U.S. Import Prices Climb Less Than Forecast as Metals Drop

Prices of goods imported into the U.S. rose less than forecast in November, reflecting lower costs for metals and food, indicating inflation will remain contained.

The import-price index climbed 0.7 percent, the first increase in four months and followed a 0.5 percent drop in October, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington. Economists projected the gauge would increase 1 percent, according to the median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey. Prices excluding fuel decreased 0.2 percent for a second month, the first back-to-back drop in more than a year.