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The
Labor Department said on Thursday import prices rose 0.2 percent
last month after an upwardly revised 0.6 percent increase in
January. It was the third straight monthly increase.
In the 12 months through February, import prices accelerated 4.6
percent, the largest gain since February 2012, after rising 3.8
percent in January.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast import prices ticking
up 0.1 percent last month after a previously reported 0.4
percent increase in January.
Last month's moderation in import prices is likely to be
temporary amid strengthening global demand that is lifting
prices for oil and other commodities.
Prices for imported fuels fell 0.7 percent last month after
surging 7.2 percent in January. Import prices excluding fuels
rose 0.3 percent. That was the first increase since July and
followed a 0.1 percent dip the prior month.
The cost of imported food jumped 1.0 percent last month. Prices
for imported capital goods were unchanged after slipping 0.1
percent in January. Imported consumer goods prices excluding
automobiles increased 0.2 percent last month after a similar
gain in January.
The report also showed export prices increased 0.3 percent in
February after gaining 0.2 percent in January. Export prices
were up 3.1 percent from a year ago. That was the biggest
increase since December 2011 and followed a 2.4 percent rise in
January.
Prices for agricultural exports increased 1.4 percent last
month, boosted by rising vegetable prices, as well as higher
prices for soybeans and corn. Agricultural export prices rose
0.1 percent in January.
(Reporting By Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Andrea Ricci)
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