0.7 percent the
previous month.
Imports
Import prices fell 0.4 percent in July following a decline of 0.3 percent in June and an advance of 1.7 percent in May. The July decrease in U.S. import prices was the largest monthly decline since the price index fell 0.5 percent in May 2025. Despite the monthly decline, prices for U.S. imports increased 5.9 percent from July 2025 to July 2026. (See table 1.)
Fuel Imports: Prices for import fuel fell 7.2 percent in July following a decrease of 3.8 percent in June and an increase of 12.1 percent in May. The July decrease was the largest monthly decline since the index fell 7.2 percent in September 2024. Lower prices for petroleum and petroleum products more than offset higher prices for natural gas. In July, prices for import petroleum and petroleum products fell 7.5 percent, and import natural gas prices advanced 5.3 percent. From July 2025 to July 2026, import fuel prices increased 25.2 percent. Over the same period, the price index for import petroleum and petroleum products advanced 26.3 percent, and prices for import natural gas increased 74.3 percent.
All Imports Excluding Fuel: Prices for nonfuel imports increased 0.4 percent in July. Higher prices for capital goods; foods, feeds, and beverages; as well as automotive vehicles, parts, and engines more than offset lower prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials. From July 2025 to July 2026, nonfuel import prices rose 4.5 percent, the largest over-the-year advance since the index increased 4.6 percent for the year ended June 2022. Higher prices for capital goods; nonfuel industrial supplies and materials; consumer goods, excluding automotives; as well as foods, feeds, and beverages more than offset lower
prices for automotive vehicles, parts, and engines for the year ended July 2026.
Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Prices for import foods, feeds, and beverages advanced 0.9 percent in July following decreases of 0.1 percent in June and 0.3 percent in May. In July, higher prices for other animal and vegetable preparations and products, fruit, as well as food oils and oilseeds more than offset lower
prices for cane and beet sugar, green coffee, as well as bakery and confectionery products.
Source : bls.gov