Import prices rise 1.1% as export prices climb 2.2%
September's federal report shows broad gains in traded-goods prices, with import prices up 8.1% and export prices up 11.6% over 12 months.
Trade prices move higher
Prices for goods and services imported into the United States increased 1.1 percent in September after rising 0.5 percent in August, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday. Export prices increased 2.2 percent after a 1.2 percent August gain.
Compared with September 2025, import prices were 8.1 percent higher and export prices were 11.6 percent higher. BLS said the export increase was the largest 12-month advance since the period ending in July 2022.
These indexes measure price changes at the U.S. border for nonmilitary goods and selected services. They are not consumer-price measures and should not be read as the change in a household's cost of living.
Nonfuel imports add pressure
Both fuel and nonfuel categories contributed to the monthly import increase. Nonfuel import prices rose 0.7 percent in September and 6.0 percent over 12 months, the largest year-over-year increase in that measure since April 2022.
Prices increased for imported capital goods, industrial supplies, consumer goods excluding automobiles, and motor vehicles and parts. Food, feed and beverage import prices were unchanged for the month as higher prices for vegetables, green coffee and fruit offset declines elsewhere.
Import prices from China rose 0.7 percent, the largest monthly increase since December 2021. Prices from Canada increased 1.3 percent, while indexes for imports from Japan, Mexico and the European Union also advanced.
Agricultural exports lead part of the gain
Agricultural export prices rose 2.6 percent, their largest monthly gain since November 2022. BLS attributed the increase to higher soybean, corn and wheat prices. Nonagricultural export prices increased 2.1 percent.
Export prices to China increased 2.7 percent, while export prices to the European Union rose 3.9 percent. The report also showed a 12.6 percent rise in import air-passenger fares after two months of double-digit declines.
Large monthly moves can reflect commodity markets, exchange rates, transportation costs and changing product mixes. They can affect businesses that buy imported inputs or sell abroad, but they do not pass through to retail prices automatically or immediately.
The report follows this week's consumer- and producer-price releases, all of which showed stronger September price movement in different parts of the economy. Each index covers different transactions, so the figures are complementary rather than interchangeable.
For importers, higher border prices can raise costs before products reach wholesalers or retailers. Exporters may receive more dollars for shipments, but higher prices can also affect foreign demand. The terms-of-trade indexes compare export and import price movement with individual trading partners; they do not measure trade volume or the balance of goods crossing the border.
BLS is scheduled to publish October import and export prices on November 17. Friday's release establishes a broad September increase; later months will show whether the acceleration persists.