Recent Updates
- Israel: Average Housing Prices (Q2)
- Japan: NCI Economic Activity Index (Aug)
- US: NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (Aug)
- Canada: Wholesale trade, MSIO (June)
- Pakistan: Foreign Currency Deposits and Utilization (JUL)
- more updates...
Economy in Brief
U.S. Empire State Manufacturing Index Plummets in August; Lowest Since May '20
The Empire State Manufacturing Index of General Business Conditions plunged to -31.3 in August...
U.S. Import and Export Prices Fall in July; Deepest Since April 2020
Import prices fell 1.4% m/m (8.8% y/y) in July...
U.S. Housing Affordability Declines Further in June
The NAR Fixed Rate Mortgage Housing Affordability Index fell 3.6% in June...
EMU Output Makes Solid Gain in June
The European Monetary Union posted a 0.7% increase for industrial output in June...
U.S. Producer Prices Fall During July; Core Increase Weakens
The Producer Price Index for Final Demand fell 0.5% during July...
Viewpoints
Commentaries are the opinions of the author and do not reflect the views of Haver Analytics.
by Tom Moeller April 15, 2005
The 1.8% rise in import prices last month greatly exceeded Consensus expectations for a 1.3% increase and the prior month's gain was revised up.
Petroleum prices jumped 10.6% m/m and pulled prices one third higher than last year, but relief may be in store. So far in April the price of Brent Crude oil has run below the March average of $53.13 per barrel and yesterday touched $49.79.
Import prices outside of petroleum posted a 0.3% rise in March that mostly reflected a 3.4% (9.7% y/y) gain in prices of foods & beverages but prices for industrial supplies & materials less petroleum also posted a strong 1.1% (11.1% y/y) spike.
Prices for nonauto consumer goods fell 0.4% (+1.0% y/y) and capital goods prices slipped another 0.1% (-0.9% y/y). Excluding computers capital goods prices were unchanged (2.3% y/y). Imported computer prices fell 0.5% (-7.2% y/y).
Export prices jumped 0.7% last month as agricultural prices surged 3.7% (-8.1% y/y) and nonagricultural export prices rose 0.4% (4.6% y/y).
Import/Export Prices (NSA) | Mar | Feb | Y/Y | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Import - All Commodities | 1.8% | 0.8% | 7.1% | 5.6% | 2.9% | -2.5% |
Petroleum | 10.6% | 4.6% | 36.1% | 30.5% | 21.0% | 3.0% |
Non-petroleum | 0.3% | 0.1% | 2.9% | 2.6% | 1.1% | -2.4% |
Export - All Commodities | 0.7% | 0.0% | 3.3% | 3.9% | 1.6% | -1.0% |