Fact Check: Imported product prices fell 4.1% in May, while local prices remained constant.

Fact Check: "Imported product prices fell 4.1% in May, while local prices remained constant."

What We Know

The claim states that imported product prices fell by 4.1% in May, while local prices remained constant. However, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that U.S. import prices recorded no change in May 2025, following a slight increase of 0.1% in April. Specifically, the report notes that "prices for U.S. exports decreased 0.9 percent in May," but does not support the assertion that import prices fell by 4.1%.

Moreover, the report from the U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes confirms that while prices for fuels and lubricants did indeed decrease by 4.0%, the overall import prices remained unchanged. The data further breaks down the changes in prices, showing that "all imports excluding fuels" actually increased by 0.3% in May 2025.

Analysis

The claim about a 4.1% decrease in imported product prices appears to be a misinterpretation or misrepresentation of the data. The only significant decrease reported was in the category of fuels and lubricants, which does not encompass all imported goods. The overall import price index remained stable, contradicting the claim of a widespread price drop.

Additionally, the assertion that local prices remained constant is not substantiated by the provided data. The Bureau of Labor Statistics report does not specifically address local prices but indicates a general trend in import prices. The reliability of the sources used to verify this claim is high, as they come from reputable government agencies and statistical reports.

In contrast, a report from Bloomberg mentions that local prices stayed constant while imported prices fell by 4.1%. However, this report lacks context and does not specify whether it refers to all imported products or specific categories, leading to potential confusion.

Conclusion

The claim that "imported product prices fell 4.1% in May, while local prices remained constant" is False. The data shows that overall import prices did not change, and the only notable decrease was in a specific category (fuels and lubricants), not across all imported products. Furthermore, the assertion about local prices lacks sufficient evidence and clarity.

Sources

1. Import/Export Price Indexes
2. U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes News Release
3. Detecting Tariff Effects on Consumer Prices in Real Time
4. U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES ...
5. U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, April 2023
6. US import prices fall, consumer sentiment slides
7. Milei Cools Argentina Wholesale Inflation to Lowest Since ...
8. U.S. Import Prices Hold Steady in May While Export ...