WASHINGTON — Import prices rose 0.6% in August to post a second straight monthly increase and the largest gain in four months, the Labor Department reported Wednesday.
Economists polled by Thomson Reuters expected an increase of 0.3%, according to the median estimate.
Import prices excluding fuel rose 0.3% due to higher food and beverage prices, following back-to-back monthly drops in June and July. Imports excluding petroleum increased 0.2% in August.
Import prices for July were revised lower to show a 0.1% increase instead of the 0.2% gain reported last month. Imports excluding fuel fell 0.2% in July, revised from a 0.3% decrease.
Export prices rose 0.8% in August as prices for agricultural goods jumped 4.2%, their largest gain in 13 months. In July, export prices dipped 0.2%
