Global| Feb 12 2016U.S. Import and Export Prices Decline Steadily
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
Summary
Import prices declined 1.1% during January (-6.2% y/y), the same as in December, revised from -1.2%. A 1.5% decline had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Petroleum prices fell 13.4% (-35.3% y/y) following a 9.2% [...]
Import prices declined 1.1% during January (-6.2% y/y), the same as in December, revised from -1.2%. A 1.5% decline had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Petroleum prices fell 13.4% (-35.3% y/y) following a 9.2% drop, revised from -10.0%. Nonpetroleum import prices were off 0.2% (-3.1% y/y) after an unrevised 0.4% shortfall. These prices have not risen m/m since March of 2004. A 1.4% decline (-12.0% y/y) in prices of nonoil industrial supplies & materials led the way lower followed by a 0.2% drop (-2.4% y/y) in capital goods prices. Foods, feeds & beverage prices improved 0.6% (-3.3% y/y). Prices of automotive vehicles & parts gained 0.2% (-1.9% y/y). Nonauto consumer goods prices edged 0.1% higher (-0.3% y/y), continuing five months of little change.
Export prices were off 0.8% last month (-5.7% y/y) after an unrevised 1.1% drop. Expectations had been for a 0.6% shortfall. A 2.0% decline (-12.8% y/y) in industrial supplies & materials prices led the way lower. Building materials prices, however, increased 0.3% (-5.2% y/y), the fourth straight month of gain. Excluding fuels & building materials costs, export prices fell 0.3% (-8.6% y/y). Foods, feeds & beverages prices were off 1.6% (-13.0% y/y) and capital goods costs eased 0.1% (-0.7% y/y). Automotive vehicles & parts prices gained 0.1% (-0.4% y/y) and nonauto consumer goods prices were off 0.4% (-2.2% y/y). Agricultural prices fell 1.1% (-12.7% y/y) and nonagricultural costs declined 0.8% (-5.0% y/y).
The import and export price series can be found in Haver's USECON database. Detailed figures are available in the USINT database. The expectations figure from the Action Economics Forecast Survey is in the AS1REPNA database.
| Import/Export Prices (NSA, %) | Jan | Dec | Nov | Jan Y/Y | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imports - All Commodities | -1.1 | -1.1 | -0.6 | -6.2 | -10.2 | -1.1 | -1.1 |
| Petroleum | -13.4 | -9.2 | -4.2 | -35.3 | -45.9 | -5.6 | -2.6 |
| Nonpetroleum | -0.2 | -0.4 | -0.2 | -3.1 | -2.7 | 0.1 | -0.6 |
| Exports - All Commodities | -0.8 | -1.1 | -0.7 | -5.7 | -6.3 | -0.5 | -0.4 |
| Agricultural | -1.1 | -1.0 | -0.9 | -12.7 | -13.3 | -2.7 | 1.6 |
| Nonagricultural | -0.8 | -1.1 | -0.7 | -5.0 | -5.5 | -0.3 | -0.7 |
Tom Moeller
AuthorMore in Author Profile »Prior to joining Haver Analytics in 2000, Mr. Moeller worked as the Economist at Chancellor Capital Management from 1985 to 1999. There, he developed comprehensive economic forecasts and interpreted economic data for equity and fixed income portfolio managers. Also at Chancellor, Mr. Moeller worked as an equity analyst and was responsible for researching and rating companies in the economically sensitive automobile and housing industries for investment in Chancellor’s equity portfolio. Prior to joining Chancellor, Mr. Moeller was an Economist at Citibank from 1979 to 1984. He also analyzed pricing behavior in the metals industry for the Council on Wage and Price Stability in Washington, D.C. In 1999, Mr. Moeller received the award for most accurate forecast from the Forecasters' Club of New York. From 1990 to 1992 he was President of the New York Association for Business Economists. Mr. Moeller earned an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham University, where he graduated in 1987. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from George Washington University.
