The price index for overall exports rose 5.8 percent over the past year, the largest 12-month advance since a 7.0-percent jump between September 2007 and September 2008. Import prices rose 3.6 percent over the past 12 months.
Export prices increased 0.8 percent in October following similar advances of 0.6 percent and 0.8 percent in September and August, respectively. Higher prices for agricultural and nonagricultural exports contributed to the increases in each of the three months. Prices for consumer goods and automotive vehicles rose in October, increasing 0.9 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively.
The price index for overall imports increased 0.9 percent in October, the largest monthly advance for the index since a 1.1-percent advance in April. The October rise was also only the second one-month upturn since the April increase. Despite the downward trend between May and September, import prices rose 3.6 percent over the past 12 months.
The price index for imports of foods, feeds, and beverages rose 1.1 percent in October despite a downturn in coffee prices. Coffee prices were the main contributor to a 9.8-percent rise in foods, feeds, and beverages for the year ended in October.
Import prices for automotive vehicles rose 0.4 percent in October, an increase that was in part attributable to year-end model changeovers. In contrast, consumer goods prices fell 0.5 percent, led by falling prices for medicinal, dental, and pharmaceutical products and household goods.
This data is from the BLS International Price program. Import and export price data is subject to revision. For more information, see "U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes — October 2010", news release USDL-10-1547.