US DATA: Dec import prices -0.1%; ex-oil +0.1%. Three of the last
four mos were minuses, with Nov +0.8%. Import price index +8.5% for all
of 2011 but ’11 non-fuel imports up just 3.4%. Last annual decline ’08.
Dec export prices -0.5% after Nov’s +0.1%. Food imports -0.4% in Dec.
Overall, the 3.6% import price increase from China in ’11 largest since
the index began in 2003. (+0.8% in 2010.) Dec import prices from Canada
-0.4%. Labor analyst Dave Meade said except for apparel, import prices
have generally moderated the last six months, “mostly flat to somewhat
down,” after the commodities spike late last year and early this year.
On the ag side, only corn is still up, with soybeans and wheat prices
down.