Ford raises U.S. prices again

Ford Motor Co. raised prices by an average of $124, or 0.4 percent, per vehicle this month because of higher commodity costs, said Todd Nissen, a spokesman.

Ford also increased prices in April and January.

Ford has raised prices by an average of 1.3 percent, or $375 per vehicle, this year, Nissen said, adding the average price increase for all automakers in the U.S. is about 1 percent.

Last month, General Motors raised prices by an average of 0.4 percent, or $123.

Toyota Motor Corp. has also hiked prices on 2011 car and light truck models in recent months.

Rising prices for steel, rubber and other materials are battering automakers, who have been better able to pass along the higher costs because of smaller new car and light inventories, analysts say.

Ford's U.S. sales are up 12 percent this year in a market that has advanced

20 percent through April.