Supply Chain Research

U.S. trade price inflation slowed in August for a third month, with imports’ 3.7% increase (including food and fuel) oustripping exports 3.5%. The progress of trade prices will be distorted by the impact of tariffs. On the import side steel mill price inflation still stands at 10% annually, but that’s down from 19% in March when section 232 duties were introduced. Price deflation has crept in for products facing forthcoming duties including electronics components (for the first time since May 2017) and automotive parts from outside NAFTA. When combined with a modest 2% rise in seaborne i...