Prices for U.S. imports recorded no change in July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, after edging down 0.1 percent in June. Falling nonfuel prices in July offset higher fuel prices. U.S. export prices decreased 0.5 percent in July following a 0.2-percent increase in June. The July decline was driven by a drop in agricultural export prices.

Prices for import fuel advanced 1.6 percent in July following a 1.3-percent increase in June and a 6.5-percent rise in May. In July, increasing prices for petroleum and natural gas contributed to the rise in fuel prices. Petroleum prices advanced 0.9 percent in July, after rising 1.4 percent in June and 7.8 percent in May. Prices for natural gas increased 36.7 percent in July, the first monthly advance since January and the largest since the index rose 43.2 percent in November 2006.