By Joshua Kirby


The prices of goods and fuel imported into the U.S. rose again at the end of last year, adding to signs that inflation has yet to be brought fully under control.

Prices were 0.1% higher on month in December, defying expectations for a slight decrease, figures from the Labor Department showed Thursday. That marks a third straight month of rising import prices. For the year as a whole, import prices were 2.2% higher than a year earlier.

December's increase was driven by higher fuel costs, which saw their biggest rise since April as the prices of imported natural gas and petroleum climbed. The prices of nonfuel goods also increased, and have not booked a decline since May, the department said.


Write to Joshua Kirby at joshua.kirby@wsj.com; @joshualeokirby


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

01-16-25 0856ET