Cheaper Energy Products Depress US Import Prices in September

TRADE BALANCE - WASHINGTON. U.S. import prices fell by the most in nine months in September amid a sharp decrease in the cost of energy products, pointing to a benign inflation outlook that keeps the Federal Reserve on course to continue cutting interest rates.

The report from the Labor Department on Wednesday also showed import prices excluding fuel barely rising over the past three months. The report followed data last week showing slightly firmer consumer prices in September.