U.S. import prices up slightly more than expected

WASHINGTON, May 13 (Reuters) - U.S. import prices rose 1.8 percent in April, just slightly more than expected, lifted by both higher petroleum and non-petroleum prices for the second consecutive month, the U.S. Labor Department on Tuesday.

U.S. export prices rose by a less-than-expected 0.3 percent, the smallest monthly gain since September, as agriculture and food export prices dipped. Overall export prices had advanced at least 1.0 percent in each of the previous three months, the report showed.

Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast a 1.7 percent rise in import prices after a 2.9 percent gain in March, which was previously reported as 2.8 percent.

They also forecast a 0.8 price rise in export prices after a 1.5 percent gain in March, which was unrevised. (Reporting by Doug Palmer; Editing by Andrea Ricci)