www.bls.gov

Measuring Price Change for Inbound Ocean Liner 

Freight in the U.S. Import/Export Price Indexes

Import/Export Price Indexes • mxpinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/mxp • (202) 691-7101

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Inbound Ocean 

Liner Freight Index measures changes in ocean liner 

freight rates for shipments to the United States. The 

ocean liner freight index was first published in 1990 on 

a quarterly basis. In January 2005, BLS began publishing 

the index monthly. This index was discontinued in 2008. 

BLS publishes international services price indexes for air 

freight and air passenger fares. Historical data are 

available for crude oil tanker freight and ocean liner 

freight (http://www.bls.gov/web/discsrv.htm), 

education (http://www.bls.gov/web/srv3.htm) and 

travel and tourism services 

(http://www.bls.gov/web/srv2.htm). 

The Inbound Ocean Liner Freight Index reflects changes 

in rates paid for the transportation of freight from 

foreign countries into the U.S. on ocean liner vessels 

regardless of the nationality of either the shipper or the 

vessel operator/owner. Ocean liner vessels operate by 

definition via regular schedules. They differ from tramp 

and tanker ocean shipping services in that these latter 

vessels operate irregular schedules determined by 

negotiation between shipper and ship owner and 

generally carry bulk goods and liquid commodities, 

respectively. BLS only measures inbound container 

loads. 

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of 

Economic Analysis (BEA) is a primary user of the 

Inbound Ocean Liner Freight Index. BEA uses the index 

to adjust the Balance of Payments Accounts and to 

deflate the Gross Domestic Product. 

Sample Design and Selection 

BLS uses the U.S. Maritime Administration’s TM381 file 

as the sampling source for the Inbound Ocean Liner 

Freight Index. The data contained in this file include: 

date of entry, U.S. port of entry, foreign port, vessel 

name, shipping weight, operator, service type, 

commodity type, and customs value. 

 A sample of company-routes representative of inbound 

ocean liner freight transportation is selected by 

probability methods from the TM381 file. A companyroute consists of a vessel transporting freight between 

the city of origin and its U.S. destination. Each ocean 

liner freight item in the index is defined by the following 

characteristics: service route, commodity type, 

container size, type of rate (service contract or tariff), 

and applicable surcharges. 

Pricing 

Pricing data for the Inbound Ocean Liner Freight Index 

are obtained directly from ocean liner freight operators 

on a monthly basis, reflecting transaction prices for the 

first week of the month. The index uses a net freight 

rate, adjusted by applicable commissions, discounts, or 

surcharges. For example, the service contract rate for 

shipping a 20-foot container load of tires from Kyoto, 

Japan, to Long Beach, CA, might include a bunker 

adjustment factor, origin receiving charges, destination 

delivery charges, and a peak season surcharge. 

The scope of the service measured is ocean 

transportation from port to port only. The shipping rate 

does not include ground transportation or port service. 
www.bls.gov

Measuring Price Change for Inbound Ocean Liner 

Freight in the U.S. Import/Export Price Indexes

Import/Export Price Indexes • mxpinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/mxp • (202) 691-7101

Trade Value Weights 

The revenue weights used for the trade value for index 

calculation are derived from a regression analysis of 

data from the Maritime Administration’s TM381 file. 

The weights are updated every five years. This index 

currently is based on year 2005 trade values. 

Additional Information 

Additional information on the U.S. Import/Export Price 

Indexes can be found in “International Price Indexes,” 

BLS Handbook of Methods, Bulletin 2490 (Bureau of 

Labor Statistics, 1997), Chapter 15. This chapter also is 

available on the BLS Internet site 

(http://www.bls.gov/mxp) under the topic 

"Publications." You may contact the International Price 

Program of BLS by telephone at (202) 691-7101 or by email at mxpinfo@bls.gov. 

Information in this report is in the public domain and 

may be reproduced without permission. This 

information is available to sensory impaired individuals 

upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; TDD 

Federal Relay Service: 1-800-877-8339. 

Last Modified Date: December 12, 2011