US import prices post largest monthly gain in four years
US import prices climbed 1.3 percent in February driven by surging energy costs amid Middle East tensions. This marks the largest monthly increase since 2022.
Import prices in the United States surged in February, marking the largest monthly increase in nearly four years as energy costs climbed amid heightened geopolitical tensions. According to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday, import prices jumped 1.3% last month, the sharpest rise since March 2022. This followed an upwardly revised 0.6% gain in January and significantly exceeded the 0.5% increase projected by economists, who typically exclude tariffs from their forecasts.
On an annual basis, import prices advanced 1.3% through February, representing the largest year-on-year gain since early 2025. This acceleration follows recent reports that producer prices hit a seven-month high in February, while a survey from S&P Global indicated that businesses are facing higher input costs and passing those expenses to consumers due to soaring energy prices and supply chain disruptions.
