Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until 

8:30 a.m. (EDT) Thursday, April 11, 2013 

Technical information: (202) 691-7101 • MXPinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/mxp 

Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov 

USDL-13-0628

U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES – MARCH 2013 

The price index for U.S. imports declined 0.5 percent in March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 

today, following increases of 0.6 percent in February and 0.5 percent in January. The March decrease was 

primarily led by a downturn in fuel prices. U.S. export prices fell 0.4 percent in March after rising 0.7 

percent in February. 

Chart 1. One-month percent change in the Import Price Index: March 2012 – March 2013 

 Percent change 

1.4

-0.1

-1.5

-2.3

-0.7

1.2 1.0

0.3

-0.7 -0.6

0.5 0.6

-0.5

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

Mar'12 Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar'13

Chart 2. 12-month percent change in the Import Price Index: March 2012 – March 2013

 Percent change

3.5

0.8

-0.8

-2.5

-3.3

-1.8

-0.6

0.0

-1.4

-2.0

-1.5

-0.8

-2.7

-5

-3

-1

1

3

5

Mar'12 Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar'13
 

All Imports: Import prices fell 0.5 percent in March, the first monthly decline since a 0.6 percent decrease 

in December 2012. Falling fuel prices were the main contributor to the March drop. The price index for 

imports decreased 2.7 percent for the 12 months ended in March, the largest year-over-year decline since a 

3.3 percent drop between July 2011 and July 2012. Import prices have not risen on a 12-month basis since 

April 2012. 

Fuel Imports: The price index for import fuel decreased 1.9 percent in March following a 2.8 percent 

increase in February and a 1.8 percent advance in January. The March downturn was driven mostly by a 1.9 

percent drop in petroleum prices. Natural gas prices also fell in March, decreasing 1.5 percent. Overall fuel 

prices declined 9.1 percent for the March 2012-13 period, led by a 10.4 percent drop in petroleum prices, 

which more than offset a 47.1 percent rise in natural gas prices. 

All Imports Excluding Fuel: Prices for nonfuel imports declined 0.2 percent in March after ticking up 0.1 

percent in February and advancing 0.2 percent in January. Lower prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and 

materials, consumer goods, automotive vehicles, and capital goods all contributed to the March decrease in 

nonfuel import prices. Prices for nonfuel imports fell 0.5 percent over the past 12 months. 

Table A. Percent changes 

2
Chart 3. One-month percent change in the Export Price Index: March 2012 – March 2013

 Percent change 

0.8

0.4

-0.5

-1.7

0.4

0.9 0.8

0.1

-0.6

-0.1

0.4

0.7

-0.4

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

Mar'12 Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar'13

Chart 4. 12-month percent change in the Export Price Index: March 2012 – March 2013 

 Percent change

1.1

0.7

-0.2

-2.1

-1.3

-0.9

-0.6

1.5

0.8

1.1 1.2

1.5

0.3

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

Mar'12 Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar'13

All Exports: Export prices decreased 0.4 percent in March after rising 0.7 percent in February and 0.4 

percent in January. Lower prices for agricultural and nonagricultural exports each contributed to the March 

downturn in overall export prices. Led by higher agricultural prices, prices for exports increased 0.3 percent 

for the March 2012-13 period, the smallest year-over-year advance since September 2012. 

Agricultural Exports: Prices for agricultural exports fell 1.8 percent in March after advancing 2.1 percent 

in February. The decline in March was driven by a 7.1 percent decrease in fruit prices and a 5.1 percent drop 

in wheat prices. Notwithstanding the March decline, agricultural prices rose 8.8 percent over the past year, 

led by higher prices for soybeans, nuts, corn, vegetables, and wheat. 

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: The price index for nonagricultural exports fell 0.2 percent in March 

after increasing 0.6 percent and 0.5 percent the previous two months. In March, falling nonagricultural 

industrial supplies and materials prices and consumer goods prices led the overall decline. Overall 

nonagricultural prices decreased 0.7 percent for the year ended in March. 

 

 

3
4

SELECTED MARCH HIGHLIGHTS 

Import Prices 

Imports by Locality of Origin: Prices for imports from China fell 0.2 percent in March, after recording no 

change the previous month. Import prices from China fell 1.1 percent over the past 12 months, and have not 

increased on a monthly basis since February 2012. The March 12-month drop was the largest year-over-year 

decline since a 1.3 percent decrease between February 2009 and February 2010. The price index for imports 

from Japan also fell 0.2 percent in March following a 0.4 percent drop the previous month. Prices for 

imports from the European Union decreased 0.7 percent in March, while declining fuel prices drove import 

prices from Mexico and Canada down, 0.4 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively. 

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonfuel industrial supplies and materials prices fell 0.4 

percent, the first monthly decline since a 0.5 percent decrease in November 2012. The price index also fell 

on a year-over-year basis, declining 2.1 percent. 

Finished Goods: Each of the major finished goods categories recorded decreases in March. Consumer 

goods prices fell 0.2 percent, led by a 0.8 percent drop in the price index for medicinal, dental, and 

pharmaceutical materials. Prices for import automotive vehicles declined 0.3 percent in March, driven by a 

0.5 percent drop in passenger car prices. Capital goods prices also fell in March, edging down 0.1 percent. 

 

Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Prices for import foods, feeds, and beverages rose 1.3 percent in March 

following a 1.2 percent rise the previous month. The March advance was led by a 7.7 percent increase in 

vegetable prices and a 3.8 percent rise in fish and shellfish prices. 

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares fell for the third consecutive month, declining 1.6 

percent in March. A 4.4 percent drop in European fares led the March decrease, after lower Asian fares had 

been the primary factor for the decreases in February and January. Despite the recent declines, import air 

passenger fares rose 1.7 percent over the past 12 months. The price index for import air freight fell 0.6 

percent in March, while advancing 0.4 percent over the past year. 

Export Prices 

 

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials 

prices fell 0.5 percent after a 1.3 percent increase in February. The March decline was driven by a downturn 

in fuel oil prices which fell 5.0 percent after rising 6.0 percent the previous month. A 2.6 percent drop in 

nonferrous metal prices also contributed to the decline. 

 

Finished Goods: Consumer goods prices fell 0.2 percent in March following a 0.3 percent decline the 

previous month. Prices for consumer goods fell 0.9 percent over the past year, the largest 12-month decline 

since the index was first published in September 1983. The price indexes for capital goods and automotive 

vehicles were each unchanged in March after rising 0.4 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively, the previous 

month. 

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares increased 0.5 percent in March following an 8.2 

percent decline in February. Higher Latin American/Caribbean fares and European fares more than offset 

declining Asian fares. Export air passenger fares edged down 0.1 percent for the year ended in March. 

Export air freight prices rose 0.3 percent in March and over the past 12 months. 

 

Import and Export Price Index data for April 2013 are scheduled for release on Tuesday, May 14, 

2013 at 8:30 a.m. (EDT). 
Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: March 2012 to March

2013

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Feb.

20131

Index Percent change

Feb.

2013

Mar.

2013

Annual Monthly

Mar.

2012 to

Mar.

2013

Nov.

2012 to

Dec.

2012

Dec.

2012 to

Jan.

2013

Jan.

2013 to

Feb.

2013

Feb.

2013 to

Mar.

2013

All commodities..................................... 100.000 141.0 140.3 -2.7 -0.6 0.5 0.6 -0.5

All imports excluding food and fuels (Dec.

2010=100).......................................... 73.645 103.6 103.4 -0.4 -0.1 0.2 0.0 -0.2

All imports excluding petroleum................ 79.531 116.6 116.5 -0.2 0.1 0.1 0.0 -0.1

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)... 78.581 120.7 120.5 -0.5 -0.1 0.2 0.1 -0.2

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 4.936 170.9 173.1 -0.7 -0.3 -0.2 1.2 1.3

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 3.835 191.9 193.6 -1.4 -0.1 -0.5 1.2 0.9

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 1.101 123.3 126.5 1.4 -0.7 0.8 1.6 2.6

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 34.952 256.9 253.6 -6.8 -1.4 1.3 1.7 -1.3

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

petroleum..................................... 14.484 167.8 167.2 -0.2 1.0 0.1 -0.1 -0.4

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

fuels (Dec. 2001=100)....................... 13.534 189.5 188.8 -2.1 0.1 0.5 0.1 -0.4

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 8.040 178.3 178.0 -2.9 -0.3 0.6 -0.1 -0.2

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable

excluding petroleum......................... 5.494 155.1 154.1 3.1 2.6 -0.5 0.0 -0.6

Fuels & lubricants............................... 10 21.417 343.6 337.1 -9.1 -2.2 1.8 2.8 -1.9

Petroleum & petroleum products........... 100 20.467 382.3 374.9 -10.4 -2.9 2.2 3.0 -1.9

Crude.......................................... 10000 15.583 393.9 383.7 -11.3 -2.5 2.2 3.0 -2.6

Fuels, n.e.s.-coals & gas.................... 101 0.739 123.9 122.8 39.2 14.7 -5.3 -1.9 -0.9

Gas-natural................................... 10110 0.611 109.9 108.3 47.1 16.6 -6.1 -2.0 -1.5

Paper & paper base stocks................... 11 0.555 113.0 112.9 -1.0 -0.6 0.4 0.9 -0.1

Materials associated with nondurable

supplies & materials......................... 12 5.017 176.8 175.5 -1.2 0.9 0.5 0.2 -0.7

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.040 148.5 149.8 11.5 1.5 2.8 0.6 0.9

Unfinished metals related to durable

goods.......................................... 14 3.807 264.6 263.6 -7.2 -0.8 0.2 0.1 -0.4

Finished metals related to durable goods. .. 15 1.590 160.8 160.1 -2.3 -0.8 0.3 -0.9 -0.4

Nonmetals related to durable goods......... 16 1.525 114.5 114.4 -0.9 0.0 0.2 -0.1 -0.1

Capital goods..................................... 2 23.912 93.2 93.1 -0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.1

Electric generating equipment................ 20 2.974 119.6 119.4 0.4 0.2 0.0 -0.1 -0.2

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 19.104 86.0 86.0 -0.7 -0.1 0.1 -0.1 0.0

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 1.834 134.9 135.3 1.7 0.4 0.2 -0.1 0.3

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 12.143 114.9 114.5 0.7 -0.1 0.2 -0.2 -0.3

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 24.056 107.8 107.6 0.0 -0.1 0.1 0.1 -0.2

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 11.688 115.9 115.5 0.9 0.0 0.3 0.3 -0.3

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 11.068 99.5 99.4 -0.8 -0.1 0.0 -0.2 -0.1

Nonmanufactured consumer goods.......... 42 1.301 115.7 116.4 -1.4 -0.3 0.0 0.3 0.6

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2011 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the three months after original publication.

Dash = Not available

5
Table 2. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: March 2012 to March

2013

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Feb.

20131

Index Percent change

Feb.

2013

Mar.

2013

Annual Monthly

Mar.

2012 to

Mar.

2013

Nov.

2012 to

Dec.

2012

Dec.

2012 to

Jan.

2013

Jan.

2013 to

Feb.

2013

Feb.

2013 to

Mar.

2013

All commodities..................................... 100.000 135.1 134.5 0.3 -0.1 0.4 0.7 -0.4

Agricultural commodities......................... 10.680 229.4 225.2 8.8 0.1 -1.2 2.1 -1.8

All exports excluding food and fuels (Dec.

2010=100).......................................... 80.590 103.4 103.2 -0.3 0.0 0.4 0.3 -0.2

Nonagricultural commodities.................... 89.320 128.3 128.0 -0.7 -0.2 0.5 0.6 -0.2

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 9.949 230.2 226.0 9.7 -0.2 -1.4 1.9 -1.8

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 9.266 234.6 229.7 10.1 -0.1 -1.6 2.0 -2.1

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 0.683 190.9 193.5 3.9 -1.7 1.5 0.1 1.4

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 34.428 184.1 183.2 -2.7 -0.3 0.6 1.3 -0.5

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 12.274 185.4 183.4 -4.0 0.3 -0.7 0.3 -1.1

Industrial supplies & materials,

nondurable.................................... 22.155 184.3 183.9 -1.9 -0.6 1.4 1.9 -0.2

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials... 10 1.414 205.7 205.6 2.1 1.3 2.0 2.7 0.0

Nonagricultural industrial supplies &

materials........................................ 33.014 183.5 182.5 -2.9 -0.3 0.6 1.3 -0.5

Fuels & lubricants............................... 11 9.461 265.6 264.6 -5.6 -1.2 0.9 3.7 -0.4

Nonagricultural supplies & materials

excluding fuels & building materials. . . . . .. 12 22.561 173.6 172.4 -2.2 -0.1 0.4 0.3 -0.7

Selected building materials.................... 13 0.992 119.8 121.3 3.5 0.0 0.8 0.8 1.3

Capital goods..................................... 2 34.989 106.8 106.8 0.8 -0.1 0.7 0.4 0.0

Electrical generating equipment.............. 20 3.450 115.1 114.9 1.6 -0.1 0.5 0.2 -0.2

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 25.464 95.8 95.9 0.6 -0.1 0.7 0.2 0.1

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 6.074 151.3 151.5 2.0 0.0 0.7 0.9 0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 8.818 113.5 113.5 0.9 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 11.816 115.9 115.7 -0.9 -0.2 -0.1 -0.3 -0.2

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 5.400 115.2 114.9 0.0 -0.1 0.1 -0.4 -0.3

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 5.051 112.7 112.3 -1.7 -0.3 -0.5 -0.5 -0.4

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2011 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the three months after original publication.

Dash = Not available

6
Table 3. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: March 2012 to March

2013

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Feb.

20131

Index Percent change

Feb.

2013

Mar.

2013

Annual Monthly

Mar.

2012 to

Mar.

2013

Nov.

2012 to

Dec.

2012

Dec.

2012 to

Jan.

2013

Jan.

2013 to

Feb.

2013

Feb.

2013 to

Mar.

2013

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 18.595 169.1 166.0 -8.7 -1.8 1.5 2.9 -1.8

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 1.778 169.8 175.2 0.9 -0.4 -0.8 3.5 3.2

Crop production................................. 111 1.242 174.0 180.5 0.7 -0.2 -2.4 4.4 3.7

Forestry and logging (Dec. 2012=100). . . . .. 113 0.205 106.9 104.5 – – 5.9 0.9 -2.2

Mining.............................................. 21 16.817 168.6 164.6 -9.7 -1.9 1.7 2.8 -2.4

Mining (except oil and gas) (Dec.

2006=100)..................................... 212 0.322 134.7 134.0 -8.3 0.3 -3.2 -0.1 -0.5

Manufactured articles.............................. 80.952 117.7 117.5 -1.0 -0.3 0.3 0.1 -0.2

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 10.419 123.7 123.3 -1.7 0.2 0.0 0.0 -0.3

Food manufacturing............................ 311 2.843 154.9 153.6 -4.9 1.0 0.2 -0.3 -0.8

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.867 113.5 113.5 1.7 -0.3 1.3 0.1 0.0

Textile mills (Dec. 2011=100)................. 313 0.388 102.1 102.0 0.5 -0.1 -0.3 0.1 -0.1

Textile product mills............................ 314 0.783 115.7 115.2 -1.0 0.1 -0.2 0.0 -0.4

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 3.899 110.5 110.4 -1.5 -0.1 -0.5 0.2 -0.1

Leather and allied product manufacturing. .. 316 1.640 121.2 121.3 1.8 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.1

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 18.002 139.6 139.4 -1.1 -0.9 0.9 1.0 -0.1

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.631 129.6 131.1 16.9 2.5 4.1 0.9 1.2

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.022 110.3 110.1 -1.2 -0.5 -0.3 0.5 -0.2

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 4.335 168.6 168.4 -7.4 -3.9 2.1 2.8 -0.1

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 9.167 136.4 136.0 1.1 0.0 0.6 0.6 -0.3

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 1.937 127.1 127.1 -0.1 0.0 -0.5 0.2 0.0

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 0.826 129.1 129.0 -0.4 -0.2 0.3 -0.3 -0.1

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 52.531 109.8 109.6 -0.8 -0.1 0.1 -0.1 -0.2

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 4.445 173.5 172.6 -7.2 -0.9 0.5 -0.3 -0.5

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.666 129.9 129.3 -0.3 -0.3 -0.2 0.0 -0.5

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 6.583 122.1 121.8 0.7 0.1 0.3 -0.2 -0.2

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 15.963 81.5 81.5 -1.6 0.0 -0.1 -0.2 0.0

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.988 119.8 119.9 1.5 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 12.868 112.5 112.2 1.2 0.1 0.3 -0.2 -0.3

Furniture and related product

manufacturing................................ 337 1.238 113.9 114.5 1.1 0.0 0.2 -0.1 0.5

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 4.780 120.6 120.8 -1.2 -0.4 0.0 -0.1 0.2

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2011 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the three months after original publication.

Dash = Not available

7
Table 4. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: March 2012 to March

2013

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Feb.

20131

Index Percent change

Feb.

2013

Mar.

2013

Annual Monthly

Mar.

2012 to

Mar.

2013

Nov.

2012 to

Dec.

2012

Dec.

2012 to

Jan.

2013

Jan.

2013 to

Feb.

2013

Feb.

2013 to

Mar.

2013

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 8.036 176.8 174.1 5.6 -0.2 -1.7 2.5 -1.5

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 5.937 219.9 216.1 10.8 -0.2 -1.9 3.2 -1.7

Crop production................................. 111 5.490 228.9 224.2 10.7 -0.1 -1.9 3.0 -2.1

Mining.............................................. 21 2.099 93.8 92.8 -9.9 0.1 -1.4 0.6 -1.1

Mining (except oil and gas).................... 212 1.435 108.1 105.9 -18.2 1.3 -1.6 0.7 -2.0

Manufactured articles.............................. 89.398 121.9 121.7 -0.1 -0.2 0.5 0.5 -0.2

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 6.995 152.9 152.5 4.8 -0.1 0.2 0.2 -0.3

Food manufacturing............................ 311 4.933 175.9 175.3 5.7 -0.3 0.1 0.3 -0.3

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.571 129.2 128.9 8.5 0.2 1.2 1.2 -0.2

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 26.482 135.3 135.0 -1.2 -0.5 0.9 1.4 -0.2

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.406 115.3 117.3 2.8 -0.4 0.3 1.5 1.7

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.776 120.3 121.0 2.0 -0.1 1.1 0.1 0.6

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 7.170 171.4 170.8 -4.2 -1.4 1.4 4.6 -0.4

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 14.168 132.1 131.7 -1.1 -0.4 0.9 0.2 -0.3

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 2.192 119.8 119.4 2.0 0.4 0.3 0.1 -0.3

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 0.769 110.5 111.8 0.1 -0.4 -0.4 0.1 1.2

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 55.921 113.8 113.6 -0.1 -0.1 0.3 0.3 -0.2

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 5.156 169.7 167.3 -6.8 -0.5 -1.3 -0.4 -1.4

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.731 132.1 131.8 2.0 -0.2 0.0 0.2 -0.2

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 11.479 122.1 122.1 1.6 0.0 0.7 0.2 0.0

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 14.110 89.5 89.5 -1.1 -0.2 0.2 0.3 0.0

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.261 113.8 113.6 1.4 0.1 0.6 0.1 -0.2

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 13.948 117.8 117.9 1.2 0.0 0.3 0.5 0.1

Furniture and related product manufacturing

(Dec. 2011=100)............................. 337 0.310 105.4 105.5 3.7 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.1

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 4.926 122.9 122.3 0.2 -0.2 0.9 0.1 -0.5

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2011 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the three months after original publication.

Dash = Not available

8
Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: March 2012 to March

2013

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Feb.

20131

Index Percent change

Feb.

2013

Mar.

2013

Annual Monthly

Mar.

2012 to

Mar.

2013

Nov.

2012 to

Dec.

2012

Dec.

2012 to

Jan.

2013

Jan.

2013 to

Feb.

2013

Feb.

2013 to

Mar.

2013

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.068 167.7 172.4 1.2 -0.7 1.2 1.6 2.8

Meat and edible meat offal....................... 02 0.252 221.4 216.9 -2.4 -0.6 1.4 0.5 -2.0

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.567 118.7 125.4 2.1 -1.3 1.9 3.0 5.6

Vegetable products................................ II 1.615 209.3 211.9 -1.4 1.9 -1.3 3.0 1.2

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers............ 07 0.340 333.5 357.9 20.9 -0.2 -10.3 6.3 7.3

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.426 116.1 118.4 -7.3 -0.6 2.3 4.3 2.0

Coffee, tea, mate and spices.................... 09 0.379 247.7 250.6 -8.4 -0.3 3.0 3.6 1.2

Animal or vegetable fats and oils (Dec.

2009=100).......................................... III 0.258 121.5 119.7 -11.1 -2.4 0.8 1.7 -1.5

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.375 157.2 157.3 -0.4 0.0 0.1 -0.4 0.1

Sugars and sugar confectionary (Dec.

2012=100)....................................... 17 0.210 100.6 101.1 – – 0.9 -0.3 0.5

Cocoa and cocoa preparations (Dec.

2009=100)....................................... 18 0.194 87.3 86.4 -1.8 4.4 -0.7 -4.7 -1.0

Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk;

bakers’ wares (Dec. 2007=100).............. 19 0.237 131.0 131.6 4.4 0.2 0.5 0.6 0.5

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts, or other

parts of plants................................... 20 0.306 161.5 160.6 -8.3 -1.4 -2.2 -0.7 -0.6

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar.................. 22 0.856 124.4 124.4 2.0 -0.2 1.6 0.0 0.0

Mineral products.................................... V 21.326 345.7 339.0 -9.0 -2.1 1.8 2.8 -1.9

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 21.042 342.4 335.7 -9.0 -2.1 1.9 2.8 -2.0

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 8.619 151.8 151.0 2.0 -0.3 0.3 0.2 -0.5

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 0.840 376.6 366.3 7.7 -1.8 -1.3 -1.0 -2.7

Organic chemicals................................. 29 2.688 140.8 138.4 -1.3 -0.2 0.6 0.1 -1.7

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 3.275 121.6 122.1 5.7 0.1 0.9 0.6 0.4

Fertilizers (Dec. 2009=100)...................... 31 0.400 127.7 129.7 -8.5 -0.5 -1.5 -0.8 1.6

Tanning extracts; dye, pigments, varnish,

paints & putty (Dec. 2011=100)............... 32 0.162 94.0 93.8 -9.1 -0.1 0.8 0.2 -0.2

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 0.482 102.8 103.0 -0.8 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.2

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 3.215 154.0 153.8 0.6 0.5 0.9 0.4 -0.1

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 1.958 148.9 149.0 3.6 1.0 1.6 0.7 0.1

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 1.257 164.3 163.6 -3.9 -0.5 -0.2 0.0 -0.4

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.594 126.4 126.1 -0.2 -0.1 0.2 0.0 -0.2

Articles of leather; travel goods, bags, etc. of

various materials................................ 42 0.548 127.1 127.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 -0.1 0.1

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.669 157.7 159.5 17.5 2.3 4.3 1.2 1.1

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 1.119 113.4 113.3 -0.5 -0.3 -0.2 0.4 -0.1

Pulp wood, waste paper, and paperboard

(Dec. 2011=100)................................ 47 0.173 101.1 101.6 0.7 -0.3 0.9 2.7 0.5

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 0.747 107.6 107.4 -1.4 -0.5 -0.6 0.1 -0.2

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 4.913 114.1 114.0 -1.5 -0.1 -0.5 0.2 -0.1

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

knitted or crocheted............................ 61 1.934 104.1 103.6 -2.8 0.0 -0.7 0.0 -0.5

See footnotes at end of table.

9
Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: March 2012 to March

2013 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Feb.

20131

Index Percent change

Feb.

2013

Mar.

2013

Annual Monthly

Mar.

2012 to

Mar.

2013

Nov.

2012 to

Dec.

2012

Dec.

2012 to

Jan.

2013

Jan.

2013 to

Feb.

2013

Feb.

2013 to

Mar.

2013

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

not knitted or crocheted........................ 62 1.800 116.9 117.1 -0.8 -0.3 -0.7 0.5 0.2

Made-up or worn textile articles................. 63 0.545 108.3 107.8 -2.0 -0.1 -0.3 0.0 -0.5

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.. .. XII 1.347 120.8 120.9 2.1 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.1

Footwear and parts of such articles............ 64 1.134 120.1 120.1 2.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.0

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc........................................... XIII 0.759 132.0 132.1 0.5 -0.2 0.7 -0.2 0.1

Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, or

mica (Dec. 2001=100)......................... 68 0.244 124.9 125.6 0.8 -0.6 0.2 0.1 0.6

Ceramic products.................................. 69 0.238 140.6 140.3 -1.3 0.1 -0.3 0.0 -0.2

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.277 128.3 128.3 1.6 -0.2 1.8 -0.8 0.0

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 3.320 203.0 201.1 -4.8 -0.6 -0.8 -0.6 -0.9

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 5.027 185.4 185.5 -3.9 -0.4 0.9 0.1 0.1

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.132 218.8 220.2 -10.4 -1.3 -0.5 0.7 0.6

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.481 157.3 156.7 -3.2 -0.3 0.2 -0.4 -0.4

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.491 361.5 356.4 -5.2 0.3 2.7 -0.9 -1.4

Nickel and articles thereof (Dec. 2009=100). .. 75 0.148 102.6 104.5 -11.4 -6.5 5.2 0.2 1.9

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.677 140.3 140.9 -1.2 0.5 2.0 0.1 0.4

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.380 129.6 129.8 2.4 -0.1 1.3 -0.1 0.2

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.426 136.5 136.5 2.9 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 26.354 85.7 85.5 -0.7 0.1 0.0 -0.1 -0.2

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 13.602 90.1 90.0 0.2 0.0 0.1 -0.1 -0.1

Electrical machinery and equip, sound and TV

recorders & reproducers, parts............... 85 12.752 81.4 81.2 -1.7 0.1 -0.1 -0.2 -0.2

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 10.632 116.5 116.3 1.0 -0.1 0.3 -0.3 -0.2

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 9.708 115.4 115.1 0.7 -0.1 0.3 -0.3 -0.3

Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof (Dec.

2002=100)....................................... 88 0.856 119.4 119.9 1.7 0.7 0.0 0.1 0.4

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 3.300 103.6 103.7 -0.6 -0.9 -0.2 0.0 0.1

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical

instruments...................................... 90 2.990 100.4 100.4 -1.5 -0.9 -0.3 0.0 0.0

Clocks and watches and parts thereof. . . . . . . .. 91 0.252 142.2 142.3 11.0 0.1 0.7 0.1 0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . ...... XX 3.430 113.1 113.6 1.2 0.1 0.3 0.0 0.4

Furniture & stuffed furnishings; lamps &

lighting fittings, nesoi; prefab bldgs........... 94 1.916 117.0 117.9 1.6 0.1 0.3 0.0 0.8

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 1.322 105.3 105.3 0.4 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0

Miscellaneous manufactured articles........... 96 0.191 137.8 138.3 3.8 -0.2 2.3 -0.6 0.4

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2011 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the three months after original publication.

Dash = Not available

10
Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: March 2012 to March

2013

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Feb.

20131

Index Percent change

Feb.

2013

Mar.

2013

Annual Monthly

Mar.

2012 to

Mar.

2013

Nov.

2012 to

Dec.

2012

Dec.

2012 to

Jan.

2013

Jan.

2013 to

Feb.

2013

Feb.

2013 to

Mar.

2013

Live animals; animal products................... I 2.084 222.8 218.8 7.7 1.8 -2.5 2.0 -1.8

Meat & edible meat offal (Dec. 2006=100). . .. 02 1.177 169.5 169.5 0.4 -0.1 -0.7 1.3 0.0

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.401 203.8 207.5 3.8 -2.7 0.9 -0.4 1.8

Vegetable products................................ II 5.470 278.7 273.9 12.7 -0.1 -1.3 1.5 -1.7

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 1.031 163.4 156.2 16.3 3.9 3.2 1.7 -4.4

Cereals.............................................. 10 2.166 322.6 313.7 10.1 0.5 -7.9 4.2 -2.8

Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds, fruits,

plants, straw and fodder....................... 12 1.719 296.5 296.3 13.1 -2.4 -2.7 3.1 -0.1

Animal or vegetable fats and oils (Dec.

2009=100).......................................... III 0.307 136.2 135.1 -10.9 -1.3 0.6 2.6 -0.8

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.984 168.1 167.0 8.3 -1.2 0.4 0.8 -0.7

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other

parts of plants (Dec. 2009=100).............. 20 0.339 112.0 112.4 1.9 0.1 0.4 0.1 0.4

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar (Dec.

2008=100)....................................... 22 0.629 114.0 113.4 3.6 -0.4 2.3 1.2 -0.5

Residues and waste from the food industries;

prepared animal feed........................... 23 0.783 273.2 267.3 22.9 -3.2 -2.5 0.6 -2.2

Mineral products.................................... V 9.373 309.9 308.9 -6.5 -1.0 0.8 3.5 -0.3

Ores, slag and ash (Dec. 2012=100)........... 26 0.482 100.3 96.4 – – -1.8 2.1 -3.9

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 8.709 306.6 306.2 -6.3 -1.3 0.9 3.7 -0.1

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 11.391 154.8 154.1 -0.8 -0.3 0.6 -0.3 -0.5

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 1.004 183.8 183.5 -0.6 -0.5 0.2 -0.5 -0.2

Organic chemicals................................. 29 3.263 168.8 167.7 -1.5 0.1 1.0 0.6 -0.7

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 2.673 124.3 123.2 -1.3 -0.2 0.7 -1.0 -0.9

Fertilizers (Dec. 2012=100)...................... 31 0.371 95.2 96.8 – – -2.2 -2.7 1.7

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery

cosmetic or toilet preparations................ 33 0.705 137.0 139.3 2.7 0.0 0.4 0.0 1.7

Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or scouring

products; candles, pastes..................... 34 0.448 121.3 120.7 -1.8 -0.1 -1.2 0.0 -0.5

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 1.731 153.9 151.4 -1.3 -0.4 1.3 0.2 -1.6

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 5.236 150.5 150.6 -0.2 -0.5 0.9 1.1 0.1

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 4.188 142.3 142.3 0.7 -0.5 1.1 1.4 0.0

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 1.048 188.4 189.4 -3.8 -0.4 0.1 0.3 0.5

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.391 143.0 144.3 11.1 1.2 3.4 1.3 0.9

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.563 110.9 115.7 7.7 0.0 0.1 0.7 4.3

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 2.198 119.9 120.5 2.0 0.1 2.2 0.0 0.5

Woodpulp and recovered paper................. 47 0.587 123.5 126.3 -0.6 1.0 6.4 -2.4 2.3

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 1.177 118.8 118.5 1.3 -0.3 1.0 0.5 -0.3

Printed material.................................... 49 0.434 128.3 128.9 7.9 0.2 0.3 1.7 0.5

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 1.794 129.9 129.8 -1.1 0.6 1.3 1.7 -0.1

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics

thereof............................................ 52 0.538 145.7 145.0 -8.7 2.0 2.8 7.1 -0.5

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc........................................... XIII 0.747 117.9 118.0 0.2 0.0 -0.4 0.1 0.1

See footnotes at end of table.

11
Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: March 2012 to March

2013 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Feb.

20131

Index Percent change

Feb.

2013

Mar.

2013

Annual Monthly

Mar.

2012 to

Mar.

2013

Nov.

2012 to

Dec.

2012

Dec.

2012 to

Jan.

2013

Jan.

2013 to

Feb.

2013

Feb.

2013 to

Mar.

2013

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.383 97.2 97.4 -1.4 -0.1 -1.5 0.0 0.2

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 5.255 282.3 276.6 -5.3 -0.1 -1.2 -0.1 -2.0

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 5.399 171.6 170.2 -5.2 0.5 -0.8 0.5 -0.8

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.548 199.5 198.7 -12.0 1.1 -1.5 0.4 -0.4

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.304 169.2 169.2 -2.3 -0.6 -1.5 0.4 0.0

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.650 260.2 250.9 -6.0 2.6 0.4 2.1 -3.6

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.857 126.8 124.5 -3.4 0.2 0.6 0.0 -1.8

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.396 131.7 131.7 1.9 0.0 -1.1 0.0 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.321 146.7 146.3 6.0 -0.3 0.0 0.8 -0.3

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 27.682 97.7 97.7 0.4 -0.1 0.5 0.4 0.0

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 16.519 111.6 111.6 1.0 -0.2 0.6 0.4 0.0

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts

and accessories thereof....................... 85 11.163 82.6 82.7 -0.5 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.1

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 11.817 127.8 127.9 1.3 0.1 0.5 0.2 0.1

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 8.015 113.7 113.7 0.8 0.0 0.4 0.2 0.0

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 5.835 107.5 107.2 1.7 -0.1 0.9 0.1 -0.3

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . ...... XX 1.323 110.8 110.8 1.7 0.2 -0.1 -0.2 0.0

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and

lighting fittings nesoi;........................... 94 0.712 121.0 121.0 1.3 0.3 -0.2 -0.3 0.0

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 0.505 90.9 90.9 -0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2011 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the three months after original publication.

Dash = Not available

12
Table 7. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes by locality of origin: March 2012 to March 2013

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Relative

importance

Feb.

20131

Index Percent change

Feb.

2013

Mar.

2013

Annual Monthly

Mar. 2012

to Mar.

2013

Nov. 2012

to Dec.

2012

Dec. 2012

to Jan.

2013

Jan. 2013

to Feb.

2013

Feb. 2013

to Mar.

2013

Industrialized Countries2

..................... 100.000 132.4 132.1 -0.6 -0.7 0.4 0.6 -0.2

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 11.160 220.0 216.3 -5.8 -6.3 -0.7 2.9 -1.7

Manufactured articles......................... 88.249 125.3 125.2 0.2 0.1 0.6 0.3 -0.1

Other Countries3............................... 100.000 140.7 139.8 -3.6 -0.2 0.4 1.0 -0.6

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 23.080 361.5 353.8 -9.3 -0.3 2.2 3.1 -2.1

Manufactured articles......................... 76.574 110.9 110.6 -1.4 -0.3 -0.1 0.4 -0.3

Canada............................................ 100.000 151.1 150.8 -1.8 -1.9 0.3 0.9 -0.2

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 28.128 209.6 205.9 -5.1 -6.3 -0.6 3.1 -1.8

Manufactured articles......................... 70.799 139.6 140.1 -0.4 -0.1 0.6 0.1 0.4

European Union4

............................... 100.000 136.7 135.8 -0.4 -1.0 1.6 0.6 -0.7

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 1.100 384.9 379.2 -6.0 -0.1 4.0 0.0 -1.5

Manufactured articles......................... 98.427 132.9 132.0 -0.3 -1.1 1.5 0.6 -0.7

France (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 100.000 121.0 122.1 0.6 -0.1 0.5 0.0 0.9

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)..................... 100.000 116.2 115.9 0.7 -0.3 0.7 0.8 -0.3

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)........... 100.000 133.4 129.1 -5.5 -1.3 0.6 0.1 -3.2

Latin America5.................................. 100.000 178.6 177.1 -4.5 0.3 1.0 1.6 -0.8

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 32.546 386.6 378.9 -9.5 0.4 3.1 4.0 -2.0

Manufactured articles......................... 67.028 133.8 133.4 -1.3 0.3 0.0 0.5 -0.3

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 100.000 146.3 145.7 -2.5 -0.1 0.7 1.8 -0.4

Nonmanufactured articles (Dec.

2008=100)................................... 19.893 213.9 211.0 -6.6 -0.5 3.6 8.3 -1.4

Manufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100). . .. 79.770 94.5 94.4 -1.0 0.0 0.1 0.3 -0.1

Pacific Rim (Dec. 2003=100)6................ 100.000 104.0 103.9 -0.9 0.0 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1

China (Dec. 2003=100)......................... 100.000 104.4 104.2 -1.1 0.0 -0.1 0.0 -0.2

Japan.............................................. 100.000 102.4 102.2 -0.2 -0.1 0.0 -0.4 -0.2

Asian NICs7..................................... 100.000 89.9 90.0 -0.6 -0.1 -0.1 0.0 0.1

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)8..................... 100.000 104.3 103.8 -2.3 0.3 0.1 0.0 -0.5

Asia Near East (Dec. 2003=100)9

........... 100.000 277.5 272.1 -6.8 -0.5 0.3 2.2 -1.9

1 Relative figures are based on 2011 trade values.

2 Western Europe, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

3 Eastern Europe, Latin America, OPEC countries, and other countries in Asia, Africa and the Western Hemisphere.

4 European Union countries.

5 Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

6 China, Japan, Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines and the Asian Newly Industrialized

Countries.

7 Asian Newly Industrialized Countries - Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.

8 Association of Southeast Asian Nations - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

9 Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the three months after original publication.

Regions are not mutually exclusive.

Dash = Not available

13
Table 8. U.S. international price indexes and percent changes for selected transportation services: March 2012

to March 2013

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Relative

importance

Feb.

20131

Index Percent change

Feb.

2013

Mar.

2013

Annual Monthly

Mar. 2012

to Mar.

2013

Nov. 2012

to Dec.

2012

Dec. 2012

to Jan.

2013

Jan. 2013

to Feb.

2013

Feb. 2013

to Mar.

2013

Air Freight

Import Air Freight..................................... 100.000 175.5 174.4 0.4 -0.7 0.2 -0.4 -0.6

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 21.993 167.6 168.1 0.9 -2.7 1.9 1.4 0.3

Asia.................................................... 73.702 154.8 153.3 0.5 -0.1 -0.3 -1.0 -1.0

Export Air Freight..................................... 100.000 148.9 149.3 0.3 -0.7 1.6 -0.3 0.3

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)............................ 35.646 133.0 133.6 -0.4 -0.3 2.6 0.0 0.5

Inbound Air Freight................................... 100.000 164.5 163.7 3.1 -0.6 -1.1 -0.7 -0.5

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 22.179 152.1 151.4 1.2 -1.7 1.5 0.5 -0.5

Asia.................................................... 67.332 149.2 148.3 4.7 -0.1 -2.1 -1.2 -0.6

Outbound Air Freight................................. 100.000 147.9 148.8 1.7 -0.8 -0.1 0.1 0.6

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 27.822 161.6 161.6 -2.2 -0.6 -0.1 0.0 0.0

Asia.................................................... 52.419 141.3 142.8 4.1 -1.0 -0.4 0.1 1.1

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 184.7 181.7 1.7 6.8 -3.7 -1.2 -1.6

Europe................................................. 44.926 215.9 206.3 14.2 2.1 1.7 2.4 -4.4

Asia.................................................... 25.023 148.0 147.6 0.1 16.1 -7.7 -6.4 -0.3

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 9.182 163.7 167.9 -5.8 9.4 -11.7 0.1 2.6

Export Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 184.0 185.0 -0.1 1.9 7.5 -8.2 0.5

Europe................................................. 28.267 218.5 221.8 6.1 -0.1 0.2 0.8 1.5

Asia.................................................... 29.225 162.6 160.4 -3.9 8.7 10.0 -18.0 -1.4

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 22.191 194.2 201.5 -14.7 -7.5 6.6 -8.6 3.8

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2011 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the three months after original publication.

Dash = Not available

14
TECHNICAL NOTE

Import and Export Merchandise and Services Price Indexes -- All indexes use a modified Laspeyres 

formula and are not seasonally adjusted. Price indexes are reweighted annually, with a two-year lag in 

the weights. Published series use a base year of 2000=100 where possible. More detailed index series 

and additional information may be obtained at http://www.bls.gov/mxp, or by calling (202) 691-7101. 

Merchandise Goods Classification Systems -- The merchandise price indexes are published using 

three classification systems. Items are classified by end use according to the Bureau of Economic 

Analysis Classification System, by industry according to the North American Industry Classification 

System (NAICS), and by product category according to the Harmonized System (HS). While 

classification by end use and product category are self-explanatory, some notes are in order for 

classifying items by industry. In the NAICS imports and exports tables, items are classified by output 

industry, not input industry. As an example, NAICS import index 326 (plastics and rubber products 

manufacturing) include outputs such as manufactured plastic rather than inputs such as petroleum. The 

NAICS classification structure also matches the classification system used by the PPI (Producer Price 

Index) to produce the NAICS primary products indexes.

Import Price Indexes -- Products have been classified by the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United 

States Annotated (TSUSA). Import prices are based on U.S. dollar prices paid by the U.S. importer. 

The prices are generally either "free on board" (f.o.b.) foreign port or "cost, insurance, and freight" 

(c.i.f.) U.S. port transaction prices, depending on the practices of the individual industry. The index for 

crude petroleum is calculated from data collected by the U.S. Department of Energy. 

Export Price Indexes -- Products have been classified by the Harmonized Schedule B classification 

system of the U.S. Bureau of the Census. The prices used are generally either "free alongside ship" 

(f.a.s.) factory or "free on board" (f.o.b.) transaction prices, depending on the practices of the individual 

industry. Prices used in the grain index, excluding rice, are obtained from the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture. 

Services Price Indexes -- Starting in September 2008 the Import Air Passenger Fares Indexes represent 

changes in the average revenue per passenger received by foreign carriers from U.S. residents and are 

calculated from data obtained from an airline consulting service. These data include tickets sold by 

travel agencies and travel websites. Tickets sold directly by the airlines are excluded, as are frequent 

flyer tickets generally. Starting in January 2008 the Export Air Passenger Fares Indexes represent 

changes in the average revenue per passenger received by U.S. carriers from foreign residents and are 

calculated from data collected directly from airlines. These data include frequent flyer tickets and those 

sold by consolidators. Taxes and fees are included in the Import Air Passenger Fares Index and excluded 

from the Export Air Passenger Fares Index. The Air Freight Indexes are calculated from data collected 

directly from airlines. These data exclude mail and passenger baggage. The scope of the service being 

priced is the movement of freight from airport to airport only, and does not include any ground 

transportation or port service. The Air Freight Indexes are presented using two definitions: Balance of 

Payments (which represent transactions between U.S. and foreign residents) and International (which 

represent transactions inbound to and outbound from the U.S.). Fact sheets specifying detailed 

information for each services industry are available at http://www.bls.gov/mxp under "MXP 

Publications."

15
Import Indexes by Locality of Origin -- Prices used in these indexes are a subset of the data collected 

for the Import Price Indexes. Beginning with January 2002, the indexes are defined by locality of origin 

using a nomenclature based upon the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). 

Nonmanufactured goods are defined as NAICS 11 and 21 and manufactured goods are defined as 

NAICS 31-33. 

Revision Policy -- To reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by respondents, monthly 

data may be revised in each of the three months after original publication. After three months, no 

further data revisions take place. So, for example, data released in the January release will be subject to 

revision in the releases for February, March, and April. 

Uses of the Data -- The primary use of the indexes is to deflate trade statistics, notably the foreign trade 

sector of the National Income and Product Accounts constructed by the Department of Commerce. 

Other published indexes are useful for general market analysis. For trade in international services, 

Balance of Payments indexes are used for deflating National Income and Product Accounts, while 

International indexes are more appropriate for market analysis. Merchandise and services indexes also 

can be used to study U.S. competitiveness and to compute price elasticities, and the merchandise import 

indexes by country or region of origin are useful in terms of trade analysis. 

E-Mail Subscription -- The U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes news release is available through an 

e-mail subscription service at (http://www.bls.gov/bls/list.htm). 

 

Additional Information -- More detailed data are available on the Import/Export Price Indexes home 

page at (http://www.bls.gov/mxp). Flat Files and the FTP server are available for users requiring access 

to either a large volume of time series data or other related documentation. The FTP site can be accessed 

at ftp://ftp.bls.gov. For technical assistance in using the BLS Internet site, send e-mail to 

(labstat.helpdesk@bls.gov). For Import/Export Price Index data requests, send e-mail to 

(mxpinfo@bls.gov). 

Information from this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. 

Voice phone: 202-691-5200; Federal Relay Service: 1-800-877-8339. 

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