WASHINGTON, Dec 3 (Reuters) – U.S. import prices were unexpectedly unchanged in September as high costs for consumer goods, excluding motor vehicles, were offset by cheaper energy products.

The flat reading in import prices reported by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday followed a downwardly revised 0.1% gain in August. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast import prices, which exclude tariffs, rising 0.1% after a previously reported 0.3% advance in August.

In the 12 months through September, import prices increased 0.3%. That was the first year-on-year rise since March and followed a 0.1% dip in August.

The report was delayed by a record 43-day shutdown of the government. The pass-through from tariffs to consumer prices has so far been modest, with econo

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