Global| Mar 15 2011U.S. Import Prices Strengthen Further
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
Summary
U.S. import prices continue to exhibit broad-based strength. During February, prices jumped another 1.4% after a revised 1.3% January increase, initially reported as 1.5%. The gain was much stronger than Consensus expectations for a [...]
U.S. import prices continue to exhibit broad-based strength. During February, prices jumped another 1.4% after a revised 1.3% January increase, initially reported as 1.5%. The gain was much stronger than Consensus expectations for a 0.9% rise. The gain was paced by a 3.7% increase in petroleum while nonpetroleum prices rose by an easier 0.6%.
Earlier strength in petroleum prices continued last month. Brent crude oil prices rose to $101.46 per barrel compared to $97.15 in January. For February, non-oil import prices rose 0.6% and 3.5% y/y. (The y/y change in non-oil import prices during the last ten years has had an 81% inverse correlation with the nominal trade-weighted exchange value of the US dollar vs. major currencies.)
Earlier strength in imported food & beverage prices eased somewhat with a 0.8% increase, up 15.8% y/y. Prices for nonoil industrial supplies rose 2.1% (11.2% y/y) paced by a 19.3% y/y increase in unfinished metals prices. Prices for non-auto consumer goods rose 0.2% (0.3% y/y). Home entertainment equipment prices declined 10.1% y/y but furniture prices inched up 0.8%. Apparel prices rose 4.0% y/y. Imported auto prices rose 1.4% during the last twelve months while imported capital goods prices ticked 0.5% higher. Computer & peripherals prices fell 3.6% y/y but excluding computers, capital goods prices rose 2.2%.
Total export prices jumped another 1.2% last month and rose a strong 8.6% y/y. The gain reflected a 4.4% increase in agricultural export prices, up by one-third over the last year. Non-agricultural goods prices rose a steady 0.9% last month and 6.2% y/y. Strength has been notable for industrial supplies (19.3% y/y) and non-auto consumer goods (3.1% y/y).
The import and export price series can be found in Haver's USECON database. Detailed figures are available in the USINT database.
| Import/Export Prices (NSA, %) | Feb | Jan | Dec | Feb Y/Y | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imports - All Commodities | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 6.9 | 6.9 | -11.5 | 11.5 |
| Petroleum | 3.7 | 3.1 | 5.5 | 20.6 | 28.4 | -35.9 | 37.7 |
| Nonpetroleum | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 3.5 | 2.8 | -4.1 | 5.3 |
| Exports - All Commodities | 1.2 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 8.6 | 4.9 | -4.6 | 6.0 |
| Agricultural | 4.4 | 3.2 | 1.9 | 33.5 | 7.8 | -12.8 | 21.6 |
| Nonagricultural | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 6.2 | 4.6 | -3.7 | 4.5 |
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.
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