The U.S. Import Price Index rose 1.1% in September 2026 on a month-over-month basis, marking a notable acceleration from August’s 0.5% increase. The latest data, updated on 16 October 2026, highlight a strengthening upward trend in imported price pressures compared with the prior month.
Under the month-over-month comparison, the September figure reflects how import prices changed relative to August 2026, while the August reading captured the change versus July. The step-up from 0.5% to 1.1% suggests that cost pressures on imported goods intensified as the third quarter came to a close, a development that could have implications for overall input costs and downstream pricing in the U.S. economy.
With import prices now advancing at more than double the previous month’s pace, market participants and policymakers are likely to monitor upcoming data releases closely to gauge whether September’s move represents a one-off increase or the start of a more persistent trend in import-led inflation.
