2026.03.2512:30:00UTC+00U.S. Import Prices Jump 1.3% in February, Signaling Rising Cost Pressures

U.S. import prices surged 1.3% month-over-month in February 2026, sharply higher than the 0.2% increase recorded in January 2026, according to data updated on 25 March 2026. The Import Price Index measures the change in prices of goods and services purchased from abroad, and the latest rise suggests a notable pickup in external price pressures.

On a month-over-month basis, the February reading represents a significant acceleration from the prior month. In January, the index had inched up just 0.2% compared with December, but February’s 1.3% gain marks a much stronger move, indicating that imported goods became considerably more expensive in a short span.

Because the indicator is reported as a month-over-month comparison, February’s 1.3% figure reflects the change relative to January 2026, while January’s 0.2% captured the change versus December 2025. The steepening trajectory in import prices may heighten attention from policymakers and markets monitoring potential upstream inflation pressures feeding into the broader U.S. economy.