Financial News: U.S. Import Prices Rise 0.2% In January, Slightly

U.S. Import Prices Rise 0.2% In January, Slightly More Than Expected

03/05/2026 - 10:11:00 (RTTNews)

(RTTNews) - A report released by the Labor Department on Thursday showed import prices in the U.S. increased by slightly more than expected in the month of January.

The Labor Department said import prices rose by 0.2 percent in January, matching an upwardly revised uptick in December. Economists had expected import prices to inch up by 0.1 percent.

The slightly stronger than expected import price growth came as an increase in prices for non-fuel imports more than offset an extended slump in prices for fuel imports.

The report said prices for non-fuel imports climbed by 0.5 percent in January after rising by 0.2 percent in December, while prices for fuel imports tumbled by 2.2 percent in January after slumping by 1.1 percent in December.

The increase in prices for non-fuel imports reflected higher prices for non-fuel industrial supplies and materials, capital goods, automotive vehicles, consumer goods and foods, feeds, and beverages.

The Labor Department also said import prices edged down by 0.1 percent year-over-year in January after coming in unchanged in December.

"Risks are tilted toward higher import prices in 2026 thanks to higher global oil prices, strong demand for capital goods imports, and past depreciation in the dollar," said Grace Zwemmer, U.S. Economist at Oxford Economics.

She added, "Despite that risk, we still expect core inflation to moderate as 2026 unfolds, allowing the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates in June and September."

Meanwhile, the report said export prices climbed by 0.6 percent in January, which also matched an upwardly revised increase in December. Economists had expected export prices to rise by 0.2 percent.

Prices for agricultural exports rose by 0.2 percent in January after coming in unchanged in December, while prices for non-agricultural exports increased by 0.7 percent for the second straight month.

The Labor Department said the annual rate of export price growth slowed to 2.6 percent in January from 3.1 percent in December.

For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com

Market News provided by RTTNews

RECENT INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL NEWS

Japan Producer Price Data Due On Thursday (01 hr(s), 02 min(s), 29 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - Japan will on Thursday release February figures for producer prices, highlighting a mo ...Full Story»

Five-Year Note Auction Attracts Modestly Below Average Demand (05 hr(s), 52 min(s), 29 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - The Treasury Department continued this week's series of announcements of the resul ...Full Story»

U.S. Crude Oil Inventories Surge Much More Than Expected (08 hr(s), 26 min(s), 29 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - The Energy Information Administration released a report on Wednesday showing another s ...Full Story»

U.S. Import Prices Jump 1.3% In February, Much More Than Expected (08 hr(s), 54 min(s), 29 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - Partly reflecting a significant rebound in prices for fuel imports, the Labor Departme ...Full Story»

U.S. Import Prices Jump Much More Than Expected In February (10 hr(s), 25 min(s), 29 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - Partly reflecting a significant rebound in prices for fuel imports, the Labor Departme ...Full Story»

UK Inflation Remains Stable At 3.0% (10 hr(s), 49 min(s), 29 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - UK consumer price inflation remained stable in February, but potential spikes in infla ...Full Story»

German Business Confidence At 13-Month Low (12 hr(s), 03 min(s), 29 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - German business confidence declined to a 13-month low in March as the war in the Middl ...Full Story»

Slovenian Manufacturing Confidence Remains Stable At -8.0 (12 hr(s), 37 min(s), 29 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - Slovenia's industrial sentiment held steady and negative in March, figures from th ...Full Story»