Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

Technical information: USDL-08-0663 

 (202) 691-7101 Transmission of this 

Media contact: material is embargoed 

 (202) 691-5902 until 8:30 A.M. EDT 

Internet address: http://www.bls.gov/mxp Tuesday, May 13, 2008 

U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES 

- APRIL 2008 - 

The U.S. Import Price Index increased 1.8 percent in April, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the 

U.S. Department of Labor reported today. For the second consecutive month, higher prices for both 

petroleum and nonpetroleum imports contributed to the advance. The rise followed a 2.9 percent 

increase in March. Export prices also increased in April, rising 0.3 percent after advancing at least 1.0 

percent in each of the previous three months. 

Percent changes in import and export price indexes 

by End Use category 

- not seasonally adjusted - 

News United States 

 Department 

of Labor
Import Goods

The 1.8 percent rise in April followed increases of 2.9 percent, 0.2 percent, and 1.5 percent in 

March, February, and January, respectively. Petroleum prices advanced 4.4 percent in April after a 9.2 

percent rise in March. Prices for petroleum rose 57.2 percent for the year ended in April following a 1.1 

percent drop over the previous 12-month period. Nonpetroleum prices increased 1.1 percent for the 

second consecutive month, matching the largest one-month increase for the index since nonpetroleum 

prices were first published on a monthly basis in December 1988. The price indexes for overall imports 

and nonpetroleum imports advanced 15.4 percent and 6.2 percent, respectively, during the past year. 

The largest contributor to the April increase in nonpetroleum prices was a 3.3 percent advance in 

the price index for nonpetroleum industrial supplies and materials. That rise was mostly driven by a 

jump in unfinished metals prices, although higher prices for natural gas, finished metals, and chemicals 

also factored into the advance. Over the past 12 months, nonpetroleum industrial supplies and materials 

prices rose 17.0 percent. 

Prices for capital goods, automotive vehicles, and consumer goods were all up in April as well. 

Capital goods prices increased 0.8 percent, the largest increase for the index since an equivalent rise in 

May 1995. Prices for capital goods advanced 2.1 percent over the past 12 months. The price index for 

automotive vehicles rose 0.4 percent in April after advancing 0.2 percent in each of the previous two 

months. Over the past year, the index went up 3.3 percent, the largest rise since an identical increase in 

August 1995. Consumer goods prices advanced 0.2 percent in April after rising 0.4 percent in each of 

the previous two months. Prices for consumer goods rose 2.8 percent for the year ended in April, the 

largest increase since a 3.9 percent advance in November 1992. 

Prices for foods, feeds, and beverages rose 0.4 percent in April, following a 2.8 percent rise in 

March, as rising fruit prices more than offset falling prices for coffee. 

 

Export Goods 

Export prices advanced a comparatively modest 0.3 percent in April following a 1.5 percent 

jump in March, which was the largest one-month increase since the index was first published in 

September 1983. Prices of overall exports advanced 7.7 percent over the past year. In April, a 0.6 

percent advance in nonagricultural prices more than offset a 2.2 percent downturn in agricultural prices. 

Prices for nonagricultural exports rose for the seventh consecutive month and advanced 5.6 percent for 

the year ended in April. 

The increase in nonagricultural prices was led by the continued rise in the price index for 

nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials prices, which rose 1.3 percent in April after rising 3.8 

percent in March. Higher prices for fuels, metals, and chemicals contributed to the increase. 

Prices for each of the major finished goods indexes also rose in April. Capital goods prices 

advanced 0.3 percent after falling 0.1 percent in March. The price indexes for export automotive 

vehicles and consumer goods increased 0.4 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively. 

Agricultural prices decreased 2.2 percent in April, the first decrease in 11 months and the largest 

decline since an 8.4 percent drop in August 2004. Soybean and wheat prices led the downturn in 

agricultural prices, falling 13.7 percent and 17.8 percent, respectively. Despite the decline, agricultural 

prices rose 32.3 percent over the past year. 

2
Imports by Locality of Origin 

 

The price indexes for imports from Canada, the European Union, and Mexico increased in April, 

led by higher fuel prices. Prices for imports from Canada rose 2.6 percent for the month and 18.1 

percent for the year ended in April. Import prices from the European Union advanced 1.3 percent in 

April and 8.3 percent over the past year. The price index for imports from Mexico increased 2.2 percent 

following a 2.9 percent rise in March. Prices of imports from Mexico advanced 18.3 percent over the 

past 12 months. 

Import prices from China also increased in April, rising 0.2 percent after a 0.6 percent gain the 

previous month. Prices for imports from China rose 4.1 percent for the April 2007-08 period, the largest 

12-month increase recorded since the index was first published in December 2003. 

 

The price index for imports from Japan edged up 0.2 percent in April and advanced 1.0 percent 

over the past year. 

Import and Export Services

 Import air passenger fares rose 9.1 percent in April after advancing 0.2 percent in March. A 17.3 

percent increase in fares from Europe was the largest contributor to the overall increase, although prices 

also rose for Latin America-Caribbean and Asian fares. The price index for overall fares increased 12.6 

percent for the year ended in April. In contrast, export air passenger fares decreased 5.0 percent in April 

following a 2.4 percent increase in March. The April decline was led by lower Asian fares. Over the 

past year, the index rose 3.3 percent. 

 

The price index for import air freight advanced 4.5 percent in April, driven by a 9.6 percent 

increase in European air freight prices. Import air freight prices increased 15.1 percent for the year 

ended in April. Export air freight prices rose 2.4 percent in April after falling 0.2 percent the previous 

month. The index advanced 14.7 percent over the past year. 

CONTENTS OF RELEASE 

This news release includes the following tables: 

Table 1 U.S. Import Price Indexes, by End Use.....page 4 

Table 2 U.S. Export Price Indexes, by End Use.....page 5 

Table 3 U.S. Import Price Indexes, by NAICS.....page 6 

Table 4 U.S. Export Price Indexes, by NAICS.....page 7 

Table 5 U.S. Import Price Indexes, by Harmonized System.....pages 8-9 

Table 6 U.S. Export Price Indexes, by Harmonized System.....pages 10-11 

Table 7 U.S. Import Price Indexes, by Locality of Origin.....page 12 

Table 8 U.S. International Price Indexes for Selected Transportation Services.....page 13 

------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Import and Export Price Index data for May are scheduled for release on June 12 at 

8:30 A.M. (EDT) 

3
Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2007 to April

2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Mar.

20081

Index Percent change

Mar.

2008

Apr.

2008

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2007

to Apr.

2008

Dec.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Jan.

2008 to

Feb.

2008

Feb.

2008 to

Mar.

2008

Mar.

2008 to

Apr. 2008

All commodities..................................... 100.000 133.2 135.6 15.4 1.5 0.2 2.9 1.8

All imports excluding petroleum................ 77.135 111.6 112.8 6.2 0.7 0.6 1.1 1.1

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)... 74.936 113.9 115.0 5.8 0.7 0.5 1.0 1.0

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 4.340 141.6 142.2 12.6 2.8 -0.3 2.8 0.4

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 3.355 156.9 157.5 14.5 3.2 -0.4 2.9 0.4

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 0.985 106.9 107.6 6.6 1.3 0.1 2.4 0.7

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 40.306 233.2 242.2 37.3 3.3 0.2 6.6 3.9

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

petroleum..................................... 17.441 159.6 164.8 17.0 2.0 2.6 3.4 3.3

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

fuels (Dec. 2001=100)....................... 15.242 167.0 172.3 16.4 2.1 2.0 3.2 3.2

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 10.022 159.1 165.8 15.5 0.2 2.1 4.3 4.2

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable

excluding petroleum......................... 5.220 159.4 162.5 19.0 4.6 3.2 2.1 1.9

Fuels & lubricants............................... 10 25.064 325.8 339.8 53.0 4.0 -0.8 8.8 4.3

Petroleum & petroleum products........... 100 22.864 343.8 358.8 57.2 4.2 -1.5 9.2 4.4

Crude.......................................... 10000 17.062 359.8 377.1 66.9 4.4 0.7 9.0 4.8

Fuels, n.e.s.-coals & gas.................... 101 1.887 214.7 226.6 28.8 2.3 7.9 6.1 5.5

Gas-natural................................... 10110 1.731 211.7 224.3 30.0 2.2 8.9 6.6 6.0

Paper & paper base stocks................... 11 0.727 114.1 116.2 5.1 3.0 0.8 0.6 1.8

Materials associated with nondurable

supplies & materials......................... 12 4.562 148.0 149.7 20.2 6.1 2.1 1.0 1.1

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.682 114.0 114.2 2.5 -0.1 -1.8 0.2 0.2

Unfinished metals related to durable

goods.......................................... 14 4.896 241.9 259.1 23.7 -0.9 4.2 7.8 7.1

Finished metals related to durable goods. .. 15 1.863 146.2 150.5 17.7 2.1 2.1 3.9 2.9

Nonmetals related to durable goods......... 16 1.512 105.1 106.0 4.3 1.5 0.5 -0.8 0.9

Capital goods..................................... 2 20.492 92.1 92.8 2.1 -0.3 0.1 0.1 0.8

Electric generating equipment................ 20 2.618 109.3 111.7 6.5 -0.2 0.9 0.6 2.2

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 16.311 87.5 87.9 1.2 -0.3 0.0 0.1 0.5

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 1.563 115.4 115.5 4.3 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 12.808 107.5 107.9 3.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.4

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 22.054 103.9 104.1 2.8 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.2

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 10.221 107.4 107.5 3.3 0.9 0.3 0.6 0.1

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 10.754 100.3 100.5 2.3 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.2

Nonmanufactured consumer goods.......... 42 1.079 104.2 105.2 2.8 0.2 0.1 0.1 1.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2006 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

4
Table 2. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2007 to April

2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Mar.

20081

Index Percent change

Mar.

2008

Apr.

2008

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2007

to Apr.

2008

Dec.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Jan.

2008 to

Feb.

2008

Feb.

2008 to

Mar.

2008

Mar.

2008 to

Apr. 2008

All commodities..................................... 100.000 123.7 124.1 7.7 1.2 1.0 1.5 0.3

Agricultural commodities......................... 10.194 193.2 189.0 32.3 4.8 4.5 4.2 -2.2

Nonagricultural commodities.................... 89.806 118.8 119.5 5.6 0.8 0.6 1.3 0.6

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 9.296 195.7 191.2 31.6 5.5 4.5 3.8 -2.3

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 8.600 201.3 196.4 33.8 5.6 4.8 3.9 -2.4

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 0.696 148.2 146.3 9.3 4.3 1.9 2.4 -1.3

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 30.775 165.5 167.5 13.8 1.9 1.3 4.0 1.2

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 11.990 172.6 174.2 8.2 0.4 3.5 4.3 0.9

Industrial supplies & materials,

nondurable.................................... 18.786 162.0 164.3 17.4 2.9 -0.1 3.7 1.4

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials... 10 1.594 159.3 158.0 24.5 0.9 3.2 5.8 -0.8

Nonagricultural industrial supplies &

materials........................................ 29.181 166.0 168.2 13.2 2.0 1.2 3.8 1.3

Fuels & lubricants............................... 11 4.992 249.2 256.8 29.3 4.2 -2.8 10.5 3.0

Nonagricultural supplies & materials

excluding fuels & building materials. . . . . .. 12 23.180 158.2 159.8 10.7 1.6 2.1 2.7 1.0

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.009 114.1 114.0 1.0 -0.4 0.4 0.3 -0.1

Capital goods..................................... 2 38.628 101.2 101.5 2.2 0.3 0.4 -0.1 0.3

Electrical generating equipment.............. 20 3.661 108.2 108.2 1.6 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.0

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 27.328 93.7 94.0 1.4 0.1 0.2 -0.2 0.3

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 7.639 128.1 128.7 5.7 1.5 0.6 0.3 0.5

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 9.542 107.2 107.6 1.5 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.4

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 11.759 107.6 107.8 2.3 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.2

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 5.496 108.5 109.4 3.5 -0.1 0.1 0.3 0.8

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 5.266 105.3 104.8 0.9 0.0 0.3 -0.2 -0.5

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2006 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

5
Table 3. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2007 to April

2008

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Mar.

20081

Index Percent change

Mar.

2008

Apr.

2008

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2007

to Apr.

2008

Dec.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Jan.

2008 to

Feb.

2008

Feb.

2008 to

Mar.

2008

Mar.

2008 to

Apr. 2008

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 21.325 159.9 166.9 55.3 3.9 0.9 8.0 4.4

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 1.620 132.4 130.9 15.3 8.6 -3.2 5.8 -1.1

Crop production................................. 111 1.166 137.2 134.0 18.7 10.7 -5.6 7.4 -2.3

Mining.............................................. 21 19.705 162.6 170.4 59.3 3.5 1.3 8.2 4.8

Mining (except oil and gas) (Dec.

2006=100)..................................... 212 0.343 110.0 114.2 12.2 2.2 -0.4 1.1 3.8

Manufactured articles.............................. 78.083 111.1 112.2 7.4 0.9 0.1 1.6 1.0

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 9.497 107.8 108.2 5.3 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.4

Food manufacturing............................ 311 2.374 123.7 124.5 15.6 1.4 1.7 2.5 0.6

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.782 104.5 105.3 2.6 0.7 -0.2 -0.4 0.8

Textile mills...................................... 313 0.423 110.3 111.7 5.8 1.0 1.1 -1.0 1.3

Textile product mills............................ 314 0.719 101.5 102.2 1.8 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.7

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 3.830 102.4 102.3 1.6 0.1 0.0 0.1 -0.1

Leather and allied product manufacturing. .. 316 1.369 103.9 104.3 2.8 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.4

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 17.724 123.5 124.9 16.6 3.8 -1.7 3.7 1.1

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 1.036 90.6 90.8 0.7 -0.4 -3.0 0.6 0.2

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.217 108.6 110.3 6.6 3.9 0.8 0.3 1.6

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 4.719 150.1 154.7 36.4 6.5 -9.0 12.4 3.1

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 8.000 123.3 123.4 13.5 3.6 1.8 1.3 0.1

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 1.601 108.6 109.6 6.2 1.9 0.4 0.4 0.9

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 1.057 110.9 110.9 5.7 0.3 0.9 0.1 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 50.863 107.8 109.0 4.7 0.0 0.7 1.0 1.1

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 5.794 168.3 177.1 23.4 -0.9 4.9 8.3 5.2

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.470 114.9 116.3 8.7 2.0 0.4 0.6 1.2

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 6.345 108.4 109.9 4.9 0.7 0.6 0.2 1.4

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 13.418 93.5 93.2 -1.9 -0.6 -0.3 -0.1 -0.3

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.531 110.1 112.0 6.2 0.2 0.7 0.5 1.7

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 13.495 104.1 104.5 3.5 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.4

Furniture and related product

manufacturing................................ 337 1.391 105.8 107.6 6.5 1.2 0.2 1.8 1.7

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 4.420 109.4 110.2 4.1 -0.1 0.7 0.4 0.7

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2006 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

6
Table 4. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2007 to April

2008

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Mar.

20081

Index Percent change

Mar.

2008

Apr.

2008

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2007

to Apr.

2008

Dec.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Jan.

2008 to

Feb.

2008

Feb.

2008 to

Mar.

2008

Mar.

2008 to

Apr. 2008

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 7.706 164.3 157.4 36.8 6.3 5.2 4.9 -4.2

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 6.293 188.9 179.2 47.5 7.7 6.3 5.0 -5.1

Crop production................................. 111 5.930 197.4 187.1 53.6 7.7 6.7 5.3 -5.2

Mining.............................................. 21 1.413 108.1 108.2 7.2 0.8 0.6 4.0 0.1

Mining (except oil and gas).................... 212 0.891 102.1 99.6 0.3 -0.5 1.6 1.5 -2.4

Manufactured articles.............................. 89.168 110.4 111.3 6.3 0.8 0.5 1.0 0.8

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 6.606 118.9 120.5 11.7 0.8 1.3 1.5 1.3

Food manufacturing............................ 311 4.316 132.0 134.3 18.2 1.3 1.9 2.3 1.7

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.488 105.6 106.8 4.6 -0.1 0.8 1.1 1.1

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 0.463 101.0 100.9 0.5 0.6 0.2 -0.1 -0.1

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 22.740 120.2 121.8 12.8 2.3 -0.2 2.6 1.3

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.519 112.6 111.3 1.8 0.7 1.5 0.3 -1.2

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.892 113.8 114.9 5.6 0.9 0.2 0.1 1.0

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 3.418 162.6 168.8 38.8 5.2 -4.4 14.2 3.8

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 13.922 117.3 118.6 11.4 2.3 0.6 0.8 1.1

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 2.099 107.4 107.7 3.7 0.0 0.6 0.7 0.3

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 0.805 109.0 108.5 2.3 1.4 0.2 0.0 -0.5

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 59.822 106.1 106.6 3.4 0.3 0.6 0.5 0.5

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 4.804 147.3 151.7 22.9 0.6 5.1 7.0 3.0

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.631 114.4 114.7 3.8 1.0 0.3 -0.2 0.3

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 11.653 108.1 108.9 4.1 0.5 0.6 0.4 0.7

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 16.418 95.7 95.7 -0.7 -0.2 0.1 -0.6 0.0

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.565 106.9 106.8 2.8 0.2 0.4 0.3 -0.1

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 16.138 106.1 106.5 2.6 0.6 0.2 0.1 0.4

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 4.280 106.0 106.1 2.4 -0.1 -0.1 0.2 0.1

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2006 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

7
Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2007 to April

2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Mar.

20081

Index Percent change

Mar.

2008

Apr.

2008

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2007

to Apr.

2008

Dec.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Jan.

2008 to

Feb.

2008

Feb.

2008 to

Mar.

2008

Mar.

2008 to

Apr. 2008

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.045 130.0 131.8 6.8 -0.2 2.3 1.1 1.4

Meat and edible meat offal....................... 02 0.239 152.3 150.5 5.0 0.4 1.3 1.7 -1.2

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.535 103.7 106.5 6.1 0.9 0.2 3.5 2.7

Vegetable products................................ II 1.278 150.6 152.1 16.2 8.2 -5.0 3.6 1.0

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers............ 07 0.330 212.9 206.0 0.4 29.5 -22.9 4.4 -3.2

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.348 95.0 106.2 24.6 -1.9 5.0 -1.8 11.8

Coffee, tea, mate and spices.................... 09 0.258 171.2 162.4 19.9 3.5 -0.1 8.6 -5.1

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.110 135.2 135.7 10.5 3.0 0.5 1.6 0.4

Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk;

bakers’ wares (Dec. 2007=100).............. 19 0.171 105.1 107.0 – 0.7 1.6 2.7 1.8

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts, or other

parts of plants................................... 20 0.232 140.6 141.8 16.4 0.9 2.1 1.4 0.9

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar.................. 22 0.766 115.2 117.2 5.4 3.2 -0.3 -0.5 1.7

Mineral products.................................... V 24.721 321.4 335.7 53.3 4.0 -0.7 8.8 4.4

Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plaster

materials, lime & cement (Dec.2007=100)... 25 0.205 102.8 102.6 – 0.4 1.8 0.6 -0.2

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 24.188 322.9 337.3 54.4 4.1 -0.8 9.0 4.5

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 7.299 137.7 137.5 12.5 3.5 1.9 1.7 -0.1

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 0.987 262.8 259.0 24.3 12.2 7.0 3.2 -1.4

Organic chemicals................................. 29 2.455 134.9 132.7 8.9 3.9 0.6 1.7 -1.6

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 2.186 112.2 112.9 5.3 1.1 -0.1 0.8 0.6

Tanning & dyeing extracts; dye & pigments;

varnish & paints; putty......................... 32 0.156 103.4 103.4 1.6 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.0

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec.

2001=100)....................................... 33 0.389 122.3 124.0 10.5 2.4 3.4 1.0 1.4

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 0.397 99.3 99.5 5.5 -1.1 1.0 0.8 0.2

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 2.732 129.5 131.2 8.3 2.1 0.6 0.5 1.3

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 1.804 127.0 129.3 9.7 2.4 0.6 0.2 1.8

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 0.928 134.5 135.1 6.0 1.3 0.7 0.9 0.4

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.555 111.2 111.9 5.1 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.6

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

various materials................................ 42 0.510 111.7 112.4 5.4 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.6

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 1.075 111.1 111.3 0.0 -0.2 -3.1 0.5 0.2

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 1.372 113.1 114.5 6.3 4.2 0.7 0.0 1.2

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 0.937 108.0 110.0 5.8 5.7 0.7 -0.1 1.9

Printed matter...................................... 49 0.245 118.6 118.5 3.0 0.8 0.0 0.1 -0.1

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 4.824 103.6 103.7 1.9 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.1

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

knitted or crocheted............................ 61 1.746 100.8 100.2 -0.2 0.3 -0.2 0.0 -0.6

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

not knitted or crocheted........................ 62 1.912 103.0 103.2 2.4 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.2

Made-up or worn textile articles................. 63 0.489 95.3 95.9 2.1 0.5 0.3 1.8 0.6

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.. .. XII 1.143 104.4 104.8 3.0 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.4

Footwear and parts of such articles............ 64 0.954 103.1 103.4 1.9 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3

See footnotes at end of table.

8
Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2007 to April

2008 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Mar.

20081

Index Percent change

Mar.

2008

Apr.

2008

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2007

to Apr.

2008

Dec.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Jan.

2008 to

Feb.

2008

Feb.

2008 to

Mar.

2008

Mar.

2008 to

Apr. 2008

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc........................................... XIII 0.913 115.0 115.3 5.1 0.2 0.8 0.2 0.3

Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, or

mica (Dec. 2001=100)......................... 68 0.323 106.5 107.0 4.2 0.3 0.4 0.0 0.5

Ceramic products.................................. 69 0.296 124.3 124.9 8.9 0.4 2.0 0.2 0.5

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.294 113.7 113.3 2.3 0.1 -0.1 0.3 -0.4

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 2.794 156.5 158.0 19.8 0.5 4.6 4.5 1.0

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 6.693 183.5 195.0 15.5 0.4 2.0 4.6 6.3

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.982 242.2 271.0 36.1 4.6 3.6 6.4 11.9

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.604 144.8 148.7 16.7 4.0 1.4 2.5 2.7

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.831 307.6 323.9 22.0 -8.9 5.3 8.6 5.3

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.984 149.6 158.2 8.4 -0.4 0.7 5.8 5.7

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.346 113.1 114.0 5.6 0.8 0.8 0.2 0.8

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.429 127.0 127.5 2.6 -0.2 -0.1 0.4 0.4

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 23.111 88.3 88.6 1.1 -0.2 0.1 -0.1 0.3

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 11.893 88.6 89.2 1.2 -0.6 0.0 0.0 0.7

Electrical machinery and equip, sound and TV

recorders & reproducers, parts............... 85 11.218 88.1 88.1 1.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 11.811 108.8 109.3 3.5 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.5

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 10.953 108.1 108.5 3.6 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.4

Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof (Dec.

2002=100)....................................... 88 0.771 110.7 110.7 1.8 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 2.725 100.0 101.1 1.8 0.0 -0.2 0.4 1.1

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical

instruments...................................... 90 2.440 98.0 99.2 1.6 0.0 -0.3 0.3 1.2

Clocks and watches and parts thereof. . . . . . . .. 91 0.214 119.8 121.0 4.5 -0.1 0.4 1.4 1.0

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 3.530 104.1 104.9 3.9 0.6 0.3 1.3 0.8

Furniture & stuffed furnishings; lamps &

lighting fittings, nesoi; prefab bldgs........... 94 2.038 108.5 109.8 5.0 0.8 0.5 1.7 1.2

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 1.305 98.0 98.1 2.1 0.3 0.2 0.6 0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles........... 96 0.187 108.5 110.6 3.8 0.3 -0.1 0.3 1.9

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2006 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

9
Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2007 to April

2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Mar.

20081

Index Percent change

Mar.

2008

Apr.

2008

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2007

to Apr.

2008

Dec.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Jan.

2008 to

Feb.

2008

Feb.

2008 to

Mar.

2008

Mar.

2008 to

Apr. 2008

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.486 155.7 158.9 6.2 0.8 -0.5 -0.7 2.1

Meat & edible meat offal (Dec. 2006=100). . .. 02 0.779 124.7 130.8 13.7 -1.4 1.1 0.2 4.9

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.439 152.8 150.6 14.5 5.6 2.8 3.1 -1.4

Vegetable products................................ II 5.818 245.3 234.8 50.7 8.4 6.4 5.1 -4.3

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.680 121.2 122.4 -2.6 1.4 -0.7 -0.7 1.0

Cereals.............................................. 10 2.771 313.1 304.4 84.0 9.5 12.0 6.5 -2.8

Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds, fruits,

plants, straw and fodder....................... 12 1.785 262.5 233.7 57.4 10.3 5.3 8.3 -11.0

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.356 134.7 134.7 11.7 1.9 1.4 1.4 0.0

Miscellaneous edible preparations.............. 21 0.438 119.8 120.1 7.5 1.3 0.2 0.8 0.3

Residues and waste from the food industries;

prepared animal feed........................... 23 0.590 197.8 194.9 36.5 4.8 3.9 3.3 -1.5

Mineral products.................................... V 5.110 304.0 310.8 29.2 3.9 -2.2 10.8 2.2

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 4.506 298.2 306.4 33.4 4.6 -2.7 11.8 2.7

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 11.541 140.0 141.9 12.1 2.4 0.9 1.1 1.4

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 1.135 184.2 184.8 21.9 3.6 1.7 1.8 0.3

Organic chemicals................................. 29 3.592 157.2 160.6 13.1 1.5 1.7 2.3 2.2

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 2.501 117.0 118.7 5.3 -0.3 0.3 0.3 1.5

Tanning or dyeing extracts, dyes, paints,

varnish, putty, & inks........................... 32 0.542 116.5 116.4 2.5 -1.0 0.1 0.5 -0.1

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery

cosmetic or toilet preparations................ 33 0.653 120.1 121.8 5.0 -0.2 0.8 0.9 1.4

Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or scouring

products; candles, pastes..................... 34 0.393 115.7 115.8 5.4 -0.4 2.6 0.2 0.1

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 1.581 122.9 124.4 4.1 0.9 0.2 0.2 1.2

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 5.164 137.4 138.1 6.5 1.0 0.1 0.3 0.5

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 4.189 133.2 133.7 6.5 1.1 -0.2 0.2 0.4

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 0.975 155.3 157.0 6.2 0.7 1.0 0.7 1.1

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.395 116.9 117.2 -6.2 -0.3 -0.8 0.6 0.3

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.636 112.1 111.0 -1.8 0.1 0.9 0.4 -1.0

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 2.510 116.8 117.7 7.1 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.8

Woodpulp and recovered paper................. 47 0.706 129.1 129.8 15.9 1.5 2.3 1.0 0.5

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 1.278 110.8 112.2 3.7 0.8 -0.4 0.0 1.3

Printed material.................................... 49 0.525 121.3 121.2 5.1 -0.7 -0.2 0.7 -0.1

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 2.239 109.1 108.4 6.0 0.7 0.7 2.2 -0.6

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics

thereof............................................ 52 0.728 114.6 111.3 18.8 2.0 1.8 6.7 -2.9

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc........................................... XIII 0.792 111.8 111.3 2.6 0.4 0.0 0.2 -0.4

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.428 99.7 100.0 3.2 0.1 -0.1 0.4 0.3

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 4.112 189.3 190.2 10.8 -0.9 4.9 6.0 0.5

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 5.865 175.4 178.6 8.1 1.1 3.0 3.7 1.8

See footnotes at end of table.

10
Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2007 to April

2008 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Mar.

20081

Index Percent change

Mar.

2008

Apr.

2008

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2007

to Apr.

2008

Dec.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Jan.

2008 to

Feb.

2008

Feb.

2008 to

Mar.

2008

Mar.

2008 to

Apr. 2008

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.553 230.7 231.2 15.9 4.5 6.8 5.8 0.2

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.380 150.7 150.8 4.4 1.3 0.5 0.5 0.1

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.710 264.3 271.6 13.2 -1.7 7.4 7.1 2.8

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 1.009 150.2 155.5 4.6 -1.7 1.1 7.1 3.5

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.379 118.0 118.9 3.8 2.0 -0.1 0.3 0.8

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.351 124.7 124.7 -1.9 0.2 0.5 -3.7 0.0

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 30.276 95.1 95.3 1.2 0.3 0.2 -0.2 0.2

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 16.811 103.6 104.0 1.6 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.4

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts

and accessories thereof....................... 85 13.465 85.9 85.8 0.7 0.2 0.3 -0.3 -0.1

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 13.752 115.5 116.0 2.4 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.4

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 8.147 106.2 106.7 1.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.5

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 5.980 106.1 106.6 3.2 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.5

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 1.411 107.6 108.6 3.8 0.8 -0.1 0.1 0.9

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and

lighting fittings nesoi;........................... 94 0.756 116.7 116.6 3.1 1.8 -0.3 0.2 -0.1

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 0.504 92.6 94.7 5.7 -0.3 0.0 0.0 2.3

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2006 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

11
Table 7. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes by locality of origin: April 2007 to April 2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Percent of

U.S.

imports1

Index Percent change

Mar.

2008

Apr.

2008

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2007

to Apr.

2008

Dec. 2007

to Jan.

2008

Jan. 2008

to Feb.

2008

Feb. 2008

to Mar.

2008

Mar. 2008

to Apr.

2008

Industrialized Countries2

...................... 42.888 131.0 133.5 13.2 2.0 0.8 2.6 1.9

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 4.201 282.3 295.2 56.4 4.2 6.0 12.0 4.6

Manufactured articles......................... 38.251 119.8 121.3 8.1 1.5 0.2 1.3 1.3

Other Countries3

................................ 57.112 132.6 134.8 17.3 1.7 -0.4 2.6 1.7

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 12.058 307.8 321.4 56.6 4.1 -0.7 6.8 4.4

Manufactured articles......................... 44.837 107.9 108.5 6.1 0.9 -0.3 1.1 0.6

Canada............................................ 16.032 152.2 156.1 18.1 1.5 1.5 3.9 2.6

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 3.711 280.2 292.4 54.5 4.4 7.0 12.8 4.4

Manufactured articles......................... 12.028 127.9 129.9 6.8 0.3 -0.5 0.5 1.6

European Union4

............................... 17.355 129.5 131.2 8.3 2.1 0.7 1.5 1.3

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 0.249 300.9 312.7 45.8 0.9 -3.0 0.9 3.9

Manufactured articles......................... 16.987 126.5 128.1 7.4 2.1 0.8 1.5 1.3

France (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 1.844 115.5 117.6 9.4 1.4 1.4 1.1 1.8

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)..................... 4.732 111.7 113.4 6.0 1.4 0.3 0.5 1.5

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)........... 2.684 134.8 135.0 13.9 2.0 2.2 2.3 0.1

Latin America5

.................................. 18.032 171.2 175.6 24.5 2.7 -0.5 3.8 2.6

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 5.151 318.3 332.7 56.9 3.9 -1.6 7.6 4.5

Manufactured articles......................... 12.786 139.5 141.4 10.5 1.9 0.1 1.8 1.4

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 10.710 142.3 145.4 18.3 2.1 -1.5 2.9 2.2

Pacific Rim (Dec. 2003=100)6................. 33.822 101.0 101.5 3.4 0.5 0.1 0.5 0.5

China (Dec. 2003=100)......................... 15.926 101.2 101.4 4.1 0.9 0.1 0.6 0.2

Japan.............................................. 8.032 94.6 94.8 1.0 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.2

Asian NICs7

...................................... 5.887 89.2 90.2 2.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 1.1

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)8

...................... 6.041 100.7 100.8 5.3 1.0 0.2 0.8 0.1

Asia Near East (Dec. 2003=100)9

............ 3.928 250.1 259.4 45.7 2.3 1.9 5.1 3.7

1 Percentage of trade figures are based on 2006 trade values.

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

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

4 Includes European Union countries.

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

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

Countries.

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

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

Vietnam.

9 Includes 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

12
Table 8. U.S. international price indexes and percent changes for selected transportation services: April 2007

to April 2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Relative

importance

Mar.

20081

Index Percent change

Mar.

2008

Apr.

2008

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2007

to Apr.

2008

Dec. 2007

to Jan.

2008

Jan. 2008

to Feb.

2008

Feb. 2008

to Mar.

2008

Mar. 2008

to Apr.

2008

Air Freight

Import Air Freight..................................... 100.000 144.4 150.9 15.1 0.1 0.6 1.1 4.5

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 28.585 150.3 164.7 28.6 0.6 0.4 0.4 9.6

Asia.................................................... 61.482 123.8 126.5 10.3 -0.2 0.8 1.7 2.2

Export Air Freight..................................... 100.000 131.4 134.6 14.7 3.9 -0.3 -0.2 2.4

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)............................ 42.465 123.5 127.0 26.1 8.3 0.0 0.2 2.8

Inbound Air Freight................................... 100.000 140.7 145.7 14.8 0.5 0.5 0.9 3.6

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 30.722 146.4 157.2 26.2 1.2 0.2 0.3 7.4

Asia.................................................... 57.310 118.4 120.5 9.7 0.2 0.5 1.4 1.8

Outbound Air Freight................................. 100.000 128.1 130.5 15.3 1.9 0.2 0.9 1.9

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 41.479 145.2 149.6 17.1 2.5 -0.1 0.3 3.0

Asia.................................................... 40.806 114.7 115.6 11.7 1.5 0.3 1.6 0.8

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 131.3 143.2 12.6 -2.1 -1.1 0.2 9.1

Europe................................................. 41.286 124.5 146.1 13.3 0.4 -0.4 0.3 17.3

Asia.................................................... 25.688 117.0 120.5 4.4 -11.2 -1.6 0.3 3.0

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 13.583 130.0 135.6 18.8 -0.5 0.6 1.2 4.3

Export Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 156.4 148.6 3.3 4.0 -5.6 2.4 -5.0

Europe................................................. 28.335 178.0 184.7 3.5 0.8 -4.7 1.5 3.8

Asia.................................................... 35.227 133.2 126.2 15.1 11.6 -8.2 2.9 -5.3

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 19.780 155.2 151.0 -9.6 -0.8 -9.1 1.3 -2.7

1 Relative importance figures for Air Passenger Fares Indexes are based on 2006 trade values, while the relative importance figures for the Air Freight

Indexes are based on 2005 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

13
TECHNICAL NOTE

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

formula and are not seasonally adjusted. Price indexes for merchandise goods 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 -- The Import Air Passenger Fares Indexes are calculated from data obtained 

from a commercial airline reservation system. These data exclude frequent flyer tickets and those sold 

by consolidators. The Export Air Passenger Fares Indexes are calculated from data collected directly 

from airlines. These data include frequent flyer tickets and those sold by consolidators. Taxes and fees 

are excluded from both the Import and Export Air Passenger Fares Indexes. The Air Freight Indexes are 

calculated from data collected directly from companies. 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 "Publications and Other Documentation." 

14
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 IPP news release is available through an e-mail subscription service at 

(http://www.bls.gov/mxp) or (http://www.bls.gov/bls/newsrels.htm). 

 

Additional Information -- More detailed IPP data are available on the IPP 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 IPP-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 IPP 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. 

15