Cost of imports registers biggest increase in 15 months as gas prices boost inflation

By Jeffry Bartash

Import price index up 0.5% in August

The numbers: The cost of imported goods rose 0.5% in August, marking the biggest increase in 15 months, largely because of higher oil prices.

Economists polled by the Wall Street Journal had estimated a 0.3% increase.

If fuel is set aside, import prices fell 0.1% last month, the government said.

What's more, the cost of imports has fallen 3% in the past year. Prices have eased since a huge runup in 2021 and 2022.

Still, the recent increase in prices shows that inflation is unlikely to return to pre-pandemic levels of 2% or less anytime soon.

Other snapshots of U.S. inflation such as consumer andwholesale prices also rose sharply in August.

Key details: The cost of foreign-produced fuel rose 6.7% last month after a 2.2% increase in July.

The cost of most other imports was little changed. Prices fell for industrial supplies and autos, offsetting increases in food and consumer goods.

Nonfuel import prices have declined 0.8% in the past 12 months.

Export prices rose 1.3% in August. They are down 5.5% over the past year, however.

Big picture:A late-summer surge in oil prices tied to Saudi Arabian production cuts has nudged U.S. inflation higher, at least for now.

Before the recent spike in energy prices, inflation has been on a downtrend.

Market reaction: The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 were set to open higher in Friday trades.

-Jeffry Bartash

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09-15-23 0907ET

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