By Joshua Kirby

Prices of goods imported were unchanged in December as the cost of fuel imports fell less sharply.

The price index for U.S. imports remained at the same level over the month, Labor Department figures showed Wednesday. Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had forecast a decline of 0.5%.

Fuel-import prices fell just 0.3% in December, a less steep decline that in the preceding months. Petroleum prices fell by the same rate, while natural-gas import prices rose at a less steep rate than in November.

Excluding fuel, import prices also remained unchanged on month. Food, feeds and beverages saw a slight decrease in their import prices, while nonfuel industrial supplies and materials conversely rose a little.

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

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 17, 2024 08:59 ET (13:59 GMT)