U.S. import prices increased 1.1% in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported, following a 0.5% rise in August. Higher prices for nonfuel imports and fuel imports drove the advance in September. Prices for U.S. exports increased 2.2% in September after rising 1.2% the previous month.

Imports

Import prices advanced 1.1% in September following an increase of 0.5% in August. Prices for U.S. imports rose 8.1% from September 2025 to September 2026, the largest 12-month advance since the index increased 8.8% for the year ended July 2022.

Fuel Imports: Prices for import fuel increased 4.8% in September following decreases of 0.2% in August and 6.8% in July. In September, higher prices for petroleum and petroleum products as well as natural gas drove the advance. Import prices for petroleum and petroleum products increased 4.6%, and prices for import natural gas rose 1.6%. From September 2025 to September 2026, fuel import prices increased 34.5%, the price index for import petroleum and petroleum products advanced 35.4%, and prices for import natural gas increased 96.5%. The over-the-year rise for import natural gas prices was the largest such movement since the index advanced 149.5% for the year ended June 2022.

All Imports Excluding Fuel: Prices for nonfuel imports increased 0.7% in September and have not declined on a monthly basis since August 2025. Higher prices for capital goods; nonfuel industrial supplies and materials; consumer goods, excluding automotives; as well as automotive vehicles, parts and engines drove the increase in September. Nonfuel import prices rose 6.0% from September 2025 to September 2026, the largest over-the-year increase since the index advanced 7.2% for the 12-month period ended April 2022. Higher prices for capital goods; nonfuel industrial supplies and materials; consumer goods, 
excluding automotives; foods, feeds, and beverages; and automotive vehicles, parts, and engines drove the 12-month increase for the year ended in September.

Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Import prices for foods, feeds, and beverages were unchanged in September following a decrease of 0.6% in August. Higher prices for vegetables, green coffee, and fruit offset lower prices for cane and beet sugar as well as fish and shellfish in September.

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Import prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials increased 1.4% in September after a 1.3% advance in August. Higher prices for finished metals shapes and advanced manufacturing; finished nonmetals (boxes, belting, glass, etc.); and agricultural products used for industrial supplies and materials drove the increase in September.

Finished Goods: Prices for the major finished goods import categories were up in September. Import capital goods prices rose 0.9% for the second consecutive month in September. Higher prices for computers, peripherals and semiconductors as well as industrial and service machinery more than offset lower prices for scientific and medical machinery. In September, import prices for automotive vehicles, parts and engines increased 0.3%, and the price index for import consumer goods, excluding automotives, rose 0.4% over the same period.

Exports

Prices for U.S. exports increased 2.2% in September following an advance of 1.2% in August. In September, higher prices for nonagricultural exports and agricultural exports drove the increase. U.S. export prices increased 11.6% for the year ended September 2026, the largest over-the-year rise since the index advanced 12.9% from July 2021 to July 2022.

Agricultural Exports: Prices for agricultural exports increased 2.6% in September, the largest monthly rise since the index advanced 2.8% in November 2022. Higher prices for soybeans, corn and wheat drove the advance in September. Agricultural export prices have not declined on a monthly basis since December 2025. Over the past 12 months, agricultural export prices increased 9.0%, as higher prices for soybeans, corn, as well as oilseeds and food oils drove the rise for the year ended in September.

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: Nonagricultural export prices increased 2.1% in September after rising 1.3% in August. Higher prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials; capital goods; consumer goods, excluding automotives; and automotive vehicles, parts, and engines drove the advance. Prices for nonagricultural exports increased 11.8 percent from September 2025 to September 2026. Higher prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials; capital goods; and consumer goods, excluding automotives, drove the 12-month rise.

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials prices advanced 4.0% in September after an increase of 2.5% the previous month. Higher prices for petroleum and petroleum products; natural gas; and chemicals more than offset lower prices for nonferrous and other metals in September.

Finished Goods: Prices for the major finished goods export categories were up in September. Capital goods prices increased 0.5%. Higher prices for computers, peripherals, and semiconductors; as well as oil drilling, mining and construction machinery, and equipment; more than offset lower prices for civilian aircraft, aircraft engines and parts. Automotive vehicles, parts and engines prices increased 0.8% in September and prices for consumer goods, excluding automotives, rose 1.1 percent over the same period.

More information for the major import and export price indexes can be found at www.bls.gov/web/ximpim/largest.htm.