U.S. Economy: Cost of Imported Goods Climbs More Than Forecast

Prices of goods imported into the U.S. rose more than forecast in April as a slumping dollar and growing economies overseas pushed up the cost of fuel and food.

The 2.2 percent increase in the import-price index followed a revised 2.6 percent gain in March, according to figures from the Labor Department today in Washington. Other reports showed distributors boosted inventories and small businesses lost confidence.