I ask a simple question: Fine, you have more jobs via a stronger export sector. But how the hell is the export sector supposed to compete with input costs doing this?
Hopefully, regulators get the message and put an end to this weak dollar policy. I'm sure the fed can dole out some long USD index futures as incentive.
From WSJ Today.
Import Prices Show Pervasive Jump,
Even When Oil Costs Are Excluded
By JEFF BATER
April 11, 2008 8:56 a.m.
WASHINGTON -- Import prices surged in March, lifted by not only oil but also the biggest jump in nonpetroleum costs on record, a worrisome sign for inflation.
Overall import prices rose 2.8% last month, after increasing an unrevised 0.2% in February, the Labor Department said Friday. Wall Street expected import prices to climb 2.1% in March.
During the 12 months since March 2007, prices increased 15%. Between March 2006 and March 2007, prices climbed by 2.8%.
Petroleum import prices increased 9.1% last month and fell 1.9% in February; prices soared 60.0% in the 12 months since March 2007. Between March 2006 and March 2007, petroleum import prices climbed by 3.1%.
Excluding petroleum, all other import prices rose 1.1% in March, after increasing 0.7% in February. Prices excluding petroleum increased 5.4% in the 12 months since March 2007, nearly double the 2.8% climb between March 2006 and March 2007.
The 1.1% March increase in non-petroleum prices marked the largest one-month increase since the index was first published monthly in December 1988. Driving it was a 3.6% advance in prices for non-petroleum industrial supplies and materials; that advance was pushed mostly by prices for unfinished metals, but natural gas, finished metals and chemicals also rose.
Prices for imported food, feeds and beverages rose 2.5%. Consumer goods climbed 0.5%. Autos rose 0.2%. Capital goods were unchanged.
Import prices from China increased 0.7% in March. Prices for imports from Canada rose 3.2%. Import prices from the European Union advanced 1.6%. Japan inched up 0.1%.
Export prices increased by 1.5% last month. Prices rose 7.9% in the 12 months since March 2007.
Prices of agricultural exports increased 4.1% in March, and prices of non-agricultural exports rose by 1.2%.
Hopefully, regulators get the message and put an end to this weak dollar policy. I'm sure the fed can dole out some long USD index futures as incentive.
From WSJ Today.
Import Prices Show Pervasive Jump,
Even When Oil Costs Are Excluded
By JEFF BATER
April 11, 2008 8:56 a.m.
WASHINGTON -- Import prices surged in March, lifted by not only oil but also the biggest jump in nonpetroleum costs on record, a worrisome sign for inflation.
Overall import prices rose 2.8% last month, after increasing an unrevised 0.2% in February, the Labor Department said Friday. Wall Street expected import prices to climb 2.1% in March.
During the 12 months since March 2007, prices increased 15%. Between March 2006 and March 2007, prices climbed by 2.8%.
Petroleum import prices increased 9.1% last month and fell 1.9% in February; prices soared 60.0% in the 12 months since March 2007. Between March 2006 and March 2007, petroleum import prices climbed by 3.1%.
Excluding petroleum, all other import prices rose 1.1% in March, after increasing 0.7% in February. Prices excluding petroleum increased 5.4% in the 12 months since March 2007, nearly double the 2.8% climb between March 2006 and March 2007.
The 1.1% March increase in non-petroleum prices marked the largest one-month increase since the index was first published monthly in December 1988. Driving it was a 3.6% advance in prices for non-petroleum industrial supplies and materials; that advance was pushed mostly by prices for unfinished metals, but natural gas, finished metals and chemicals also rose.
Prices for imported food, feeds and beverages rose 2.5%. Consumer goods climbed 0.5%. Autos rose 0.2%. Capital goods were unchanged.
Import prices from China increased 0.7% in March. Prices for imports from Canada rose 3.2%. Import prices from the European Union advanced 1.6%. Japan inched up 0.1%.
Export prices increased by 1.5% last month. Prices rose 7.9% in the 12 months since March 2007.
Prices of agricultural exports increased 4.1% in March, and prices of non-agricultural exports rose by 1.2%.