Prices for U.S. exports rose 0.2 percent in March, continuing an upward trend since the index last fell on a monthly basis in August. Higher prices for agricultural exports and nonagricultural exports each contributed to the advance in March. U.S. export prices also increased over the past year, rising 3.6 percent for the year ended in March. That matched the 12-month advance recorded in December 2011 and was the largest over-the-year increase since the index rose 4.8 percent in November 2011.