U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES – NOVEMBER 2009 

The U.S. Import Price Index advanced 1.7 percent in November, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 

reported today, led by a 7.3 percent rise in fuel prices. The increase followed a 0.8 percent advance in 

October. U.S. export prices rose 0.8 percent in November after a 0.2 percent increase the previous month. 

Chart 1. One-month percent change in the Import Price Index: November 2008 – November 2009 

 Percent change 

-7.4

-4.6

-1.3

0.0 0.5

1.1

1.7

-0.6

1.5

0.8

1.7

2.7

0.2

-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

Nov'08 Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov'09

Chart 2. 12-month percent change in the Import Price Index: November 2008 – November 2009 

 Percent change 

-5.9

-10.1

-12.5 -12.7

-14.9

-16.4 -17.3 -17.5

-19.1

-15.3

-12.0

-5.6

3.7

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

Nov'08 Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov'09

Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until 

8:30 a.m. (EST) Friday, December 11, 2009 

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

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

USDL-09-1504
2

All Imports: The 1.7 percent increase in U.S. imports in November continued the upward trend for the 

index. Import prices have risen in eight of the past nine months, increasing 10.1 percent over that period. 

The November advance for overall import prices was driven by higher fuel prices, which accounted for 

approximately 80 percent of the increase. The price index for U.S. imports advanced 3.7 percent for the year 

ended in November, the first time the index increased over a 12-month period since a 4.9 percent advance 

for the October 2007-2008 period. 

Fuel Imports: Prices for import fuel rose 7.3 percent in November after a 2.5 percent increase the previous 

month. A 6.2 percent increase for petroleum prices and a 30.0 percent increase for natural gas prices led the 

overall advance in November. Over the past 12 months, fuel prices increased 27.0 percent. A 35.5 percent 

rise in petroleum prices more than offset declining natural gas prices, which fell 31.3 percent despite the 

advance in November. 

All Imports Excluding Fuel: Nonfuel import prices rose 0.4 percent in November as higher prices for 

nonfuel industrial supplies and materials, capital goods, and foods, feeds, and beverages contributed to the 

advance. Prices for nonfuel imports rose between 0.4 percent and 0.5 percent in each of the past four 

months. The index declined 1.0 percent over the past 12 months as decreases from November 2008 to 

March 2009 more than offset the recent increases. 

Table A. Percent changes 
3

Chart 3. One-month percent change in the Export Price Index: November 2008 – November 2009 

 Percent change 

-3.2

0.7

-0.3

-0.7

0.5 0.4

1.0

-0.3

0.6

-0.2

0.2

0.8

-2.2

-4

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

Nov'08 Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov'09

Chart 4. 12-month percent change in the Export Price Index: November 2008 – November 2009 

 Percent change 

-0.3

-2.9 -3.4

-4.5

-6.7 -6.7 -6.6 -6.6

-8.3

-6.2

-5.6

-3.4

0.6

-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

2

Nov'08 Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov'09

All Exports: Export prices advanced 0.8 percent in November after rising 0.2 percent in October. Higher 

nonagricultural prices accounted for approximately two thirds of the increase. Prices for overall exports rose 

0.6 percent over the past year, the first time the index increased over a 12-month period since a 4.0 percent 

advance for the October 2007-2008 period. 

Agricultural Exports: Agricultural prices rose 3.7 percent in November after declining 0.7 percent and 2.9 

percent in October and September, respectively. Higher prices for soybeans, corn, and wheat led the upturn 

in agricultural prices. The November increase led the price index for overall agricultural prices up 0.6 

percent over the past 12 months, the first year-over-year increase since a 6.0 percent advance for the year 

ended in October 2008. 

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: Prices for nonagricultural exports increased for the eighth consecutive 

month, rising 0.7 percent in November. Higher prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials 

and finished goods contributed to the advance. The index rose 0.6 percent over the past 12 months. 

 
4

SELECTED NOVEMBER HIGHLIGHTS 

Import Prices 

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: The price index for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials 

increased 1.4 percent in November after rising 1.6 percent the previous month. Rising prices for metals and 

chemicals were the largest contributors to the increases in both November and October. 

Finished Goods: Finished goods prices were mixed in November. Prices for capital goods and automotive 

vehicles increased 0.2 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively. In contrast, consumer goods prices edged down 

0.1 percent. 

 

Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Prices for foods, feeds, and beverages rose 0.5 percent in November, 

following increases of 0.3 percent in October and 0.5 percent in September. 

Imports by Locality of Origin: Import prices from Canada rose 2.9 percent in November, led by higher 

fuel prices. The November increase followed advances of 1.1 percent in each of the previous two months. 

The price indexes for imports from the European Union and Mexico also rose in November, increasing 0.6 

percent and 0.3 percent, respectively. 

Transportation Services: Import air freight prices rose for the sixth consecutive month, increasing 1.0 

percent in November. Import air passenger fares advanced 0.5 percent in November after rising 6.4 percent 

in October. The November increase was led by an 8.2 percent rise in Latin America/Caribbean fares. 

Export Prices 

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: The price index for nonagricultural industrial 

supplies and materials increased 1.7 percent in November after rising 0.5 percent in October. The November 

advance was driven by higher prices for fuel, metals, and chemicals. 

Finished Goods: Prices for capital goods and for consumer goods rose 0.3 percent and 0.2 percent, 

respectively. Higher prices for computers and semiconductors were the largest contributors to the increase 

in capital goods prices and rising prices for medicinal, dental, and pharmaceutical materials drove the rise in 

the price index for consumer goods. Prices for automotive vehicles were unchanged. 

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares fell 1.6 percent in November following an increase of 

1.2 percent in October. Falling prices for Asian fares contributed to the November decline. In contrast, 

export air freight prices rose for the fourth time in five months, increasing 0.6 percent in November. 

 

Import and Export Price Index data for December 2009 are scheduled for release on Thursday, 

January 14, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. (EST). 
Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: November 2008 to

November 2009

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Oct.

20091

Index Percent change

Oct.

2009

Nov.

2009

Annual Monthly

Nov.

2008 to

Nov.

2009

July 2009

to Aug.

2009

Aug.

2009 to

Sept.

2009

Sept.

2009 to

Oct. 2009

Oct. 2009

to Nov.

2009

All commodities..................................... 100.000 122.3 124.4 3.7 1.5 0.2 0.8 1.7

All imports excluding petroleum................ 82.083 108.5 109.3 -1.6 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.7

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)... 80.784 112.4 112.8 -1.0 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.4

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 4.661 141.1 141.8 1.6 1.3 0.5 0.3 0.5

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 3.618 157.4 158.6 2.7 1.6 0.7 0.4 0.8

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 1.043 104.3 103.7 -2.0 0.3 -0.4 0.2 -0.6

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 33.358 187.0 195.9 12.2 4.6 0.3 2.2 4.8

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

petroleum..................................... 15.441 137.8 142.1 -7.4 1.1 1.5 2.4 3.1

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

fuels (Dec. 2001=100)....................... 14.142 154.4 156.5 -4.6 1.3 2.7 1.6 1.4

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 8.999 147.5 149.4 -1.2 1.8 3.4 1.2 1.3

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable

excluding petroleum......................... 5.143 126.2 133.3 -14.2 0.4 -1.2 4.1 5.6

Fuels & lubricants............................... 10 19.216 234.2 251.2 27.0 7.0 -1.3 2.5 7.3

Petroleum & petroleum products........... 100 17.917 257.1 273.1 35.5 7.6 -0.6 2.0 6.2

Crude.......................................... 10000 13.127 266.0 279.2 38.4 7.1 -0.5 3.2 5.0

Fuels, n.e.s.-coals & gas.................... 101 1.122 104.8 130.6 -27.0 0.0 -11.9 13.8 24.6

Gas-natural................................... 10110 0.922 89.7 116.6 -31.3 -0.1 -14.1 17.1 30.0

Paper & paper base stocks................... 11 0.670 100.2 102.1 -11.3 -0.7 0.5 1.3 1.9

Materials associated with nondurable

supplies & materials......................... 12 4.549 138.6 140.6 -9.3 0.8 1.4 2.5 1.4

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.637 118.5 118.3 -0.4 1.0 -0.3 -0.3 -0.2

Unfinished metals related to durable

goods.......................................... 14 3.887 209.3 214.9 2.7 3.1 7.3 2.3 2.7

Finished metals related to durable goods. .. 15 1.863 137.9 138.9 -5.8 1.0 1.6 0.6 0.7

Nonmetals related to durable goods......... 16 1.536 104.9 105.0 -4.9 0.7 0.8 0.6 0.1

Capital goods..................................... 2 23.240 92.0 92.2 -0.8 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2

Electric generating equipment................ 20 3.005 110.8 111.2 -0.5 0.1 0.0 0.5 0.4

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 18.155 86.6 86.7 -1.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 2.080 123.1 122.8 2.2 0.1 0.0 -0.1 -0.2

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 13.833 108.9 109.0 1.0 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.1

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 24.908 104.3 104.2 -0.4 0.0 0.0 0.2 -0.1

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 11.456 107.8 107.7 -0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.1

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 12.257 100.9 100.9 -0.2 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.0

Nonmanufactured consumer goods.......... 42 1.196 101.6 101.1 -2.0 -0.5 0.4 0.4 -0.5

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2007 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: November 2008 to

November 2009

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Oct.

20091

Index Percent change

Oct.

2009

Nov.

2009

Annual Monthly

Nov.

2008 to

Nov.

2009

July 2009

to Aug.

2009

Aug.

2009 to

Sept.

2009

Sept.

2009 to

Oct. 2009

Oct. 2009

to Nov.

2009

All commodities..................................... 100.000 118.1 119.1 0.6 0.6 -0.2 0.2 0.8

Agricultural commodities......................... 8.479 155.8 161.5 0.6 0.2 -2.9 -0.7 3.7

Nonagricultural commodities.................... 91.522 115.3 116.1 0.6 0.7 0.1 0.2 0.7

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 7.739 156.5 161.7 -1.9 -0.2 -3.8 -1.1 3.3

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 7.121 159.1 164.3 -1.6 -0.2 -3.9 -1.0 3.3

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 0.618 134.6 140.0 -5.6 -1.0 -2.4 -2.0 4.0

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 27.771 144.7 147.4 -0.5 2.1 0.2 0.6 1.9

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 11.044 152.1 153.9 3.1 2.0 1.8 1.0 1.2

Industrial supplies & materials,

nondurable.................................... 16.727 140.9 144.1 -2.9 2.2 -0.7 0.2 2.3

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials... 10 1.358 143.5 151.4 12.8 2.3 3.0 0.9 5.5

Nonagricultural industrial supplies &

materials........................................ 26.413 145.0 147.4 -1.2 2.1 0.1 0.5 1.7

Fuels & lubricants............................... 11 3.860 174.9 185.2 -4.2 9.4 -5.3 1.7 5.9

Nonagricultural supplies & materials

excluding fuels & building materials. . . . . .. 12 21.537 143.2 144.6 -0.7 0.9 1.1 0.4 1.0

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.016 112.6 113.0 -2.2 0.8 0.3 -1.2 0.4

Capital goods..................................... 2 41.286 103.6 103.9 2.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.3

Electrical generating equipment.............. 20 3.742 108.0 108.2 -0.9 0.3 0.2 0.5 0.2

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 28.619 95.0 95.5 2.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.5

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 8.925 137.1 136.4 4.1 0.1 -0.2 -0.1 -0.5

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 10.321 108.1 108.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 12.884 109.2 109.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.2

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 5.729 109.2 109.7 2.1 0.3 0.4 -0.2 0.5

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 6.054 109.6 109.5 -0.3 0.1 -0.1 0.1 -0.1

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2007 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: November 2008 to

November 2009

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Oct.

20091

Index Percent change

Oct.

2009

Nov.

2009

Annual Monthly

Nov.

2008 to

Nov.

2009

July 2009

to Aug.

2009

Aug.

2009 to

Sept.

2009

Sept.

2009 to

Oct. 2009

Oct. 2009

to Nov.

2009

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 16.541 116.8 123.9 24.6 5.6 -0.7 3.5 6.1

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 1.697 132.7 133.2 6.1 2.0 1.2 -0.1 0.4

Crop production................................. 111 1.216 139.7 140.0 8.7 1.9 1.4 -0.1 0.2

Mining.............................................. 21 14.844 115.0 122.8 27.1 6.0 -0.9 3.9 6.8

Mining (except oil and gas) (Dec.

2006=100)..................................... 212 0.449 131.5 131.7 2.1 0.9 0.8 1.4 0.2

Manufactured articles.............................. 82.904 108.1 108.9 0.1 0.7 0.3 0.3 0.7

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 10.296 107.3 107.6 -0.1 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.3

Food manufacturing............................ 311 2.437 118.7 119.9 -1.2 1.0 0.4 0.8 1.0

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.929 107.7 108.2 2.3 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.5

Textile mills...................................... 313 0.448 113.7 113.9 1.7 0.3 -0.2 1.1 0.2

Textile product mills............................ 314 0.799 100.4 100.3 -1.8 0.0 0.0 1.0 -0.1

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 4.138 101.8 101.7 -0.2 0.0 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1

Leather and allied product manufacturing. .. 316 1.546 107.2 107.1 0.7 0.1 0.0 0.0 -0.1

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 17.790 115.4 118.2 2.0 2.5 -0.3 0.2 2.4

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.991 94.0 93.7 0.0 1.6 -0.5 -0.3 -0.3

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.195 99.2 100.3 -9.9 -0.7 0.6 0.3 1.1

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 4.007 114.8 125.1 23.5 10.7 -2.8 -1.5 9.0

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 8.520 120.8 121.6 -4.3 0.3 0.6 1.2 0.7

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 1.826 112.0 112.5 -0.7 0.2 -0.1 0.0 0.4

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 1.143 119.3 119.2 1.0 -0.2 0.0 -0.3 -0.1

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 54.818 105.9 106.2 -0.6 0.3 0.6 0.3 0.3

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 4.382 137.8 141.5 -3.0 2.6 6.0 1.5 2.7

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.773 116.3 116.3 -3.6 -0.1 -0.1 0.5 0.0

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 6.888 113.0 113.0 2.3 0.2 0.2 0.5 0.0

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 14.998 89.1 89.1 -2.4 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.987 112.8 113.0 -1.0 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.2

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 15.027 106.3 106.4 1.4 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.1

Furniture and related product

manufacturing................................ 337 1.549 108.7 108.4 -1.6 -0.2 0.5 -0.5 -0.3

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 5.214 112.2 112.6 2.0 -0.1 0.1 0.3 0.4

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2007 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: November 2008 to

November 2009

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Oct.

20091

Index Percent change

Oct.

2009

Nov.

2009

Annual Monthly

Nov.

2008 to

Nov.

2009

July 2009

to Aug.

2009

Aug.

2009 to

Sept.

2009

Sept.

2009 to

Oct. 2009

Oct. 2009

to Nov.

2009

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 6.004 118.9 123.3 0.6 1.2 -5.0 3.4 3.7

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 4.542 132.0 140.0 0.9 0.4 -6.5 0.5 6.1

Crop production................................. 111 4.202 135.6 144.2 1.1 0.1 -6.9 0.7 6.3

Mining.............................................. 21 1.462 89.4 86.0 -0.3 4.4 0.5 13.6 -3.8

Mining (except oil and gas).................... 212 0.992 91.1 89.7 -2.1 2.3 1.9 0.9 -1.5

Manufactured articles.............................. 92.025 109.0 109.7 0.5 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.6

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 6.586 120.7 121.4 0.8 -0.1 0.9 -0.7 0.6

Food manufacturing............................ 311 4.416 135.0 135.9 1.5 -0.2 1.1 -1.2 0.7

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.521 108.0 108.1 4.5 0.1 0.0 0.9 0.1

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 0.389 102.8 102.8 1.3 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 21.760 110.4 112.0 -2.5 1.5 -0.5 -0.6 1.4

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.460 107.5 107.9 -2.8 1.2 0.6 0.6 0.4

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.888 110.8 111.0 -4.1 -0.1 0.5 0.9 0.2

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 2.269 102.8 112.6 -5.9 13.5 -7.0 0.7 9.5

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 14.152 112.7 113.5 -1.8 0.3 0.2 -1.1 0.7

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 2.142 107.0 107.3 -3.0 -0.1 0.0 -0.7 0.3

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 0.849 111.7 111.9 0.0 0.1 0.5 -0.2 0.2

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 63.679 107.2 107.6 1.7 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.4

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 4.463 129.0 132.5 4.9 1.2 2.8 3.0 2.7

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.826 121.3 121.4 2.3 0.3 0.2 -0.3 0.1

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 12.758 112.9 112.9 1.3 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.0

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 16.535 94.1 94.9 1.9 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.9

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.589 107.0 107.2 0.1 0.1 0.0 -0.3 0.2

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 18.221 110.3 110.0 2.0 0.0 -0.1 0.1 -0.3

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 4.931 110.4 110.3 -1.2 0.0 0.1 -0.3 -0.1

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2007 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: November 2008 to

November 2009

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Oct.

20091

Index Percent change

Oct.

2009

Nov.

2009

Annual Monthly

Nov.

2008 to

Nov.

2009

July 2009

to Aug.

2009

Aug.

2009 to

Sept.

2009

Sept.

2009 to

Oct. 2009

Oct. 2009

to Nov.

2009

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.154 133.9 134.9 3.8 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.7

Meat and edible meat offal....................... 02 0.256 155.3 157.6 0.8 1.7 0.8 -1.3 1.5

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.557 100.7 100.3 -2.0 0.5 -0.5 1.5 -0.4

Vegetable products................................ II 1.414 158.2 156.6 4.2 1.9 1.3 -0.2 -1.0

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers............ 07 0.424 294.5 287.3 21.0 -1.1 5.0 0.4 -2.4

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.420 101.8 95.5 -7.1 2.5 0.3 2.9 -6.2

Coffee, tea, mate and spices.................... 09 0.259 157.1 160.9 9.2 10.1 -4.5 1.4 2.4

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.278 136.4 137.8 2.6 0.7 0.4 0.0 1.0

Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk;

bakers’ wares (Dec. 2007=100).............. 19 0.244 110.7 112.0 3.0 0.3 0.9 -1.9 1.2

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts, or other

parts of plants................................... 20 0.276 125.5 126.1 -6.8 0.4 -0.2 0.1 0.5

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar.................. 22 0.934 117.0 118.1 3.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.9

Mineral products.................................... V 19.379 236.5 253.2 26.7 6.8 -1.2 2.6 7.1

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 18.996 233.3 250.1 27.0 6.9 -1.3 2.7 7.2

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 7.753 132.8 133.9 -5.0 0.5 0.5 1.4 0.8

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 0.862 244.0 250.1 -12.5 -3.9 10.6 12.8 2.5

Organic chemicals................................. 29 2.441 126.4 128.2 0.6 1.7 -1.1 0.2 1.4

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 2.698 114.1 114.2 0.9 0.0 0.1 -0.1 0.1

Tanning & dyeing extracts; dye & pigments;

varnish & paints; putty......................... 32 0.171 105.5 105.4 0.1 0.0 2.0 -1.0 -0.1

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec.

2001=100)....................................... 33 0.424 121.7 119.4 -2.3 0.2 0.4 0.6 -1.9

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 0.419 90.0 90.4 -8.2 0.1 0.4 -0.1 0.4

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 2.892 127.9 128.6 -3.1 0.3 0.6 0.6 0.5

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 1.869 124.5 125.0 -3.4 0.2 0.1 0.5 0.4

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 1.023 134.4 135.7 -2.4 0.7 1.3 0.8 1.0

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.617 113.7 113.7 -0.3 0.2 0.3 0.0 0.0

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

various materials................................ 42 0.556 114.7 114.7 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.0

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 1.014 114.1 113.8 -0.6 1.6 -0.5 -0.6 -0.3

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 1.372 104.8 105.7 -8.0 -0.7 0.2 0.4 0.9

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 0.927 100.9 101.1 -11.4 -1.4 -0.3 -0.4 0.2

Printed matter...................................... 49 0.281 120.0 120.0 0.6 0.0 -0.1 0.0 0.0

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 5.222 103.2 103.1 -0.4 0.1 0.0 0.3 -0.1

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

knitted or crocheted............................ 61 1.962 99.6 99.4 -0.9 0.0 -0.1 0.0 -0.2

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

not knitted or crocheted........................ 62 1.984 102.6 102.6 0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.3 0.0

Made-up or worn textile articles................. 63 0.540 91.8 91.7 -3.9 0.0 0.0 1.2 -0.1

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.. .. XII 1.258 107.5 107.5 0.7 0.1 -0.1 -0.1 0.0

Footwear and parts of such articles............ 64 1.060 106.5 106.5 0.6 0.1 -0.1 -0.2 0.0

See footnotes at end of table.

9
Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: November 2008 to

November 2009 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Oct.

20091

Index Percent change

Oct.

2009

Nov.

2009

Annual Monthly

Nov.

2008 to

Nov.

2009

July 2009

to Aug.

2009

Aug.

2009 to

Sept.

2009

Sept.

2009 to

Oct. 2009

Oct. 2009

to Nov.

2009

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc........................................... XIII 1.021 124.6 124.5 1.5 -0.2 0.1 0.0 -0.1

Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, or

mica (Dec. 2001=100)......................... 68 0.381 118.0 118.0 -0.8 -0.1 0.2 0.3 0.0

Ceramic products.................................. 69 0.323 139.5 139.6 5.8 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.317 116.2 115.9 0.6 -0.6 0.1 -0.4 -0.3

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 2.708 146.5 150.0 13.3 -0.1 1.4 3.0 2.4

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 5.795 163.4 165.0 -6.9 1.8 4.0 0.7 1.0

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.277 195.1 198.1 -22.3 3.4 4.0 1.5 1.5

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.733 138.1 138.4 -14.2 -0.9 0.4 1.3 0.2

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.690 295.1 302.3 40.3 7.1 11.1 1.1 2.4

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.777 121.1 123.0 -2.7 5.1 7.2 -1.8 1.6

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.386 116.8 116.7 -0.1 -0.2 0.0 -0.3 -0.1

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.461 128.0 127.5 -3.3 -1.2 0.0 -0.5 -0.4

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 25.752 87.4 87.5 -0.6 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.1

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 12.957 88.4 88.4 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0

Electrical machinery and equip, sound and TV

recorders & reproducers, parts............... 85 12.795 86.4 86.5 -1.6 0.4 0.1 0.3 0.1

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 12.778 110.4 110.6 1.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 11.597 109.4 109.5 1.2 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.1

Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof (Dec.

2002=100)....................................... 88 1.067 115.7 115.6 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 -0.1

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 3.189 102.6 102.5 1.2 0.0 0.1 0.2 -0.1

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical

instruments...................................... 90 2.861 100.2 100.1 0.9 0.0 0.1 0.1 -0.1

Clocks and watches and parts thereof. . . . . . . .. 91 0.248 124.5 125.0 2.8 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.4

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 4.192 107.5 107.4 0.2 0.0 0.0 -0.4 -0.1

Furniture & stuffed furnishings; lamps &

lighting fittings, nesoi; prefab bldgs........... 94 2.278 111.7 111.5 -0.9 -0.1 0.3 -0.5 -0.2

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 1.702 101.2 101.1 1.4 0.2 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles........... 96 0.212 116.2 116.3 3.5 -0.1 0.0 0.2 0.1

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2007 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: November 2008 to

November 2009

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Oct.

20091

Index Percent change

Oct.

2009

Nov.

2009

Annual Monthly

Nov.

2008 to

Nov.

2009

July 2009

to Aug.

2009

Aug.

2009 to

Sept.

2009

Sept.

2009 to

Oct. 2009

Oct. 2009

to Nov.

2009

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.444 150.0 150.7 -6.5 -0.9 -1.6 -2.2 0.5

Meat & edible meat offal (Dec. 2006=100). . .. 02 0.750 120.6 120.6 -3.7 -0.9 -2.1 -2.7 0.0

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.357 130.8 134.4 -12.6 -1.5 -3.2 -2.6 2.8

Vegetable products................................ II 4.328 175.7 184.2 -1.8 0.2 -5.8 -0.7 4.8

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.625 111.2 107.9 -1.6 3.2 1.3 3.5 -3.0

Cereals.............................................. 10 1.701 172.1 187.2 -8.2 0.2 -8.4 2.3 8.8

Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds, fruits,

plants, straw and fodder....................... 12 1.371 198.7 209.5 7.5 0.0 -7.5 -6.0 5.4

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.518 140.9 141.9 6.4 -0.1 0.6 0.1 0.7

Miscellaneous edible preparations.............. 21 0.371 119.7 119.9 -1.5 -0.1 0.3 1.4 0.2

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar

(Dec.2008=100)................................. 22 0.288 103.5 103.7 – 0.2 0.0 1.6 0.2

Residues and waste from the food industries;

prepared animal feed........................... 23 0.515 191.9 197.2 11.7 -2.6 0.0 -6.8 2.8

Mineral products.................................... V 3.887 209.7 218.9 -6.6 10.3 -4.0 4.5 4.4

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 3.340 202.4 213.9 -5.9 11.4 -5.2 4.9 5.7

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 11.572 134.6 135.7 -1.7 -0.1 -0.3 -1.1 0.8

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 1.106 167.6 167.8 -18.9 -0.9 -6.3 -5.4 0.1

Organic chemicals................................. 29 3.270 138.3 142.1 1.8 0.6 0.1 -1.6 2.7

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 2.683 116.4 117.1 2.4 0.2 0.3 -0.1 0.6

Tanning or dyeing extracts, dyes, paints,

varnish, putty, & inks........................... 32 0.542 114.6 114.6 0.6 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.0

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery

cosmetic or toilet preparations................ 33 0.742 126.2 127.1 2.9 0.9 0.2 0.1 0.7

Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or scouring

products; candles, pastes..................... 34 0.408 114.6 115.2 -5.5 0.0 0.7 -1.3 0.5

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 1.819 133.1 133.4 1.9 -0.1 0.6 0.2 0.2

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 5.339 133.5 133.6 -5.5 0.5 0.9 -1.0 0.1

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 4.315 127.8 127.8 -4.8 0.2 0.5 -1.2 0.0

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 1.024 158.6 159.5 -8.1 1.8 2.6 -0.3 0.6

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.330 98.7 101.2 -8.3 8.8 5.0 0.4 2.5

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.567 103.1 103.5 -5.7 1.5 0.2 0.4 0.4

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 2.389 108.3 108.8 -1.1 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.5

Woodpulp and recovered paper................. 47 0.562 102.8 104.9 5.7 2.4 2.8 3.3 2.0

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 1.301 109.9 109.8 -4.0 -0.2 -0.5 0.3 -0.1

Printed material.................................... 49 0.527 115.3 115.6 -0.2 0.2 0.4 -2.0 0.3

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 2.022 105.5 109.2 4.6 -0.3 0.5 2.0 3.5

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics

thereof............................................ 52 0.600 102.4 113.8 19.8 -0.6 1.3 6.6 11.1

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc. (Dec.2008=100)...................... XIII 0.829 114.6 114.6 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.0

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.433 97.6 97.6 -1.9 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 4.033 181.9 186.8 12.7 0.0 1.7 2.8 2.7

See footnotes at end of table.

11
Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: November 2008 to

November 2009 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Oct.

20091

Index Percent change

Oct.

2009

Nov.

2009

Annual Monthly

Nov.

2008 to

Nov.

2009

July 2009

to Aug.

2009

Aug.

2009 to

Sept.

2009

Sept.

2009 to

Oct. 2009

Oct. 2009

to Nov.

2009

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 5.299 152.1 153.3 -0.5 3.5 1.4 0.1 0.8

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.385 174.9 175.6 -4.8 8.5 3.3 0.2 0.4

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.440 157.1 157.5 -1.3 0.1 -1.4 -0.4 0.3

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.530 195.2 203.8 13.2 7.6 4.0 0.5 4.4

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.771 112.4 113.5 4.3 4.1 4.2 -0.4 1.0

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.407 123.8 123.8 1.6 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.338 122.1 122.1 -5.4 -0.2 0.0 0.3 0.0

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 31.356 95.9 96.3 1.6 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.4

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 18.083 106.0 106.6 2.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.6

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts

and accessories thereof....................... 85 13.273 84.9 85.2 1.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.4

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 15.795 120.4 120.1 2.0 0.0 -0.2 0.1 -0.2

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 9.068 107.8 107.8 0.2 0.0 -0.1 0.3 0.0

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 6.297 108.5 108.5 2.4 0.5 0.2 -0.1 0.0

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 1.581 108.2 108.4 0.6 0.2 0.6 0.0 0.2

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and

lighting fittings nesoi;........................... 94 0.781 119.2 119.4 1.9 0.5 1.3 0.3 0.2

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 0.676 93.0 93.0 -0.9 -0.1 0.0 -0.3 0.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2007 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: November 2008 to November 2009

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Percent of

U.S.

imports1

Index Percent change

Oct.

2009

Nov.

2009

Annual Monthly

Nov. 2008

to Nov.

2009

July 2009

to Aug.

2009

Aug. 2009

to Sept.

2009

Sept. 2009

to Oct.

2009

Oct. 2009

to Nov.

2009

Industrialized Countries2

..................... 42.434 121.5 123.1 0.3 0.7 0.4 0.9 1.3

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 4.390 179.0 197.6 7.8 1.0 -0.6 5.9 10.4

Manufactured articles......................... 37.621 116.6 117.1 -0.5 0.7 0.4 0.4 0.4

Other Countries3

............................... 57.566 120.9 122.6 4.5 2.1 0.2 0.4 1.4

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 12.442 236.5 247.9 30.9 6.8 -0.7 2.3 4.8

Manufactured articles......................... 44.910 104.6 105.0 -1.3 0.9 0.5 -0.2 0.4

Canada............................................ 15.963 132.6 136.5 0.5 1.2 1.1 1.1 2.9

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 3.979 172.0 192.1 7.3 0.9 -0.7 6.4 11.7

Manufactured articles......................... 11.678 125.5 126.0 -2.1 1.2 1.5 -0.3 0.4

European Union4

............................... 17.447 126.3 127.0 0.6 0.2 0.6 0.6 0.6

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 0.222 238.4 246.1 10.3 4.9 -2.0 1.3 3.2

Manufactured articles......................... 17.133 123.9 124.6 0.6 0.2 0.6 0.6 0.6

France (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 1.954 123.1 124.0 4.3 0.3 0.8 0.1 0.7

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)..................... 4.735 111.0 111.5 2.2 0.5 0.4 0.8 0.5

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)........... 2.660 122.8 123.6 1.6 0.6 0.2 0.8 0.7

Latin America5

.................................. 17.808 151.8 153.9 6.7 2.6 0.7 1.7 1.4

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 5.160 263.7 273.2 39.7 6.6 -0.8 2.6 3.6

Manufactured articles......................... 12.547 129.0 129.4 -4.6 1.0 1.4 1.1 0.3

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 10.785 135.0 135.4 5.0 1.7 0.5 0.9 0.3

Nonmanufactured articles (Dec.

2008=100)................................... 1.947 140.5 143.7 – 7.1 0.1 3.4 2.3

Manufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100). . .. 8.788 96.5 96.2 – 0.1 0.7 0.1 -0.3

Pacific Rim (Dec. 2003=100)6

................ 33.590 99.8 99.9 -1.8 0.4 0.1 -0.1 0.1

China (Dec. 2003=100)......................... 16.852 100.4 100.4 -2.4 0.3 -0.1 -0.1 0.0

Japan.............................................. 7.488 97.5 97.5 1.9 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.0

Asian NICs7

..................................... 5.647 85.9 85.9 -6.6 0.5 0.2 -0.2 0.0

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)8

..................... 5.729 96.6 96.9 -1.7 0.4 -0.1 -0.5 0.3

Asia Near East (Dec. 2003=100)9........... 3.992 197.5 204.6 21.4 5.6 0.1 2.4 3.6

1 Percentage of trade figures are based on 2007 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

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

2008 to November 2009

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Relative

importance

Oct.

20091

Index Percent change

Oct.

2009

Nov.

2009

Annual Monthly

Nov. 2008

to Nov.

2009

July 2009

to Aug.

2009

Aug. 2009

to Sept.

2009

Sept.

2009 to

Oct. 2009

Oct. 2009

to Nov.

2009

Air Freight

Import Air Freight..................................... 100.000 136.4 137.7 -5.4 0.1 0.7 1.5 1.0

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 23.489 135.9 137.8 -2.5 1.1 1.1 2.1 1.4

Asia.................................................... 66.895 117.5 117.9 -6.3 -0.3 0.7 1.5 0.3

Export Air Freight..................................... 100.000 121.3 122.0 -12.4 0.5 1.3 -0.2 0.6

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)............................ 41.570 111.0 111.0 -14.7 0.0 2.5 0.0 0.0

Inbound Air Freight................................... 100.000 129.3 133.0 -6.9 0.5 1.0 1.7 2.9

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 25.050 126.4 127.7 -9.6 0.6 1.1 1.4 1.0

Asia.................................................... 63.228 112.5 116.9 -4.2 0.6 1.4 2.1 3.9

Outbound Air Freight................................. 100.000 112.2 113.0 -18.5 -1.2 0.8 0.3 0.7

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 40.013 129.4 129.8 -17.8 0.3 1.1 0.0 0.3

Asia.................................................... 41.331 102.7 103.6 -16.5 -0.1 0.6 -0.1 0.9

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 146.7 147.5 -6.4 -2.2 -1.1 6.4 0.5

Europe................................................. 45.511 159.6 159.6 -2.5 -5.3 2.8 8.6 0.0

Asia.................................................... 27.495 129.5 126.5 -8.5 -4.0 -4.3 4.1 -2.3

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 11.165 120.3 130.2 0.6 4.5 -8.3 2.3 8.2

Export Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 143.0 140.7 -11.9 9.1 -9.1 1.2 -1.6

Europe................................................. 31.796 170.7 172.2 -11.0 -0.3 -10.1 2.3 0.9

Asia.................................................... 34.852 123.6 114.7 -15.8 22.7 -11.4 1.1 -7.2

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 20.269 142.7 147.9 -9.8 3.9 -7.3 -1.0 3.6

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2007 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. 

16