U.S. import prices increased over the period from September to November, according to figures released Thursday by the Labor Department.
The data showed that import prices climbed 0.4% across the two-month span, reversing a 0.1% decline recorded in September and signalling a pickup in costs for goods entering the United States toward the end of the period.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics noted that no survey data were collected for October due to the federal government shutdown, meaning the report reflects combined price movements for September and November.
Export prices also moved higher during the same timeframe. The report showed a 0.5% increase in export prices from September to November, following an unchanged reading in September, indicating firmer pricing for US goods sold overseas.