US Export Prices Post First Monthly Decline in Over a Year

US export prices fell 0.6% month-over-month in June 2026, reversing a downwardly revised 1.2% increase in May and exceeding expectations for a 0.4% decline. It marked the first monthly drop since May 2025, driven by a 0.7% fall in nonagricultural export prices, as lower prices for industrial supplies and materials outweighed gains in capital goods, consumer goods, and automotive products. Meanwhile, agricultural export prices rose 0.2%, extending gains for a sixth straight month, supported by higher prices for other foods and food preparations and nuts, which more than offset declines in soybean and corn prices. On an annual basis, US export prices increased 10.2% in June.

US export prices rose by 1.3% month-over-month in May 2026, following an upwardly revised 3.5% surge in the prior month and slightly above market forecasts of a 1.2% increase. This marked the sixth consecutive monthly advance for the index, albeit the softest since January. Nonagricultural export prices increased 1.2% in May, reflecting higher prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials; capital goods; consumer goods, excluding automotives; and automotive vehicles, parts, and engines. Prices of agricultural exports rose 1.2%, largely driven by prices for dairy products and eggs, meat, and vegetables. On a yearly basis, export prices accelerated further, climbing by 11.2% in May, the most since August 2022, after a 8.8% jump in the previous month.

US export prices advanced by 3.3% month-over-month in April 2026, accelerating from a downwardly revised 1.5% advance in March and overshooting market forecasts of a 1.1% increase. This marked the steepest increase in export prices since March 2022, driven by a pickup in nonagricultural export prices to 3.4% in April from 1.6% in March. Higher costs for industrial supplies and materials, capital goods, and consumer goods excluding automotives more than offset lower prices for automotive vehicles, parts, and engines. At the same time, the price index for agricultural exports increased by 1.6%, the most since October 2024, following a 0.6% rise in March, reflecting higher prices for fruit as well as for meat. On a yearly basis, US export prices jumped 8.8% in April, the strongest increase since September 2022, after a revised 5.4% rise in the prior month.