Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

Technical information: USDL-08-0789 

 (202) 691-7101 Transmission of this 

Media contact: material is embargoed 

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

Internet address: http://www.bls.gov/mxp Thursday, June 12, 2008 

U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES 

- MAY 2008 - 

The U.S. Import Price Index rose 2.3 percent in May, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. 

Department of Labor reported today, following advances of 2.4 percent in April and 3.0 percent in 

March. Rising prices for both petroleum and nonpetroleum imports factored into the increases. The 

price index for overall exports advanced 0.3 percent in May after rising 0.5 percent the previous month. 

Percent changes in import and export price indexes 

by End Use category 

- not seasonally adjusted - 

News United States 

 Department 

of Labor
Import Goods

May import prices rose 2.3 percent and were up 7.9 percent between February and May, the 

largest three-month jump for the index since October 1990. Import prices advanced 17.8 percent over 

the past year, which was the largest year-over-year rise since the index was first published in September 

1982. Higher petroleum prices continued to be a major contributor to the advance in overall import 

prices, increasing 7.8 percent in May after rising 5.9 percent and 9.8 percent, respectively, in the prior 

two months. Petroleum prices rose 68.8 percent for the year ended in May, the largest 12-month 

advance since the index was up 82.5 percent between February 2002 and February 2003. Nonpetroleum 

prices also increased in May, although the 0.5 percent advance was modest compared to the 1.3 percent 

increase in April and the 1.2 percent rise in March. The index was up 6.6 percent over the past year. 

A 1.8 percent advance in the price index for nonpetroleum industrial supplies and materials led 

the May increase in nonpetroleum prices. The May rise in nonpetroleum industrial supplies and 

materials prices followed a 3.4 percent advance in April and the index rose 17.0 percent over the 

previous 12 months. Higher prices for natural gas, steelmaking materials, and iron and steel products 

were the largest contributors to the May advance. 

Rising prices for capital goods, consumer goods, and foods, feeds, and beverages also factored 

into the rise in nonpetroleum prices. Capital goods prices increased 0.3 percent in May after rising 0.9 

percent the previous month. Consumer goods prices advanced 0.2 percent for the month and followed a 

0.7 percent increase in April. The price index for foods, feeds, and beverages rose 1.0 percent in May, 

led by higher prices for meats and grains. 

Prices for import automotive vehicles were unchanged in May following a 0.4 percent increase 

the previous month. 

 

Export Goods 

Export prices continued to trend up in May, although the 0.3 percent increase was the smallest 

monthly advance since September 2007. The index advanced 8.0 percent over the past year. The price 

indexes for nonagricultural exports and agricultural exports each contributed to the overall increase in 

May export prices, moving up 0.4 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively. The increase in agricultural 

prices followed a 2.1 percent downturn in April and was driven by higher prices for soybeans, 

vegetables, and meat which more than offset a 16.7 percent decline in wheat prices. Agricultural prices 

rose 33.3 percent over the May 2007-2008 period. Nonagricultural prices also increased over the past 

12 months, rising 5.7 percent. 

The May advance in nonagricultural prices was led by a rise in prices for nonagricultural 

industrial supplies and materials which increased 1.1 percent in May after advancing 1.5 percent in 

April. The increase was primarily driven by rising fuel prices, although higher prices for chemicals and 

some metals also contributed to the advance. 

Each of the major finished goods price indexes either recorded modest increases in May or were 

unchanged. Prices for automotive vehicles and consumer goods prices both rose 0.1 percent in May 

after increasing 0.4 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively, the previous month. The price index for 

export capital goods was unchanged in May following a 0.4 percent advance the previous month. 

2
Imports by Locality of Origin 

 

Rising petroleum prices in May led to higher prices for imports from Canada, the European 

Union, and Mexico. Each index also recorded the largest annual increase since first being published in 

December 1990 for Canada and the European Union, and December 2003 for Mexico. Import prices 

from Canada increased 3.1 percent in May and 21.2 percent over the past year. Prices of imports from 

the European Union rose 0.8 percent for the month and 9.4 percent for the year ended in May. The price 

index for imports from Mexico advanced 1.7 percent in May and 19.5 percent over the past 12 months. 

Prices of imports from China continued to trend up in May, rising 0.6 percent for the month. 

Import prices from China also increased for the May 2007-2008 period, advancing 4.6 percent, the 

largest 12-month increase for the index since first being published in December 2003. 

 

The price index of imports from Japan recorded no change in May after rising 0.3 percent the 

previous month. 

Import and Export Services

 Led by higher Asian and Latin American-Caribbean fares, import air passenger fares increased 

1.3 percent in May following a 9.1 percent rise in April. Overall import air passenger fares moved up 

13.7 percent for the year ended in May. Export air passenger fares increased 1.7 percent in May, driven 

by rising European and Asian fares. The index had declined 1.5 percent in April and rose 4.8 percent 

over the past 12 months. 

 

The price indexes for import air freight and export air freight each advanced 2.1 percent in May 

after increasing 4.2 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively, in April. Both rises were primarily led by 

higher European air freight prices. The price index of import air freight increased 15.9 percent over the 

past year while export air freight prices advanced 17.4 percent over the same period. 

 

CONTENTS OF RELEASE 

This news release includes the following tables: 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Import and Export Price Index data for June are scheduled for release on July 11 at 

8:30 A.M. (EDT) 

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

2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Apr.

20081

Index Percent change

Apr.

2008

May

2008

Annual Monthly

May

2007 to

May

2008

Jan.

2008 to

Feb.

2008

Feb.

2008 to

Mar.

2008

Mar.

2008 to

Apr. 2008

Apr. 2008

to May

2008

All commodities..................................... 100.000 136.6 139.7 17.8 0.2 3.0 2.4 2.3

All imports excluding petroleum................ 76.224 113.2 113.8 6.6 0.6 1.2 1.3 0.5

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)... 73.985 115.3 115.9 6.1 0.5 1.0 1.2 0.5

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 4.295 143.7 145.1 13.9 -0.2 2.9 1.3 1.0

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 3.331 159.9 162.5 16.8 -0.3 3.1 1.7 1.6

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 0.964 107.2 105.9 4.6 0.1 2.3 0.4 -1.2

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 41.353 245.4 258.3 43.1 0.4 6.9 4.8 5.3

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

petroleum..................................... 17.577 165.0 167.9 17.0 2.6 3.4 3.4 1.8

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

fuels (Dec. 2001=100)....................... 15.338 172.4 174.8 16.1 2.0 3.1 3.3 1.4

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 10.219 166.4 169.6 15.4 2.1 4.4 4.5 1.9

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable

excluding petroleum......................... 5.118 162.2 164.9 19.2 3.2 2.1 1.8 1.7

Fuels & lubricants............................... 10 26.016 346.8 372.9 63.4 -0.6 9.4 5.7 7.5

Petroleum & petroleum products........... 100 23.777 366.7 395.4 68.8 -1.3 9.8 5.9 7.8

Crude.......................................... 10000 17.743 383.8 411.6 76.9 1.0 9.8 5.6 7.2

Fuels, n.e.s.-coals & gas.................... 101 1.960 228.7 240.0 33.9 7.7 6.4 6.4 4.9

Gas-natural................................... 10110 1.807 226.6 238.8 35.8 8.7 6.9 6.9 5.4

Paper & paper base stocks................... 11 0.722 116.3 117.2 6.0 0.8 0.6 1.9 0.8

Materials associated with nondurable

supplies & materials......................... 12 4.464 148.6 149.1 19.2 2.1 0.8 0.5 0.3

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.643 114.3 116.1 4.4 -1.8 0.3 0.2 1.6

Unfinished metals related to durable

goods.......................................... 14 5.152 261.1 266.5 22.8 4.3 7.8 7.8 2.1

Finished metals related to durable goods. .. 15 1.869 150.5 153.9 15.6 2.0 3.8 3.2 2.3

Nonmetals related to durable goods......... 16 1.488 106.1 107.2 5.4 0.5 -0.7 0.9 1.0

Capital goods..................................... 2 20.166 93.0 93.3 2.4 0.1 0.2 0.9 0.3

Electric generating equipment................ 20 2.606 111.7 111.9 6.4 0.9 0.6 2.1 0.2

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 16.009 88.1 88.3 1.5 0.0 0.1 0.7 0.2

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 1.551 117.4 117.6 6.0 0.1 0.1 1.7 0.2

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 12.525 107.8 107.8 3.1 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.0

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 21.661 104.7 104.9 3.6 0.4 0.5 0.7 0.2

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 9.995 107.8 107.9 3.5 0.3 0.7 0.3 0.1

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 10.599 101.4 101.7 3.7 0.4 0.4 1.0 0.3

Nonmanufactured consumer goods.......... 42 1.067 105.6 105.9 3.4 0.1 0.2 1.2 0.3

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2006 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

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

2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Apr.

20081

Index Percent change

Apr.

2008

May

2008

Annual Monthly

May

2007 to

May

2008

Jan.

2008 to

Feb.

2008

Feb.

2008 to

Mar.

2008

Mar.

2008 to

Apr. 2008

Apr. 2008

to May

2008

All commodities..................................... 100.000 124.3 124.7 8.0 0.9 1.6 0.5 0.3

Agricultural commodities......................... 9.968 189.8 190.3 33.3 4.6 4.4 -2.1 0.3

Nonagricultural commodities.................... 90.032 119.6 120.1 5.7 0.6 1.3 0.7 0.4

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 9.077 192.0 192.6 32.7 4.5 4.1 -2.2 0.3

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 8.394 197.4 198.2 34.8 4.8 4.2 -2.3 0.4

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 0.683 146.2 144.8 11.6 1.9 2.5 -1.4 -1.0

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 31.075 167.8 169.5 14.3 1.3 4.0 1.4 1.0

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 12.058 174.4 173.8 8.1 3.5 4.4 0.9 -0.3

Industrial supplies & materials,

nondurable.................................... 19.016 164.7 167.7 18.4 -0.1 3.7 1.7 1.8

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials... 10 1.574 158.0 157.0 25.5 3.2 5.8 -0.8 -0.6

Nonagricultural industrial supplies &

materials........................................ 29.501 168.6 170.4 13.8 1.2 3.9 1.5 1.1

Fuels & lubricants............................... 11 5.172 259.4 275.0 38.1 -2.8 10.6 4.0 6.0

Nonagricultural supplies & materials

excluding fuels & building materials. . . . . .. 12 23.326 160.0 160.0 9.8 2.1 2.7 1.1 0.0

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.003 114.0 113.7 0.4 0.4 0.3 -0.1 -0.3

Capital goods..................................... 2 38.590 101.6 101.6 2.1 0.4 -0.1 0.4 0.0

Electrical generating equipment.............. 20 3.675 109.1 109.3 2.7 0.6 0.3 0.5 0.2

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 27.279 94.0 93.9 1.1 0.2 -0.2 0.3 -0.1

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 7.636 128.7 129.4 6.2 0.6 0.3 0.5 0.5

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 9.525 107.5 107.6 1.5 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.1

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 11.733 107.8 107.9 2.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 5.514 109.4 109.6 3.0 0.1 0.3 0.8 0.2

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 5.227 105.0 104.9 0.9 0.3 -0.1 -0.4 -0.1

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2006 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

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

2008

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Apr.

20081

Index Percent change

Apr.

2008

May

2008

Annual Monthly

May

2007 to

May

2008

Jan.

2008 to

Feb.

2008

Feb.

2008 to

Mar.

2008

Mar.

2008 to

Apr. 2008

Apr. 2008

to May

2008

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 22.152 170.4 181.4 64.5 1.1 8.7 5.6 6.5

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 1.597 133.8 134.6 18.0 -3.3 6.2 0.8 0.6

Crop production................................. 111 1.141 137.6 138.0 22.3 -5.6 7.3 0.4 0.3

Mining.............................................. 21 20.555 173.9 185.9 69.0 1.5 8.9 6.0 6.9

Mining (except oil and gas) (Dec.

2006=100)..................................... 212 0.376 123.6 123.4 20.9 -0.4 1.1 12.4 -0.2

Manufactured articles.............................. 77.193 112.7 113.9 8.3 0.1 1.6 1.3 1.1

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 9.308 108.4 108.8 5.3 0.5 0.7 0.5 0.4

Food manufacturing............................ 311 2.339 125.0 127.1 16.1 1.7 2.6 1.0 1.7

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.768 105.2 105.6 2.8 -0.2 -0.3 0.6 0.4

Textile mills...................................... 313 0.417 111.8 112.9 6.7 1.0 -0.9 1.4 1.0

Textile product mills............................ 314 0.707 102.3 102.4 1.9 0.3 0.3 0.7 0.1

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 3.735 102.4 102.0 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 -0.4

Leather and allied product manufacturing. .. 316 1.342 104.4 104.7 3.1 0.3 0.1 0.5 0.3

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 17.564 125.5 129.7 20.1 -1.7 3.6 1.7 3.3

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 1.013 90.8 93.2 3.8 -2.9 0.4 0.2 2.6

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.210 110.7 111.3 7.5 0.8 0.3 1.9 0.5

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 4.873 158.9 175.0 51.8 -9.0 12.4 5.9 10.1

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 7.772 122.8 123.4 12.5 1.8 1.1 -0.2 0.5

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 1.574 109.5 110.5 7.0 0.4 0.5 0.7 0.9

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 1.031 110.8 111.9 6.2 0.9 0.1 -0.1 1.0

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 50.321 109.4 109.8 5.0 0.7 1.1 1.4 0.4

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 5.970 177.8 181.1 20.8 4.9 8.4 5.6 1.9

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.441 116.4 117.4 8.8 0.4 0.6 1.3 0.9

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 6.297 110.4 110.7 5.4 0.6 0.5 1.6 0.3

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 13.139 93.9 94.0 -0.9 -0.3 -0.1 0.4 0.1

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.506 112.1 112.5 6.2 0.6 0.5 1.9 0.4

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 13.229 104.6 104.6 3.5 0.1 0.2 0.5 0.0

Furniture and related product

manufacturing................................ 337 1.392 108.5 109.0 7.8 0.3 1.8 2.5 0.5

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 4.347 110.4 110.4 4.2 0.7 0.5 0.8 0.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2006 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

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

2008

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Apr.

20081

Index Percent change

Apr.

2008

May

2008

Annual Monthly

May

2007 to

May

2008

Jan.

2008 to

Feb.

2008

Feb.

2008 to

Mar.

2008

Mar.

2008 to

Apr. 2008

Apr. 2008

to May

2008

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 7.357 157.5 156.9 37.6 5.2 4.9 -4.1 -0.4

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 5.943 179.2 176.1 46.8 6.3 5.0 -5.1 -1.7

Crop production................................. 111 5.597 187.1 183.8 51.7 6.7 5.3 -5.2 -1.8

Mining.............................................. 21 1.414 108.7 114.2 13.5 0.6 4.0 0.6 5.1

Mining (except oil and gas).................... 212 0.866 99.7 101.1 1.3 1.6 1.5 -2.4 1.4

Manufactured articles.............................. 89.582 111.4 112.0 6.4 0.5 1.1 0.8 0.5

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 6.705 121.2 123.0 13.3 1.3 2.0 1.4 1.5

Food manufacturing............................ 311 4.410 135.4 138.4 20.7 2.1 2.9 1.9 2.2

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.491 106.6 106.4 4.0 0.8 1.1 0.9 -0.2

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 0.461 101.0 101.0 0.6 0.2 -0.1 0.0 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 22.991 122.0 123.7 13.1 -0.2 2.5 1.6 1.4

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.511 111.3 111.8 2.2 1.5 0.3 -1.2 0.4

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.903 115.0 114.8 5.1 0.2 0.1 1.1 -0.2

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 3.562 170.2 181.2 48.9 -4.4 14.2 4.7 6.5

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 14.028 118.7 119.5 9.9 0.5 0.9 1.2 0.7

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 2.100 107.9 108.0 4.2 0.6 0.7 0.5 0.1

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 0.801 109.0 108.9 1.7 0.2 0.1 -0.1 -0.1

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 59.886 106.7 106.8 3.2 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.1

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 4.933 151.9 152.1 20.0 5.2 7.0 3.0 0.1

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.634 115.0 115.3 2.4 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.3

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 11.708 109.1 109.3 4.2 0.7 0.4 0.8 0.2

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 16.343 95.7 95.4 -1.1 0.0 -0.5 0.0 -0.3

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.549 106.9 107.1 3.1 0.4 0.3 0.0 0.2

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 16.118 106.5 106.7 2.7 0.2 0.1 0.4 0.2

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 4.269 106.2 106.6 3.0 -0.1 0.2 0.2 0.4

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2006 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

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

2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Apr.

20081

Index Percent change

Apr.

2008

May

2008

Annual Monthly

May

2007 to

May

2008

Jan.

2008 to

Feb.

2008

Feb.

2008 to

Mar.

2008

Mar.

2008 to

Apr. 2008

Apr. 2008

to May

2008

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.060 135.4 139.7 10.5 2.3 2.1 3.1 3.2

Meat and edible meat offal....................... 02 0.234 153.3 160.1 9.7 1.3 1.7 0.7 4.4

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.530 105.5 104.3 3.7 0.2 3.4 1.8 -1.1

Vegetable products................................ II 1.292 156.3 157.0 21.2 -4.9 3.8 3.4 0.4

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers............ 07 0.339 224.5 208.2 10.0 -22.9 4.4 5.4 -7.3

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.379 106.2 107.0 20.6 5.0 -1.8 11.8 0.8

Coffee, tea, mate and spices.................... 09 0.245 167.1 166.4 23.1 0.8 9.6 -4.1 -0.4

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.069 136.1 137.2 11.1 0.5 1.6 0.7 0.8

Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk;

bakers’ wares (Dec. 2007=100).............. 19 0.170 107.0 107.8 – 1.6 2.7 1.8 0.7

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts, or other

parts of plants................................... 20 0.228 141.8 142.4 16.5 2.1 1.4 0.9 0.4

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar.................. 22 0.758 117.2 117.3 5.1 -0.3 -0.4 1.6 0.1

Mineral products.................................... V 25.734 343.4 368.6 64.3 -0.5 9.3 6.1 7.3

Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plaster

materials, lime & cement (Dec.2007=100)... 25 0.199 102.6 102.5 – 1.8 0.6 -0.2 -0.1

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 25.123 344.2 370.2 65.3 -0.6 9.5 5.8 7.6

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 7.077 137.0 137.6 11.5 1.9 1.5 -0.3 0.4

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 0.944 258.0 255.9 18.2 7.1 3.0 -1.6 -0.8

Organic chemicals................................. 29 2.322 131.0 131.2 7.2 0.5 1.4 -2.5 0.2

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 2.150 113.3 114.1 6.3 -0.1 0.8 1.0 0.7

Tanning & dyeing extracts; dye & pigments;

varnish & paints; putty......................... 32 0.152 103.8 104.7 3.2 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.9

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec.

2001=100)....................................... 33 0.384 123.8 124.4 9.4 3.3 0.9 1.4 0.5

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 0.387 99.5 101.4 5.1 1.0 0.8 0.2 1.9

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 2.691 130.9 131.9 8.5 0.7 0.2 1.2 0.8

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 1.781 128.7 129.2 9.0 0.6 -0.1 1.7 0.4

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 0.910 135.3 137.3 7.5 0.8 0.9 0.5 1.5

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.546 112.1 111.9 4.9 0.3 0.1 0.7 -0.2

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

various materials................................ 42 0.502 112.7 112.3 5.1 0.1 0.2 0.8 -0.4

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 1.050 111.4 114.1 3.0 -3.0 0.5 0.2 2.4

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 1.358 115.0 115.6 7.2 0.7 0.1 1.6 0.5

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 0.935 110.7 111.5 7.3 0.7 0.0 2.4 0.7

Printed matter...................................... 49 0.238 118.5 118.5 2.8 0.0 0.1 -0.1 0.0

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 4.705 103.8 103.5 1.5 0.1 0.2 0.2 -0.3

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

knitted or crocheted............................ 61 1.694 100.4 100.5 0.1 -0.2 0.0 -0.4 0.1

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

not knitted or crocheted........................ 62 1.866 103.1 102.2 1.1 0.0 0.1 0.3 -0.9

Made-up or worn textile articles................. 63 0.480 96.0 96.1 2.3 0.2 1.9 0.7 0.1

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.. .. XII 1.118 104.9 105.3 3.5 0.3 0.1 0.4 0.4

Footwear and parts of such articles............ 64 0.934 103.5 104.1 2.6 0.3 0.1 0.4 0.6

See footnotes at end of table.

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

2008 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Apr.

20081

Index Percent change

Apr.

2008

May

2008

Annual Monthly

May

2007 to

May

2008

Jan.

2008 to

Feb.

2008

Feb.

2008 to

Mar.

2008

Mar.

2008 to

Apr. 2008

Apr. 2008

to May

2008

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc........................................... XIII 0.891 115.2 115.3 4.4 0.8 0.2 0.2 0.1

Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, or

mica (Dec. 2001=100)......................... 68 0.317 107.0 107.1 4.3 0.4 0.1 0.4 0.1

Ceramic products.................................. 69 0.290 124.9 125.0 7.2 2.0 0.2 0.5 0.1

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.285 113.2 113.3 2.1 -0.1 0.2 -0.4 0.1

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 2.755 158.4 155.4 16.5 4.6 4.5 1.2 -1.9

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 6.954 195.7 202.0 15.8 2.0 4.7 6.6 3.2

Iron and steel...................................... 72 2.169 272.1 292.6 46.4 3.7 6.5 12.2 7.5

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.604 148.7 152.0 18.8 1.3 2.6 2.7 2.2

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.853 324.4 333.8 9.1 5.3 8.5 5.5 2.9

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 1.013 158.2 158.5 7.2 0.7 5.8 5.7 0.2

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.340 114.1 114.2 5.7 1.0 0.3 0.6 0.1

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.419 127.5 128.1 2.7 -0.1 0.4 0.4 0.5

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 22.720 89.1 89.3 1.8 0.1 0.0 0.8 0.2

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 11.705 89.6 89.7 1.8 0.0 0.1 1.0 0.1

Electrical machinery and equip, sound and TV

recorders & reproducers, parts............... 85 11.015 88.8 89.0 1.9 0.1 -0.1 0.9 0.2

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 11.548 109.3 109.2 3.3 0.1 0.1 0.5 -0.1

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 10.707 108.4 108.4 3.3 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.0

Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof (Dec.

2002=100)....................................... 88 0.756 111.4 111.4 2.3 0.1 0.1 0.6 0.0

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 2.686 101.1 101.7 2.5 -0.2 0.4 1.1 0.6

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical

instruments...................................... 90 2.406 99.1 99.7 2.4 -0.3 0.3 1.1 0.6

Clocks and watches and parts thereof. . . . . . . .. 91 0.210 121.0 121.4 4.7 0.4 1.4 1.0 0.3

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 3.487 105.5 105.9 4.9 0.4 1.3 1.2 0.4

Furniture & stuffed furnishings; lamps &

lighting fittings, nesoi; prefab bldgs........... 94 2.025 110.7 111.1 6.3 0.5 1.8 1.9 0.4

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 1.276 98.3 98.6 2.6 0.3 0.6 0.2 0.3

Miscellaneous manufactured articles........... 96 0.186 111.1 111.0 3.9 0.0 0.5 2.1 -0.1

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2006 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

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

2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Apr.

20081

Index Percent change

Apr.

2008

May

2008

Annual Monthly

May

2007 to

May

2008

Jan.

2008 to

Feb.

2008

Feb.

2008 to

Mar.

2008

Mar.

2008 to

Apr. 2008

Apr. 2008

to May

2008

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.548 163.0 166.3 10.6 -0.3 1.9 1.7 2.0

Meat & edible meat offal (Dec. 2006=100). . .. 02 0.844 135.8 140.9 18.1 1.1 4.7 4.2 3.8

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.431 150.7 148.8 18.1 2.9 3.2 -1.5 -1.3

Vegetable products................................ II 5.539 234.7 233.8 51.2 6.4 5.1 -4.2 -0.4

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.683 122.4 122.1 1.5 -0.7 -0.7 1.0 -0.2

Cereals.............................................. 10 2.681 304.4 293.6 68.4 12.0 6.5 -2.8 -3.5

Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds, fruits,

plants, straw and fodder....................... 12 1.581 233.7 238.4 65.8 5.3 8.2 -10.9 2.0

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.352 135.1 135.2 12.2 1.4 1.3 0.4 0.1

Miscellaneous edible preparations.............. 21 0.437 120.1 120.6 8.2 0.2 0.8 0.3 0.4

Residues and waste from the food industries;

prepared animal feed........................... 23 0.586 197.5 197.9 39.4 3.9 3.3 -0.2 0.2

Mineral products.................................... V 5.271 315.0 333.2 37.9 -2.2 11.1 3.3 5.8

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 4.677 310.9 329.9 44.4 -2.7 12.1 4.0 6.1

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 11.612 141.5 142.2 10.0 0.7 1.0 1.3 0.5

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 1.144 185.9 186.6 23.1 1.7 1.8 1.0 0.4

Organic chemicals................................. 29 3.623 158.9 159.9 9.4 1.2 2.2 1.6 0.6

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 2.529 118.6 119.0 4.7 0.3 0.3 1.4 0.3

Tanning or dyeing extracts, dyes, paints,

varnish, putty, & inks........................... 32 0.541 116.4 116.4 2.4 0.1 0.5 -0.1 0.0

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery

cosmetic or toilet preparations................ 33 0.661 121.8 121.6 4.2 0.8 0.9 1.4 -0.2

Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or scouring

products; candles, pastes..................... 34 0.394 116.1 117.8 6.3 2.6 0.1 0.4 1.5

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 1.599 124.5 125.4 5.1 0.2 0.2 1.3 0.7

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 5.171 138.3 138.9 6.2 0.1 0.4 0.6 0.4

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 4.191 133.9 134.4 6.1 -0.2 0.3 0.5 0.4

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 0.980 156.8 157.8 6.4 1.0 0.6 1.1 0.6

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.395 117.2 118.3 -4.4 -0.8 0.6 0.3 0.9

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.627 111.1 112.3 -0.5 0.9 0.4 -1.0 1.1

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 2.518 117.7 116.5 6.0 0.4 0.3 0.9 -1.0

Woodpulp and recovered paper................. 47 0.707 129.9 126.2 14.4 2.3 1.0 0.6 -2.8

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 1.289 112.2 111.9 3.1 -0.4 0.0 1.3 -0.3

Printed material.................................... 49 0.522 121.1 120.7 3.8 -0.2 0.5 0.0 -0.3

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 2.216 108.5 107.7 6.8 0.7 2.2 -0.5 -0.7

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics

thereof............................................ 52 0.704 111.3 108.7 20.6 1.8 6.7 -2.9 -2.3

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc........................................... XIII 0.786 111.3 111.1 1.7 0.0 0.1 -0.4 -0.2

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.428 100.0 100.0 2.4 -0.1 0.4 0.3 0.0

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 4.118 190.4 186.2 14.2 4.9 6.0 0.6 -2.2

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 5.966 179.2 181.2 7.5 3.1 4.0 1.9 1.1

See footnotes at end of table.

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

2008 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Apr.

20081

Index Percent change

Apr.

2008

May

2008

Annual Monthly

May

2007 to

May

2008

Jan.

2008 to

Feb.

2008

Feb.

2008 to

Mar.

2008

Mar.

2008 to

Apr. 2008

Apr. 2008

to May

2008

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.557 232.5 242.3 17.8 7.1 6.0 0.3 4.2

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.376 150.9 152.7 2.8 0.6 0.4 0.1 1.2

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.727 271.6 267.2 10.2 7.4 7.1 2.8 -1.6

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 1.040 155.5 154.6 2.6 1.1 7.1 3.5 -0.6

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.380 119.1 119.1 3.9 -0.1 0.4 0.8 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.359 128.2 128.9 1.3 0.5 -1.1 0.1 0.5

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 30.190 95.3 95.2 1.0 0.2 -0.1 0.1 -0.1

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 16.777 103.9 103.9 1.3 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.0

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts

and accessories thereof....................... 85 13.413 86.0 85.7 0.5 0.5 -0.3 0.0 -0.3

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 13.732 115.9 116.2 2.4 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.3

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 8.132 106.6 106.7 1.0 0.0 0.1 0.4 0.1

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 5.977 106.5 106.7 3.3 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.2

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 1.417 108.5 109.2 4.4 -0.3 0.2 0.9 0.6

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and

lighting fittings nesoi;........................... 94 0.752 116.6 117.5 3.9 -0.3 0.2 -0.1 0.8

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 0.514 94.9 95.4 6.5 0.0 0.5 1.9 0.5

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2006 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

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

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Percent of

U.S.

imports1

Index Percent change

Apr.

2008

May

2008

Annual Monthly

May 2007

to May

2008

Jan. 2008

to Feb.

2008

Feb. 2008

to Mar.

2008

Mar. 2008

to Apr.

2008

Apr. 2008

to May

2008

Industrialized Countries2

..................... 42.888 134.0 136.3 14.8 0.9 2.2 2.6 1.7

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 4.201 300.4 320.2 65.4 6.0 9.3 9.0 6.6

Manufactured articles......................... 38.251 121.5 122.6 8.7 0.3 1.2 1.4 0.9

Other Countries3

............................... 57.112 136.4 140.6 20.9 -0.3 3.1 2.3 3.1

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 12.058 331.6 352.8 67.4 -0.4 8.5 5.7 6.4

Manufactured articles......................... 44.837 108.9 110.8 7.5 -0.4 1.1 1.0 1.7

Canada............................................ 16.032 157.0 161.8 21.2 1.5 3.1 3.9 3.1

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 3.711 298.6 318.1 64.0 7.1 10.2 9.1 6.5

Manufactured articles......................... 12.028 129.7 131.5 7.4 -0.5 0.4 1.5 1.4

European Union4

............................... 17.355 131.4 132.5 9.4 0.7 1.6 1.4 0.8

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 0.249 325.0 342.8 54.8 -3.0 8.4 0.5 5.5

Manufactured articles......................... 16.987 128.2 129.2 8.6 0.8 1.4 1.4 0.8

France (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 1.844 118.4 118.8 9.0 1.4 1.1 2.5 0.3

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)..................... 4.732 112.9 113.1 5.3 0.3 0.5 1.2 0.2

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)........... 2.684 135.6 137.9 15.3 2.2 3.1 -0.2 1.7

Latin America5

.................................. 18.032 178.0 183.9 27.6 -0.5 4.1 3.7 3.3

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 5.151 340.4 359.8 66.6 -1.4 8.2 6.0 5.7

Manufactured articles......................... 12.786 142.5 145.2 10.9 -0.1 1.8 2.3 1.9

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 10.710 145.5 148.0 19.5 -1.9 3.0 2.5 1.7

Pacific Rim (Dec. 2003=100)6................ 33.822 101.7 102.1 3.9 0.1 0.5 0.7 0.4

China (Dec. 2003=100)......................... 15.926 101.6 102.2 4.6 0.0 0.7 0.4 0.6

Japan.............................................. 8.032 94.9 94.9 1.1 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.0

Asian NICs7

..................................... 5.887 90.5 90.7 2.8 0.1 0.1 1.5 0.2

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)8

..................... 6.041 101.0 102.0 6.4 0.2 0.8 0.3 1.0

Asia Near East (Dec. 2003=100)9

........... 3.928 266.6 281.6 52.6 2.6 6.8 4.1 5.6

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

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

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

4 Includes European Union countries.

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

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

Countries.

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

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

Vietnam.

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

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

Regions are not mutually exclusive.

Dash = Not available

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

May 2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Relative

importance

Apr.

20081

Index Percent change

Apr.

2008

May

2008

Annual Monthly

May 2007

to May

2008

Jan. 2008

to Feb.

2008

Feb. 2008

to Mar.

2008

Mar. 2008

to Apr.

2008

Apr. 2008

to May

2008

Air Freight

Import Air Freight..................................... 100.000 150.4 153.6 15.9 0.6 1.1 4.2 2.1

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 30.050 164.7 170.9 29.4 0.4 0.4 9.6 3.8

Asia.................................................... 60.339 126.6 128.6 11.9 0.8 1.8 2.2 1.6

Export Air Freight..................................... 100.000 135.2 138.0 17.4 -0.3 0.3 2.4 2.1

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)............................ 42.424 127.0 131.7 30.5 0.0 0.2 2.8 3.7

Inbound Air Freight................................... 100.000 145.5 147.9 15.9 0.4 0.9 3.4 1.6

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 31.890 157.2 161.3 26.5 0.2 0.3 7.4 2.6

Asia.................................................... 56.422 120.5 122.1 11.7 0.6 1.3 1.8 1.3

Outbound Air Freight................................. 100.000 131.1 135.1 18.2 0.3 1.1 2.0 3.1

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 41.750 149.6 153.5 19.0 -0.1 0.3 3.0 2.6

Asia.................................................... 40.604 116.7 120.8 15.5 0.6 1.9 1.0 3.5

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 143.2 145.0 13.7 -1.1 0.2 9.1 1.3

Europe................................................. 44.420 146.1 146.8 12.5 -0.4 0.3 17.3 0.5

Asia.................................................... 24.239 120.5 123.7 6.5 -1.6 0.3 3.0 2.7

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 12.988 135.6 141.5 22.5 0.6 1.2 4.3 4.4

Export Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 154.1 156.7 4.8 -5.6 2.4 -1.5 1.7

Europe................................................. 30.196 186.9 192.5 6.5 -4.7 1.5 5.0 3.0

Asia.................................................... 34.770 129.6 132.8 8.9 -8.2 2.9 -2.7 2.5

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 19.833 153.4 151.8 -7.4 -9.1 1.3 -1.2 -1.0

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

Indexes are based on 2005 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

13
TECHNICAL NOTE

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

formula and are not seasonally adjusted. Price indexes for merchandise goods are reweighted annually, 

with a two-year lag in the weights. Published series use a base year of 2000=100 where possible. More 

detailed index series and additional information may be obtained at http://www.bls.gov/mxp, or by 

calling (202) 691-7101. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Index) to produce the NAICS primary products indexes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Agriculture. 

Services Price Indexes -- The Import Air Passenger Fares Indexes are calculated from data obtained 

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

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

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

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

calculated from data collected directly from companies. These data exclude mail and passenger 

baggage. The scope of the service being priced is the movement of freight from airport to airport only, 

and does not include any ground transportation or port service. The Air Freight Indexes are presented 

using two definitions: Balance of Payments (which represent transactions between U.S. and foreign 

residents) and International (which represent transactions inbound to and outbound from the U.S.). Fact 

sheets specifying detailed information for each services industry are available at 

http://www.bls.gov/mxp under "Publications and Other Documentation." 

14
Import Indexes by Locality of Origin -- Prices used in these indexes are a subset of the data collected 

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

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

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

NAICS 31-33. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

E-Mail Subscription -- The IPP news release is available through an e-mail subscription service at 

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

 

Additional Information -- More detailed IPP data are available on the IPP home page at 

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

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

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

(labstat.helpdesk@bls.gov). For IPP data requests, send e-mail to (mxpinfo@bls.gov). 

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

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

15