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

The U.S. Import Price Index edged up 0.1 percent in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 

reported today, after a 1.6 percent increase in August. The September increase was led by higher nonfuel 

prices, which more than offset lower fuel prices. The price index for U.S. exports declined 0.3 percent in 

September following a 0.7 percent increase the previous month. 

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

 Percent change 

-3.6

-6.0

-7.4

-4.6

-1.3

0.0 0.5 1.1 1.7

2.7

1.6

0.1

-0.7

-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

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

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

 Percent change 

13.1

4.9

-5.9

-10.1

-12.5 -12.7

-14.9 -16.4 -17.3 -17.5 -19.2

-15.3

-12.0

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

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

Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until 

8:30 a.m. (EDT) Wednesday, October 14, 2009 

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

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

USDL-09-1238
2

All Imports: Import prices ticked up 0.1 percent in September, led by a 0.6 percent increase in nonfuel 

prices. The price index for overall imports has only declined once since January, but despite the recent 

upward trend, import prices fell 12.0 percent for the year ended in September because of the sharp drop in 

the index at the end of 2008. 

Fuel Imports: Fuel prices decreased 1.8 percent in September following a 7.1 percent increase the previous 

month. The decline in fuel prices was partially driven by a 2.1 percent decline in crude prices; a 16.5 percent 

drop in natural gas prices also contributed to the overall decrease. Fuel prices fell 34.4 percent over the past 

year. 

All Imports Excluding Fuel: In contrast, nonfuel import prices rose 0.6 percent in September, the largest 

one-month gain since a similar 0.6 percent advance in July 2008. The September rise in the price index for 

nonfuel imports followed a 0.3 percent increase in August and higher prices for nonfuel industrial supplies 

and materials, finished goods and food all contributed to the advance. Despite the recent increases, nonfuel 

prices fell 4.1 percent over the past 12 months, driven by a 5.2 percent drop in the index from September 

2008 to March 2009. 

Table A. Percent changes 
3

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

 Percent change 

-0.8

-3.2

-2.2

0.7

-0.3

-0.7

0.5 0.4

1.0

-0.3

0.7

-0.3

-2.1

-4

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

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

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

 Percent change 

7.0

4.0

-0.3

-2.9 -3.4

-4.5

-6.7 -6.7 -6.6 -6.6

-8.3

-6.1 -5.6

-12

-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

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

All Exports: Export prices fell 0.3 percent for the second time in three months in September after rising 0.7 

percent in August. The September downturn was led by falling agricultural prices. The price index for 

overall exports decreased 5.6 percent over the past year. 

Agricultural Exports: Prices for agricultural exports fell 2.8 percent in September and 16.6 percent over 

the past 12 months. Both declines were driven by falling prices for corn, soybeans, and wheat. Corn prices 

decreased 7.4 percent in September and 37.0 percent over the past year; prices for soybeans dropped 10.8 

percent for the month and 14.8 percent for the year ended in September; and the price index for wheat 

declined 12.1 percent in September and 38.5 percent over the past 12 months. 

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: Nonagricultural prices were unchanged in September following a 0.7 

percent increase in August. Finished goods prices rose overall, but those increases were offset by a fueldriven decline in nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials prices. The price index for nonagricultural 

exports fell 4.4 percent over the September 2008-2009 period. 

 
4

SELECTED SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS 

Import Prices 

Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Foods, feeds, and beverages prices rose 0.4 percent in September after rising 

1.3 percent the previous month. The September advance was led by higher vegetable prices which more 

than offset a drop in coffee prices. The increase in vegetable prices followed declines in each of the four 

previous months. 

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonfuel industrial supplies and materials prices rose 2.8 

percent and were driven by higher prices for unfinished metals that included copper, iron and steel mill 

products, aluminum, precious metals, nickel, and zinc. Chemical prices also increased in September, led by 

rising fertilizer prices. 

Finished Goods: Prices for each of the major finished goods areas—capital goods, consumer goods, and 

automotive vehicles—ticked up 0.1 percent in September after recording mixed price movement the 

previous month. Capital goods prices excluding computers were unchanged for the second consecutive 

month, but rising computer prices in September led the overall price index for capital goods up for the 

month. 

Imports by Locality of Origin: Prices for imports from Canada and the European Union increased 0.1 

percent and 0.5 percent, respectively, in September despite lower fuel prices. Manufactured articles led the 

increase for both indexes, rising 1.5 percent for import prices from Canada and 0.5 percent for prices for 

imports from the European Union. In contrast, the price index for imports from China edged down 0.1 

percent for the second time in three months in September after increasing 0.2 percent in August. 

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares continued to trend downward in September, 

decreasing 1.1 percent. The decrease was led by lower Asian and Latin American/Caribbean fares. In 

contrast, air freight prices rose 0.7 percent. 

Export Prices 

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials 

prices fell 0.2 percent in September following a 2.1 percent increase the previous month. A drop in fuel 

prices in September more than compensated for rising metals prices. 

Finished Goods: Capital goods prices and prices for consumer goods each edged up 0.1 percent in 

September while the price index for automotive vehicles was unchanged. The increase in capital goods 

prices was led by higher computer prices and rising prices for medicinal, dental, and pharmaceutical 

materials drove the rise in the price index for consumer goods. The price index for computers, peripherals, 

and semiconductors rose on a year-over-year basis for the first time since November 1990. 

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares fell 9.5 percent in September, led by sharp declines in 

European and Asian fares. The overall drop was a turnaround from August when export air passenger fares 

increased 9.1 percent. In contrast, the price index for export air freight advanced 0.8 percent.

 

Import and Export Price Index data for October 2009 are scheduled for release on Friday, November 

13, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. (EST). 
Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: September 2008 to

September 2009

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Aug.

20091

Index Percent change

Aug.

2009

Sept.

2009

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2008 to

Sept.

2009

May

2009 to

June

2009

June

2009 to

July 2009

July 2009

to Aug.

2009

Aug.

2009 to

Sept.

2009

All commodities..................................... 100.000 121.1 121.2 -12.0 2.7 -0.7 1.6 0.1

All imports excluding petroleum................ 82.141 107.5 107.9 -5.4 0.1 -0.2 0.3 0.4

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)... 80.819 111.3 112.0 -4.1 0.2 -0.2 0.3 0.6

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 4.673 140.0 140.5 -5.0 0.4 -1.1 1.3 0.4

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 3.617 155.7 156.8 -5.0 0.3 -1.5 1.6 0.7

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 1.056 104.4 103.7 -4.9 0.8 -0.2 0.2 -0.7

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 32.871 182.3 182.6 -26.6 8.8 -1.7 4.6 0.2

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

petroleum..................................... 15.012 132.6 134.6 -19.6 0.6 -0.8 1.1 1.5

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

fuels (Dec. 2001=100)....................... 13.690 148.0 152.2 -15.2 0.3 -0.3 1.4 2.8

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 8.678 140.8 145.9 -14.0 1.3 1.8 1.7 3.6

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable

excluding petroleum......................... 5.013 122.8 121.1 -25.9 -0.3 -4.1 0.5 -1.4

Fuels & lubricants............................... 10 19.180 231.3 227.1 -34.4 16.0 -2.8 7.1 -1.8

Petroleum & petroleum products........... 100 17.858 253.6 250.8 -32.5 17.2 -2.5 7.7 -1.1

Crude.......................................... 10000 12.892 258.5 253.1 -34.2 15.8 -2.2 6.9 -2.1

Fuels, n.e.s.-coals & gas.................... 101 1.131 104.6 90.2 -52.8 3.6 -7.1 0.0 -13.8

Gas-natural................................... 10110 0.928 89.3 74.6 -59.3 4.2 -8.4 -0.1 -16.5

Paper & paper base stocks................... 11 0.666 98.6 99.7 -16.8 -1.5 -2.8 -0.4 1.1

Materials associated with nondurable

supplies & materials......................... 12 4.423 133.4 135.4 -16.6 -1.2 -3.8 0.8 1.5

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.667 119.5 119.4 -2.7 1.3 1.9 1.1 -0.1

Unfinished metals related to durable

goods.......................................... 14 3.569 190.2 205.0 -19.7 3.2 3.6 3.0 7.8

Finished metals related to durable goods. .. 15 1.837 134.6 136.7 -14.5 -0.2 0.2 0.8 1.6

Nonmetals related to durable goods......... 16 1.528 103.2 104.1 -6.6 -0.4 -0.2 0.4 0.9

Capital goods..................................... 2 23.450 91.9 92.0 -1.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1

Electric generating equipment................ 20 3.024 110.3 110.4 -2.2 0.2 0.3 0.0 0.1

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 18.321 86.5 86.6 -1.8 -0.2 0.0 0.0 0.1

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 2.105 123.3 123.2 4.2 0.3 0.6 0.2 -0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 13.913 108.4 108.5 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 25.093 103.9 104.0 -1.0 0.1 -0.3 -0.1 0.1

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 11.575 107.8 107.7 -0.5 0.0 -0.3 0.0 -0.1

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 12.318 100.4 100.4 -1.4 0.1 -0.1 -0.1 0.0

Nonmanufactured consumer goods.......... 42 1.200 100.9 101.3 -5.0 0.1 0.1 -0.6 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

5
Table 2. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: September 2008 to

September 2009

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Aug.

20091

Index Percent change

Aug.

2009

Sept.

2009

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2008 to

Sept.

2009

May

2009 to

June

2009

June

2009 to

July 2009

July 2009

to Aug.

2009

Aug.

2009 to

Sept.

2009

All commodities..................................... 100.000 118.2 117.9 -5.6 1.0 -0.3 0.7 -0.3

Agricultural commodities......................... 8.788 161.7 157.1 -16.6 4.2 -4.9 0.2 -2.8

Nonagricultural commodities.................... 91.213 115.1 115.1 -4.4 0.6 0.2 0.7 0.0

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 8.134 164.7 158.3 -16.9 4.5 -5.6 -0.2 -3.9

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 7.479 167.3 160.5 -17.9 4.9 -6.2 -0.2 -4.1

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 0.655 142.8 140.0 -3.8 0.1 1.1 -0.2 -2.0

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 27.526 143.6 143.5 -15.3 2.0 0.1 2.2 -0.1

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 10.720 147.8 150.2 -10.1 0.6 0.8 1.9 1.6

Industrial supplies & materials,

nondurable.................................... 16.807 141.8 140.2 -18.3 2.9 -0.4 2.4 -1.1

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials... 10 1.309 138.5 144.3 -8.3 0.6 3.0 2.7 4.2

Nonagricultural industrial supplies &

materials........................................ 26.218 144.1 143.8 -15.6 2.0 -0.1 2.1 -0.2

Fuels & lubricants............................... 11 3.999 181.4 169.1 -36.7 9.4 -5.3 9.3 -6.8

Nonagricultural supplies & materials

excluding fuels & building materials. . . . . .. 12 21.193 141.1 142.5 -11.4 0.9 0.9 0.9 1.0

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.026 113.8 114.1 -1.1 0.4 -0.1 0.8 0.3

Capital goods..................................... 2 41.190 103.5 103.6 1.8 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.1

Electrical generating equipment.............. 20 3.712 107.2 107.3 -2.0 0.2 -0.1 0.1 0.1

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 28.539 94.8 95.1 1.3 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.3

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 8.938 137.4 137.1 4.9 0.4 0.1 0.0 -0.2

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 10.290 107.9 107.9 0.0 -0.1 -0.2 0.1 0.0

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 12.860 109.1 109.2 -0.1 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.1

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 5.720 109.1 109.4 0.4 0.6 0.1 0.5 0.3

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 6.045 109.6 109.5 0.7 0.2 1.3 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: September 2008 to

September 2009

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Aug.

20091

Index Percent change

Aug.

2009

Sept.

2009

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2008 to

Sept.

2009

May

2009 to

June

2009

June

2009 to

July 2009

July 2009

to Aug.

2009

Aug.

2009 to

Sept.

2009

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 16.243 113.5 111.0 -34.5 12.9 -2.7 5.3 -2.2

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 1.695 131.2 132.8 -5.1 -1.0 -3.5 2.0 1.2

Crop production................................. 111 1.214 138.1 139.8 -2.5 -0.9 -4.9 1.9 1.2

Mining.............................................. 21 14.548 111.5 108.6 -37.0 15.0 -2.6 5.7 -2.6

Mining (except oil and gas) (Dec.

2006=100)..................................... 212 0.434 125.7 125.5 -2.6 0.8 -3.0 0.0 -0.2

Manufactured articles.............................. 83.225 107.4 108.0 -5.4 0.9 -0.2 0.8 0.6

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 10.361 106.9 107.0 -2.3 0.3 -0.1 0.3 0.1

Food manufacturing............................ 311 2.431 117.2 117.6 -9.1 1.4 -0.1 0.9 0.3

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.935 107.3 107.4 1.1 -0.1 0.3 0.0 0.1

Textile mills...................................... 313 0.448 112.7 112.5 -1.1 0.3 0.6 0.3 -0.2

Textile product mills............................ 314 0.799 99.4 99.4 -2.7 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.0

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 4.187 101.9 101.9 0.1 0.0 -0.3 0.0 0.0

Leather and allied product manufacturing. .. 316 1.562 107.2 107.2 1.4 -0.1 -0.4 0.1 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 18.013 115.7 116.5 -11.7 3.8 -1.7 2.8 0.7

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 1.014 95.1 94.9 -4.9 2.0 3.8 1.8 -0.2

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.196 98.3 99.5 -12.9 -0.8 -3.2 -0.7 1.2

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 4.235 120.1 121.3 -26.8 19.8 -4.1 12.3 1.0

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 8.457 118.8 119.8 -7.8 -0.1 -1.6 0.3 0.8

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 1.845 112.1 112.1 -1.8 -0.2 -0.4 0.2 0.0

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 1.157 119.6 119.6 3.6 0.5 -0.4 -0.2 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 54.852 104.9 105.5 -3.7 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.6

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 4.104 127.8 135.9 -22.5 1.6 2.3 2.5 6.3

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.788 115.8 115.8 -4.9 -0.1 -0.3 -0.1 0.0

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 6.907 112.1 112.4 1.0 0.5 0.4 0.1 0.3

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 15.114 88.9 89.0 -3.4 -0.2 -0.1 0.0 0.1

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 4.019 112.6 112.7 -1.3 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.1

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 15.108 105.8 105.9 0.8 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1

Furniture and related product

manufacturing................................ 337 1.569 109.0 109.7 -1.6 -0.9 0.0 -0.1 0.6

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 5.244 111.8 111.7 0.6 0.4 0.2 -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

7
Table 4. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: September 2008 to

September 2009

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Aug.

20091

Index Percent change

Aug.

2009

Sept.

2009

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2008 to

Sept.

2009

May

2009 to

June

2009

June

2009 to

July 2009

July 2009

to Aug.

2009

Aug.

2009 to

Sept.

2009

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 6.110 121.0 114.3 -22.4 4.4 -6.7 1.1 -5.5

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 4.837 140.5 131.2 -22.1 5.0 -7.7 0.4 -6.6

Crop production................................. 111 4.486 144.7 134.6 -23.2 5.3 -8.1 0.1 -7.0

Mining.............................................. 21 1.273 77.9 76.7 -22.8 2.0 -2.3 3.9 -1.5

Mining (except oil and gas).................... 212 0.962 88.4 90.6 -8.5 1.4 -1.8 2.1 2.5

Manufactured articles.............................. 91.959 108.9 109.0 -3.6 0.7 0.1 0.5 0.1

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 6.569 120.4 121.4 -3.8 1.9 0.1 -0.2 0.8

Food manufacturing............................ 311 4.415 135.0 136.4 -4.7 2.5 -0.1 -0.4 1.0

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.516 107.0 106.9 2.4 1.2 -0.1 0.1 -0.1

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 0.389 102.7 102.8 1.5 0.1 0.4 0.0 0.1

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 22.042 111.8 110.9 -12.8 2.3 -0.2 1.6 -0.8

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.455 106.3 107.0 -4.9 0.4 1.1 1.2 0.7

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.861 109.3 109.7 -5.8 0.8 -1.0 -0.1 0.4

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 2.423 109.8 102.1 -43.2 15.4 -9.2 13.5 -7.0

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 14.306 113.9 113.7 -8.5 1.4 1.6 0.4 -0.2

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 2.164 108.1 107.9 -3.6 -0.6 0.1 0.0 -0.2

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 0.833 109.7 110.3 0.2 0.0 -3.0 0.0 0.5

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 63.349 106.7 107.0 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 4.204 121.5 125.0 -13.9 0.8 0.5 1.0 2.9

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.823 121.2 121.4 2.4 0.1 -0.2 0.2 0.2

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 12.698 112.3 112.4 1.4 -0.1 0.5 -0.1 0.1

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 16.511 94.0 94.3 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.606 107.5 107.5 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.0

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 18.228 110.3 110.2 2.8 0.2 0.0 0.0 -0.1

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 4.939 110.6 110.6 0.1 0.3 0.8 0.0 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

8
Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: September 2008 to

September 2009

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Aug.

20091

Index Percent change

Aug.

2009

Sept.

2009

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2008 to

Sept.

2009

May

2009 to

June

2009

June

2009 to

July 2009

July 2009

to Aug.

2009

Aug.

2009 to

Sept.

2009

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.136 130.4 131.3 -8.1 2.1 0.4 0.7 0.7

Meat and edible meat offal....................... 02 0.260 156.1 157.5 -9.2 2.8 1.8 1.7 0.9

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.557 99.7 98.6 -7.6 1.4 -0.6 0.5 -1.1

Vegetable products................................ II 1.415 156.6 158.4 -2.6 -1.3 -4.7 1.9 1.1

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers............ 07 0.407 279.4 293.4 35.4 -7.4 -3.6 -1.1 5.0

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.412 98.6 98.1 -15.9 0.0 -7.3 2.5 -0.5

Coffee, tea, mate and spices.................... 09 0.271 162.9 156.4 -8.3 5.2 -8.3 10.3 -4.0

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.290 135.8 136.4 -2.8 0.4 0.4 0.7 0.4

Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk;

bakers’ wares (Dec. 2007=100).............. 19 0.229 111.7 112.7 -0.4 2.8 1.4 0.1 0.9

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts, or other

parts of plants................................... 20 0.279 125.5 125.7 -10.4 0.6 0.1 0.3 0.2

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar.................. 22 0.939 116.5 116.6 -0.6 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.1

Mineral products.................................... V 19.297 233.0 228.8 -33.3 15.4 -2.9 6.9 -1.8

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 18.931 230.0 225.8 -34.4 15.7 -2.9 7.0 -1.8

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 7.690 130.4 131.2 -9.6 -0.7 -1.2 0.5 0.6

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 0.699 196.0 223.1 -24.3 -8.8 -9.6 -3.4 13.8

Organic chemicals................................. 29 2.485 127.3 125.9 -6.4 1.5 0.4 1.8 -1.1

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 2.727 114.1 114.2 0.5 0.2 0.7 0.0 0.1

Tanning & dyeing extracts; dye & pigments;

varnish & paints; putty......................... 32 0.171 104.5 107.3 -2.0 0.1 0.6 0.0 2.7

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec.

2001=100)....................................... 33 0.425 120.5 121.1 -2.5 1.2 1.3 0.2 0.5

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 0.422 89.8 90.3 -10.1 -0.3 -0.8 0.2 0.6

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 2.889 126.4 127.2 -7.8 0.4 -2.9 0.3 0.6

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 1.878 123.8 124.1 -8.1 0.7 -4.4 0.2 0.2

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 1.011 131.4 133.3 -7.2 -0.1 -0.1 0.5 1.4

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.622 113.4 113.6 1.0 -0.2 -0.4 0.2 0.2

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

various materials................................ 42 0.561 114.4 114.5 1.4 -0.2 -0.4 0.2 0.1

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 1.041 115.9 115.7 -5.3 1.8 3.3 1.8 -0.2

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 1.379 104.1 104.6 -11.1 -0.7 -3.1 -0.7 0.5

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 0.942 101.5 101.2 -11.2 -1.1 -4.7 -1.2 -0.3

Printed matter...................................... 49 0.285 120.3 119.7 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.0 -0.5

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 5.262 102.9 102.8 -1.2 0.0 0.2 0.1 -0.1

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

knitted or crocheted............................ 61 1.982 99.5 99.5 -1.2 -0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

not knitted or crocheted........................ 62 2.013 103.1 103.0 0.8 0.0 -0.3 0.0 -0.1

Made-up or worn textile articles................. 63 0.539 90.7 90.7 -5.5 -0.1 0.4 0.0 0.0

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.. .. XII 1.274 107.7 107.6 1.2 0.1 -0.4 0.1 -0.1

Footwear and parts of such articles............ 64 1.073 106.8 106.7 1.3 -0.1 -0.5 0.1 -0.1

See footnotes at end of table.

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

September 2009 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Aug.

20091

Index Percent change

Aug.

2009

Sept.

2009

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2008 to

Sept.

2009

May

2009 to

June

2009

June

2009 to

July 2009

July 2009

to Aug.

2009

Aug.

2009 to

Sept.

2009

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc........................................... XIII 1.030 124.5 124.6 4.9 0.7 -0.4 -0.2 0.1

Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, or

mica (Dec. 2001=100)......................... 68 0.382 117.4 117.5 1.5 0.3 -0.2 -0.2 0.1

Ceramic products.................................. 69 0.326 139.4 139.4 13.5 1.7 -0.1 0.0 0.0

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.321 116.6 116.7 0.8 0.3 -0.9 -0.6 0.1

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 2.619 140.2 142.3 -0.1 3.0 -0.1 -0.1 1.5

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 5.582 155.7 162.2 -20.4 0.1 1.3 1.7 4.2

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.220 184.4 193.0 -36.9 0.0 2.3 3.1 4.7

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.714 135.1 135.4 -18.7 -2.6 -1.9 -1.4 0.2

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.621 262.8 293.3 -3.8 4.9 4.5 7.1 11.6

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.745 115.0 123.3 -18.8 0.8 3.5 5.1 7.2

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.392 117.3 117.4 0.8 -0.3 0.0 -0.1 0.1

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.469 128.8 128.8 -1.6 0.0 -0.2 -1.0 0.0

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 25.928 87.0 87.2 -1.7 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.2

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 13.097 88.4 88.5 -0.4 0.1 0.5 0.1 0.1

Electrical machinery and equip, sound and TV

recorders & reproducers, parts............... 85 12.831 85.7 85.8 -3.1 0.0 -0.2 0.1 0.1

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 12.866 110.0 110.2 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 11.675 109.0 109.1 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1

Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof (Dec.

2002=100)....................................... 88 1.080 115.9 115.9 3.2 -0.2 0.1 0.3 0.0

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 3.215 102.3 102.3 0.8 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical

instruments...................................... 90 2.885 100.0 100.0 0.6 0.2 0.3 0.0 0.0

Clocks and watches and parts thereof. . . . . . . .. 91 0.250 123.8 124.1 1.8 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.2

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 4.250 107.9 107.9 0.4 -0.3 0.2 0.0 0.0

Furniture & stuffed furnishings; lamps &

lighting fittings, nesoi; prefab bldgs........... 94 2.311 112.1 112.4 -0.6 -0.6 -0.1 0.0 0.3

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 1.725 101.5 101.2 1.5 0.1 0.6 0.0 -0.3

Miscellaneous manufactured articles........... 96 0.214 116.0 116.0 2.7 0.3 0.1 -0.1 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

10
Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: September 2008 to

September 2009

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Aug.

20091

Index Percent change

Aug.

2009

Sept.

2009

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2008 to

Sept.

2009

May

2009 to

June

2009

June

2009 to

July 2009

July 2009

to Aug.

2009

Aug.

2009 to

Sept.

2009

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.507 156.7 154.5 -14.5 1.7 -1.3 -0.6 -1.4

Meat & edible meat offal (Dec. 2006=100). . .. 02 0.787 126.6 124.2 -18.0 3.6 -3.1 -0.9 -1.9

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.384 141.0 137.0 -8.7 -1.5 0.9 -0.7 -2.8

Vegetable products................................ II 4.623 187.8 176.6 -21.3 5.6 -8.7 0.2 -6.0

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.596 106.0 107.4 -9.9 1.5 1.5 3.2 1.3

Cereals.............................................. 10 1.815 183.7 168.3 -37.1 8.1 -17.4 0.2 -8.4

Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds, fruits,

plants, straw and fodder....................... 12 1.577 228.6 210.6 -12.5 8.0 -3.9 0.0 -7.9

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.485 139.1 139.3 1.8 2.2 -0.7 -0.6 0.1

Miscellaneous edible preparations.............. 21 0.364 117.6 118.0 -2.4 -0.3 -0.3 -0.2 0.3

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar

(Dec.2008=100)................................. 22 0.283 101.9 101.7 – 1.4 -0.1 0.2 -0.2

Residues and waste from the food industries;

prepared animal feed........................... 23 0.551 205.4 205.3 1.3 9.7 -3.5 -2.9 0.0

Mineral products.................................... V 3.867 208.7 197.8 -38.9 9.4 -7.1 10.2 -5.2

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 3.349 203.1 189.8 -41.1 10.6 -7.9 11.2 -6.5

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 11.735 136.5 135.7 -7.2 0.8 0.6 0.0 -0.6

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 1.243 188.4 172.1 -18.0 -2.2 3.6 -1.2 -8.7

Organic chemicals................................. 29 3.332 140.9 140.6 -15.3 1.6 0.7 1.1 -0.2

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 2.673 116.1 116.5 -0.9 0.9 -0.3 0.2 0.3

Tanning or dyeing extracts, dyes, paints,

varnish, putty, & inks........................... 32 0.540 114.2 114.4 -0.9 1.5 0.2 0.0 0.2

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery

cosmetic or toilet preparations................ 33 0.740 126.1 126.5 2.9 1.3 -0.2 1.1 0.3

Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or scouring

products; candles, pastes..................... 34 0.409 114.8 115.7 -5.9 0.5 0.4 -0.3 0.8

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 1.798 131.6 132.7 2.2 2.2 0.5 -0.3 0.8

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 5.349 133.8 134.9 -9.8 0.6 2.7 0.4 0.8

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 4.353 128.9 129.6 -9.6 1.1 2.8 0.2 0.5

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 0.996 154.5 157.9 -11.1 -1.5 2.2 1.4 2.2

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.312 93.3 98.1 -14.8 4.1 8.7 8.5 5.1

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.564 102.5 102.8 -8.4 0.5 -1.5 1.5 0.3

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 2.368 107.4 107.7 -8.7 1.4 -0.4 0.5 0.3

Woodpulp and recovered paper................. 47 0.529 96.9 99.2 -23.8 5.2 1.4 2.5 2.4

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 1.304 110.1 109.6 -3.7 0.3 -1.5 -0.3 -0.5

Printed material.................................... 49 0.535 117.1 117.5 0.1 1.0 0.8 0.1 0.3

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 1.969 102.8 103.4 -5.5 -0.9 1.3 -0.4 0.6

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics

thereof............................................ 52 0.555 94.9 96.1 -13.0 -3.5 4.6 -0.6 1.3

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc. (Dec.2008=100)...................... XIII 0.822 113.6 113.6 1.1 0.1 -2.0 0.0 0.0

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.427 96.2 96.1 -2.8 -0.1 -3.9 0.0 -0.1

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 3.853 173.8 176.8 -0.6 2.6 1.6 -0.1 1.7

See footnotes at end of table.

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

September 2009 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Aug.

20091

Index Percent change

Aug.

2009

Sept.

2009

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2008 to

Sept.

2009

May

2009 to

June

2009

June

2009 to

July 2009

July 2009

to Aug.

2009

Aug.

2009 to

Sept.

2009

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 5.214 149.7 151.7 -13.9 -0.4 0.8 3.5 1.3

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.329 167.9 172.7 -25.4 -1.4 3.8 7.8 2.9

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.466 160.0 157.6 -1.9 -0.1 -2.3 0.1 -1.5

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.507 186.8 195.8 -21.5 -2.3 0.9 7.6 4.8

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.745 108.6 113.2 -18.3 1.2 3.5 4.4 4.2

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.402 122.3 122.3 1.7 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.337 121.8 122.3 -6.4 0.0 -0.1 -0.1 0.4

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 31.254 95.6 95.8 0.7 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.2

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 17.970 105.3 105.7 1.3 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.4

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts

and accessories thereof....................... 85 13.284 85.0 85.1 -0.1 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.1

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 15.796 120.5 120.3 2.7 0.2 0.0 0.0 -0.2

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 9.042 107.5 107.5 0.4 0.0 -0.2 0.0 0.0

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 6.302 108.6 108.8 1.8 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.2

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 1.564 107.1 108.0 -0.6 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.8

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and

lighting fittings nesoi;........................... 94 0.761 116.1 118.2 0.6 -0.3 0.0 0.0 1.8

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 0.679 93.4 93.4 -1.1 0.3 0.1 0.0 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: September 2008 to September

2009

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Percent of

U.S.

imports1

Index Percent change

Aug.

2009

Sept.

2009

Annual Monthly

Sept. 2008

to Sept.

2009

May 2009

to June

2009

June 2009

to July

2009

July 2009

to Aug.

2009

Aug. 2009

to Sept.

2009

Industrialized Countries2

..................... 42.434 119.8 119.8 -11.3 1.5 -0.2 0.6 0.0

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 4.390 168.4 160.5 -42.5 10.9 -1.3 0.0 -4.7

Manufactured articles......................... 37.621 115.6 116.1 -6.5 0.7 0.0 0.6 0.4

Other Countries3

............................... 57.566 120.0 119.9 -13.7 3.1 -0.9 2.0 -0.1

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 12.442 231.5 228.1 -32.1 12.6 -3.2 6.0 -1.5

Manufactured articles......................... 44.910 104.3 104.6 -6.0 0.8 -0.3 1.1 0.3

Canada............................................ 15.963 129.5 129.6 -19.1 2.7 -0.6 1.0 0.1

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 3.979 161.5 153.1 -43.9 10.9 -1.3 0.2 -5.2

Manufactured articles......................... 11.678 124.0 125.9 -9.2 0.6 -0.4 1.2 1.5

European Union4

............................... 17.447 124.9 125.5 -4.6 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.5

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 0.222 229.0 225.8 -32.0 11.4 -0.4 0.0 -1.4

Manufactured articles......................... 17.133 122.6 123.2 -3.9 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.5

France (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 1.954 122.0 122.3 1.5 0.7 0.8 0.3 0.2

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)..................... 4.735 109.8 110.3 -1.4 0.4 0.6 0.5 0.5

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)........... 2.660 121.2 121.4 -9.3 1.5 0.1 0.2 0.2

Latin America5

.................................. 17.808 148.2 148.7 -18.2 3.5 -1.6 2.7 0.3

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 5.160 260.6 257.7 -26.0 9.9 -4.1 6.9 -1.1

Manufactured articles......................... 12.547 125.4 126.7 -12.9 0.9 -0.6 1.0 1.0

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 10.785 133.2 133.7 -10.9 1.1 -1.6 1.6 0.4

Nonmanufactured articles (Dec.

2008=100)................................... 1.947 136.7 136.2 – 6.3 -5.8 7.0 -0.4

Manufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100). . .. 8.788 95.7 96.2 – -0.4 -0.4 0.2 0.5

Pacific Rim (Dec. 2003=100)6

................ 33.590 99.8 99.9 -2.5 0.4 -0.1 0.3 0.1

China (Dec. 2003=100)......................... 16.852 100.5 100.4 -3.2 0.0 -0.1 0.2 -0.1

Japan.............................................. 7.488 97.1 97.2 2.4 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.1

Asian NICs7..................................... 5.647 85.9 86.0 -7.7 0.9 -0.4 0.6 0.1

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)8

..................... 5.729 97.2 97.2 -4.2 0.9 -0.3 0.4 0.0

Asia Near East (Dec. 2003=100)9

........... 3.992 191.0 187.3 -28.6 9.1 -2.6 4.7 -1.9

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: September

2008 to September 2009

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Relative

importance

Aug.

20091

Index Percent change

Aug.

2009

Sept.

2009

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2008 to

Sept.

2009

May 2009

to June

2009

June 2009

to July

2009

July 2009

to Aug.

2009

Aug. 2009

to Sept.

2009

Air Freight

Import Air Freight..................................... 100.000 133.5 134.5 -14.4 2.2 0.5 0.1 0.7

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 23.271 131.7 133.1 -21.1 2.3 3.3 1.1 1.1

Asia.................................................... 66.940 115.0 115.8 -10.0 1.9 -0.8 -0.3 0.7

Export Air Freight..................................... 100.000 120.0 121.0 -16.1 -1.2 1.7 0.5 0.8

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)............................ 36.456 108.3 109.5 -21.7 -2.2 2.5 0.0 1.1

Inbound Air Freight................................... 100.000 125.9 126.3 -16.7 0.6 0.2 0.5 0.3

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 25.110 123.4 124.6 -23.0 0.5 2.7 0.6 1.0

Asia.................................................... 62.772 108.8 109.2 -11.8 0.8 -1.1 0.6 0.4

Outbound Air Freight................................. 100.000 110.8 111.6 -24.1 -0.5 0.2 -1.3 0.7

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 40.067 128.0 128.7 -23.5 -3.4 0.0 0.3 0.5

Asia.................................................... 41.480 101.8 102.4 -22.2 2.1 -0.6 -0.3 0.6

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 139.5 137.9 -14.5 13.0 -3.1 -2.2 -1.1

Europe................................................. 42.866 143.0 147.0 -13.1 28.6 -6.0 -5.3 2.8

Asia.................................................... 29.029 130.0 124.4 -7.9 6.6 -0.4 -4.0 -4.3

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 12.515 128.3 117.6 -12.3 0.9 7.8 4.5 -8.3

Export Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 155.4 140.7 -18.2 3.2 3.0 9.1 -9.5

Europe................................................. 31.819 185.6 165.6 -21.8 15.7 6.7 -0.3 -10.8

Asia.................................................... 35.775 137.9 122.2 -16.4 -10.0 2.9 22.7 -11.4

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 20.317 155.5 148.8 -11.9 7.9 4.1 3.9 -4.3

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 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 -- 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 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. 

16