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Economy in Brief

Import Prices Fell
by Tom Moeller June 10, 2005

Import prices fell 1.3% last month after an upwardly revised 1.2% April surge. Consensus expectations had been for a 0.4% decline.

Petroleum prices slumped 6.5% in May and were the source of April's upward revision. In June, crude oil prices have recovered all of the May decline and moved to $53.18 for Brent Crude.

Import prices other than petroleum fell 0.3% last month though price declines were limited.

Prices for nonauto consumer goods rose 0.1% (+1.4% y/y) but capital goods prices were unchanged (-0.3% y/y). Excluding computers capital goods prices rose another 0.3% (2.7% y/y).

During the last ten years there has been a 66% (negative) correlation between the nominal trade-weighted exchange value of the US dollar vs. major currencies and the y/y change in non oil import prices. The correlation is a lower 47% against a broader basket of currencies and a lower 57% against the real value of the dollar.

Export prices reversed some of the prior month's gain with a 0.1% decline.
Import/Export Prices (NSA) May April Y/Y 2004 2003 2002
Import - All Commodities -1.3% 1.2% 5.7% 5.6% 2.9% -2.5%
  Petroleum -6.5% 5.4% 26.2% 30.5% 21.0% 3.0%
  Non-petroleum -0.3% 0.4% 2.5% 2.6% 1.1% -2.4%
Export - All Commodities -0.1% 0.6% 2.7% 3.9% 1.6% -1.0%
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