US Import Prices See Sharpest Fall Since January 2015

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has caused import prices in the US to fall to an over five year low during April, especially with demand

US Import Prices See Sharpest Fall Since January 2015

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has caused import prices in the US to fall to an over five year low during April, especially with demand for petroleum products declining sharply as a result of the shutdowns. According to data released by the Labor Department, US import prices fell by 2.6% during April, a more severe decline than the revised 2.4% fall seen in the previous month.

While this was the steepest fall in import prices seen since January 2015, the reading came in better than economists’ forecast, which was for a 3.1% decline for the period. In the 12 months till April, the fall in import prices stood at 6.8% after a 4.2% fall during March and the sharpest decline since December 2015.

With most countries worldwide in some form of lockdown, domestic as well as external demand have suffered severely, driving the sharp fall in import prices. Even as economies try to reopen in the coming weeks, recovery could take longer as economists expect consumer consumption levels to remain under pressure owing to the high levels of uncertainty reigning in global markets.

With demand expected to remain depressed even as economic activity resumes in the coming months, import prices are likely to remain weak for the foreseeable future. This will further weigh on the GDP and make economic recovery tougher for the US as well as the global economy through this year, even as the coronavirus crisis abates.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR See More
Arslan Butt
Index & Commodity Analyst
Arslan Butt serves as the Lead Commodities and Indices Analyst, bringing a wealth of expertise to the field. With an MBA in Behavioral Finance and active progress towards a Ph.D., Arslan possesses a deep understanding of market dynamics.His professional journey includes a significant role as a senior analyst at a leading brokerage firm, complementing his extensive experience as a market analyst and day trader. Adept in educating others, Arslan has a commendable track record as an instructor and public speaker.His incisive analyses, particularly within the realms of cryptocurrency and forex markets, are showcased across esteemed financial publications such as ForexCrunch, InsideBitcoins, and EconomyWatch, solidifying his reputation in the financial community.

Related Articles

Comments

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

HFM

Doo Prime

XM

Best Forex Brokers