Investing.com - U.S. import prices rose in March for the first time in 9 months as the cost of petroleum products increased. Import prices rose 0.2% after dropping 0.4% in February, the Labor Department said. However economists had expected an increase of 1.0%. Weak import prices have contributed to holding inflation below the Federal Reserve's 2% target. Export prices were unchanged in March after declining 0.5% in February.