Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

Technical information: USDL-08-0205 

 (202) 691-7101 Transmission of this 

Media contact: material is embargoed 

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

Internet address: http://www.bls.gov/mxp Friday, February 15, 2008 

U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES 

- JANUARY 2008 - 

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

the U.S. Department of Labor reported today, led by a 5.5 percent increase in petroleum prices. The 

overall increase followed a 0.2 percent decline in December. U.S. export prices advanced 1.2 percent in 

January following a 0.4 percent rise in December. 

 

Percent changes in import and export price indexes 

by End Use category 

- not seasonally adjusted - 

News United States 

 Department 

of Labor

Due to budget constraints, beginning with the January 2008 release, the price series for export 

postsecondary education services, export travel and tourism services, inbound ocean liner freight, and 

inbound tanker freight will no longer be published. 
Import Goods

The January increase in overall imports resumed the upward trend of the past year after a 0.2 

percent decrease in December. The index, which had risen 3.1 percent in November and 1.5 percent in 

October, is up 13.7 percent over the past 12 months, the largest year-over-year increase since the index 

was first published in September 1982. The 5.5 percent increase in petroleum prices was the largest 

contributor to the January increase, although nonpetroleum prices also advanced, rising 0.6 percent. 

Petroleum prices also led the overall increase in import prices over the past year, rising 66.9 percent 

over that period. The increase in nonpetroleum prices in January followed increases of 0.3 percent in 

December and 0.6 percent in November. Over the past 12 months, prices for nonpetroleum imports rose 

3.6 percent. 

The January increase in nonpetroleum prices was primarily driven by a 2.2 percent rise in the 

price index for nonpetroleum industrial supplies and materials. That increase followed advances of 0.7 

percent in December and 2.3 percent in November and was led by higher prices for chemicals and 

natural gas. 

The price indexes for foods, feeds, and beverages and consumer goods also increased in January. 

Prices for foods, feeds, and beverages rose 3.1 percent in January and 10.9 percent for the year ended in 

January. Consumer goods prices advanced 0.3 percent for the month and 1.6 percent over the past year. 

In contrast, capital goods prices fell 0.2 percent in January as a decline in computer prices more 

than offset a 0.2 percent increase in prices for capital goods excluding computers. Prices for automotive 

vehicles were unchanged for the month. 

Export Goods 

The 1.2 percent increase in export prices was the largest one-month gain in the index since a 1.2 

percent increase in January 1989. Higher prices for both agricultural exports and nonagricultural 

exports contributed to the advance. Agricultural prices rose 5.0 percent in January after a 2.8 percent 

increase in December. Higher prices for corn and soybeans drove the increase in agricultural prices. 

Over the past 12 months, the price index for agricultural exports rose 28.9 percent. 

Nonagricultural prices also increased in January, rising 0.8 percent following a 0.3 percent 

advance in December. The index rose 4.8 percent over the past year. A 2.2 percent increase in the price 

index for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials was the main contributor to the January 

advance. Higher prices for chemicals and steelmaking materials led the advance. For the year ended in 

January, nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials prices rose 12.0 percent. 

 Prices for capital goods and automotive vehicles also increased in January, advancing 0.2 

percent and 0.1 percent, respectively. For the January 2007-2008 period, capital goods prices rose 1.5 

percent while the price index for automotive vehicles increased 1.0 percent. 

In contrast, the price index for export consumer goods prices edged down 0.1 percent for the 

month. 

2
Imports by Locality of Origin 

 

Prices for imports from China rose for the ninth consecutive month in January, increasing 0.8 

percent, the largest monthly advance since the index was first published in December 2003. Import 

prices from China increased 3.3 percent over the past year after falling 0.9 percent from January 2005-

2006. 

Price indexes for imports from the European Union and from Canada increased in January, rising 

1.1 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively. Higher fuel prices contributed to the increases. For the year 

ended in January, import prices from the European Union rose 4.1 percent while import prices from 

Canada rose 11.3 percent. 

 

Prices for imports from Mexico and from Japan also advanced in January, rising 2.8 percent and 

0.1 percent, respectively. Rising petroleum prices led the advance in prices for imports from Mexico, 

which increased 19.9 percent over the past year. The price index for imports from Japan edged up 0.2 

percent over the past 12 months, the first 12-month advance in the index since October 2005. 

Import and Export Services

 Import air passenger fares fell 2.1 percent in January after increasing 5.5 percent in December. 

The January decrease was led by an 11.2 percent drop in Asian fares. Over the past year, import air 

passenger fares increased 7.8 percent. Export air passenger fares increased in January, rising 7.9 

percent. The index advanced 18.6 percent over the past year. 

 

Prices for import air freight edged down 0.1 percent in January following a 3.0 percent advance 

the previous month. Lower air freight prices from Asia more than offset higher prices from Europe. 

Overall import air freight prices rose 7.6 percent for the year ended in January. The price index for 

export air freight rose 3.0 percent in January and 11.5 percent over the past 12 months. 

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 February are scheduled for release on March 13 at 

8:30 A.M. (EDT) 

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

January 2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Dec.

20071

Index Percent change

Dec.

2007

Jan.

2008

Annual Monthly

Jan.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Sept.

2007 to

Oct. 2007

Oct. 2007

to Nov.

2007

Nov.

2007 to

Dec.

2007

Dec.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

All commodities..................................... 100.000 127.1 129.3 13.7 1.5 3.1 -0.2 1.7

All imports excluding petroleum................ 78.682 108.7 109.4 3.6 0.6 0.6 0.3 0.6

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)... 76.663 111.2 112.0 3.3 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.7

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 4.301 134.0 138.1 10.9 1.1 0.0 0.6 3.1

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 3.306 147.7 153.1 13.0 1.5 0.2 0.6 3.7

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 0.995 103.0 104.2 4.4 -0.3 -0.7 0.5 1.2

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 38.197 211.0 219.5 36.8 3.4 7.9 -0.8 4.0

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

petroleum..................................... 16.878 147.4 150.6 10.1 1.5 2.3 0.7 2.2

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

fuels (Dec. 2001=100)....................... 14.859 155.4 159.0 9.4 1.1 1.0 0.6 2.3

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 9.834 149.1 149.2 6.6 0.5 1.1 0.3 0.1

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable

excluding petroleum......................... 5.025 144.4 151.7 14.8 2.8 4.0 1.0 5.1

Fuels & lubricants............................... 10 23.339 289.6 304.6 60.2 5.0 12.3 -1.7 5.2

Petroleum & petroleum products........... 100 21.320 306.1 323.0 66.9 5.0 12.4 -1.9 5.5

Crude.......................................... 10000 15.555 313.3 327.5 69.7 5.1 11.5 -1.3 4.5

Fuels, n.e.s.-coals & gas.................... 101 1.686 183.1 186.1 12.7 10.2 14.5 1.0 1.6

Gas-natural................................... 10110 1.527 178.2 181.1 12.3 11.0 16.2 1.3 1.6

Paper & paper base stocks................... 11 0.728 109.1 109.9 -1.3 0.9 -3.7 1.0 0.7

Materials associated with nondurable

supplies & materials......................... 12 4.369 135.3 145.5 17.8 2.5 1.7 1.3 7.5

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.791 116.0 115.2 3.3 -1.0 -0.1 0.3 -0.7

Unfinished metals related to durable

goods.......................................... 14 4.601 217.1 214.7 8.5 0.9 1.8 1.1 -1.1

Finished metals related to durable goods. .. 15 1.801 135.0 137.7 7.7 1.1 0.8 -1.7 2.0

Nonmetals related to durable goods......... 16 1.569 104.1 106.3 4.3 0.5 0.4 0.7 2.1

Capital goods..................................... 2 21.471 92.2 92.0 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.1 -0.2

Electric generating equipment................ 20 2.707 108.0 108.0 3.6 0.3 0.7 0.5 0.0

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 17.136 87.7 87.5 -0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.2

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 1.627 114.7 115.4 5.0 1.0 0.1 0.1 0.6

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 13.256 106.2 106.2 1.8 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.0

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 22.776 102.5 102.8 1.6 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.3

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 10.510 105.5 105.9 1.6 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.4

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 11.145 99.3 99.6 1.6 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.3

Nonmanufactured consumer goods.......... 42 1.121 103.3 103.3 1.2 -0.1 0.0 0.0 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

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

January 2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Dec.

20071

Index Percent change

Dec.

2007

Jan.

2008

Annual Monthly

Jan.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Sept.

2007 to

Oct. 2007

Oct. 2007

to Nov.

2007

Nov.

2007 to

Dec.

2007

Dec.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

All commodities..................................... 100.000 119.2 120.6 6.7 0.8 0.9 0.4 1.2

Agricultural commodities......................... 9.285 169.6 178.0 28.9 3.8 1.4 2.8 5.0

Nonagricultural commodities.................... 90.714 115.6 116.5 4.8 0.5 0.8 0.3 0.8

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 8.432 171.0 180.6 29.9 4.0 1.1 3.1 5.6

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 7.781 175.4 185.6 31.8 4.2 1.3 3.3 5.8

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 0.651 133.6 138.3 11.9 0.9 -0.9 0.5 3.5

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 29.741 154.0 157.4 12.2 1.1 2.3 0.1 2.2

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 11.475 159.1 159.9 4.6 1.5 1.1 -0.3 0.5

Industrial supplies & materials,

nondurable.................................... 18.266 151.7 156.6 17.1 1.0 3.0 0.3 3.2

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials... 10 1.504 144.8 146.2 14.9 1.9 1.5 -0.1 1.0

Nonagricultural industrial supplies &

materials........................................ 28.237 154.8 158.2 12.0 1.1 2.3 0.1 2.2

Fuels & lubricants............................... 11 4.621 222.3 232.7 33.9 1.9 9.7 -1.0 4.7

Nonagricultural supplies & materials

excluding fuels & building materials. . . . . .. 12 22.574 148.4 151.2 8.7 1.0 1.0 0.3 1.9

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.042 113.5 112.3 0.4 -0.2 -0.4 -0.3 -1.1

Capital goods..................................... 2 39.794 100.4 100.6 1.5 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2

Electrical generating equipment.............. 20 3.772 107.3 107.4 1.4 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.1

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 28.297 93.5 93.4 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.2 -0.1

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 7.725 124.8 126.1 4.5 0.5 0.4 0.2 1.0

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 9.864 106.7 106.8 1.0 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.1

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 12.168 107.2 107.1 2.2 0.2 0.4 0.4 -0.1

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 5.691 108.3 108.0 2.9 0.4 0.6 0.3 -0.3

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 5.458 105.2 105.2 1.6 0.0 0.2 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

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

January 2008

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Dec.

20071

Index Percent change

Dec.

2007

Jan.

2008

Annual Monthly

Jan.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Sept.

2007 to

Oct. 2007

Oct. 2007

to Nov.

2007

Nov.

2007 to

Dec.

2007

Dec.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 19.758 141.2 147.6 57.0 5.3 11.1 -0.9 4.5

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 1.529 119.1 128.6 17.0 1.5 0.6 -0.3 8.0

Crop production................................. 111 1.090 122.2 134.2 20.9 1.8 1.0 -0.7 9.8

Mining.............................................. 21 18.229 143.3 149.4 61.3 5.6 11.9 -1.0 4.3

Mining (except oil and gas).................... 212 0.348 106.5 106.9 5.2 0.7 0.4 1.8 0.4

Manufactured articles.............................. 79.701 108.1 109.1 5.7 0.6 1.2 0.0 0.9

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 9.789 105.9 106.5 4.3 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.6

Food manufacturing............................ 311 2.345 116.5 118.3 11.7 0.7 0.3 0.9 1.5

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.819 104.3 104.7 2.0 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4

Textile mills...................................... 313 0.439 109.1 109.8 5.2 0.9 0.0 0.8 0.6

Textile product mills............................ 314 0.747 100.5 101.1 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.6

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 4.012 102.2 102.4 2.2 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2

Leather and allied product manufacturing. .. 316 1.427 103.1 103.3 2.1 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.2

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 17.518 116.4 121.3 18.7 1.3 4.2 -0.6 4.2

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 1.119 93.3 92.2 1.5 -2.1 -0.4 0.4 -1.2

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.215 103.3 104.7 0.8 0.8 -2.1 0.7 1.4

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 4.506 136.6 148.8 56.8 4.5 14.2 -4.1 8.9

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 7.845 115.2 119.6 11.5 0.3 1.2 1.0 3.8

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 1.634 105.7 108.4 4.8 0.7 0.3 0.3 2.6

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 1.097 109.6 109.8 5.3 1.1 0.6 0.4 0.2

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 52.393 105.8 105.8 1.9 0.3 0.4 0.2 0.0

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 5.403 149.5 147.8 7.6 1.1 2.1 0.3 -1.1

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.519 111.6 113.9 7.4 0.7 0.6 0.5 2.1

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 6.561 106.9 107.4 3.4 0.3 -0.2 0.5 0.5

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 14.239 94.5 94.0 -2.7 -0.2 0.0 -0.2 -0.5

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.658 108.7 108.7 3.5 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.0

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 14.009 103.0 103.0 2.2 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.0

Furniture and related product

manufacturing................................ 337 1.414 102.4 103.6 2.7 0.3 0.2 0.1 1.2

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 4.589 108.3 108.3 2.8 0.2 0.6 0.3 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: January 2007 to

January 2008

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Dec.

20071

Index Percent change

Dec.

2007

Jan.

2008

Annual Monthly

Jan.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Sept.

2007 to

Oct. 2007

Oct. 2007

to Nov.

2007

Nov.

2007 to

Dec.

2007

Dec.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 6.829 140.3 149.2 34.4 7.1 0.7 4.2 6.3

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 5.438 157.3 169.5 43.8 7.3 0.9 4.4 7.8

Crop production................................. 111 5.089 163.3 175.9 47.3 8.0 1.2 4.9 7.7

Mining.............................................. 21 1.391 102.5 103.4 8.0 6.4 0.5 3.3 0.9

Mining (except oil and gas).................... 212 0.901 99.5 99.1 -0.4 3.0 -0.3 -0.6 -0.4

Manufactured articles.............................. 90.303 107.8 108.7 5.3 0.4 0.8 0.3 0.8

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 6.602 114.5 115.6 9.9 0.4 1.0 0.9 1.0

Food manufacturing............................ 311 4.232 124.7 126.3 15.8 0.5 1.7 1.3 1.3

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.498 103.8 103.8 2.9 0.8 -0.1 0.2 0.0

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 0.478 100.3 101.5 1.4 0.0 0.0 -0.2 1.2

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 22.524 114.7 117.5 12.2 0.4 2.3 0.0 2.4

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.525 109.9 110.6 4.4 -0.3 -0.5 -0.5 0.6

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.941 112.5 113.1 5.0 0.0 0.6 0.6 0.5

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 3.092 141.7 150.2 46.0 1.2 15.0 -4.0 6.0

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 13.910 113.0 115.8 10.7 0.3 0.8 0.8 2.5

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 2.153 106.1 106.6 2.6 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.5

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 0.815 106.4 107.0 1.9 0.3 -0.1 -0.1 0.6

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 61.177 104.6 104.8 2.3 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.2

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 4.405 130.2 131.4 12.0 1.9 2.2 1.3 0.9

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.694 112.9 113.3 4.5 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.4

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 11.899 106.4 106.9 3.0 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.5

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 17.140 96.2 95.9 -1.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 -0.3

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.662 105.8 106.1 2.9 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.3

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 16.603 105.2 105.8 2.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.6

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 4.430 105.8 105.5 2.4 0.5 0.1 0.8 -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

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

January 2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Dec.

20071

Index Percent change

Dec.

2007

Jan.

2008

Annual Monthly

Jan.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Sept.

2007 to

Oct. 2007

Oct. 2007

to Nov.

2007

Nov.

2007 to

Dec.

2007

Dec.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.063 126.2 125.5 4.6 -1.6 -1.4 1.4 -0.6

Meat and edible meat offal....................... 02 0.244 148.2 147.9 4.4 1.1 -1.1 -0.2 -0.2

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.535 99.1 100.0 2.0 -1.6 -1.2 0.5 0.9

Vegetable products................................ II 1.258 141.5 153.1 18.2 3.1 -1.0 -1.0 8.2

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers............ 07 0.331 203.9 265.6 38.8 -3.6 2.1 4.3 30.3

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.361 93.9 92.2 4.4 7.5 -5.2 -8.7 -1.8

Coffee, tea, mate and spices.................... 09 0.241 152.5 160.0 15.0 3.2 -1.2 1.9 4.9

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.100 128.5 132.1 8.8 0.6 0.6 0.8 2.8

Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk;

bakers’ wares (Dec. 2007=100).............. 19 0.170 100.0 101.3 – – – – 1.3

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts, or other

parts of plants................................... 20 0.233 134.6 135.3 12.2 1.3 2.2 1.5 0.5

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar.................. 22 0.783 112.4 116.0 5.0 0.1 0.3 0.6 3.2

Mineral products.................................... V 23.011 285.5 299.9 58.9 5.2 12.1 -1.6 5.0

Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plaster

materials, lime & cement (Dec.2007=100)... 25 0.209 100.0 100.2 – – – – 0.2

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 22.465 286.2 300.9 60.3 5.4 12.4 -1.6 5.1

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 7.129 128.3 132.7 9.9 0.3 1.0 1.0 3.4

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 0.829 210.5 237.7 26.2 -7.5 0.6 2.4 12.9

Organic chemicals................................. 29 2.415 126.6 132.7 7.4 2.8 1.5 0.2 4.8

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 2.250 110.2 110.1 1.7 0.1 0.2 0.6 -0.1

Tanning & dyeing extracts; dye & pigments;

varnish & paints; putty......................... 32 0.162 102.4 102.5 0.5 0.0 -0.1 0.1 0.1

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec.

2001=100)....................................... 33 0.381 114.3 117.1 5.6 0.0 0.1 0.4 2.4

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 0.413 98.7 96.4 2.1 0.3 0.2 -0.5 -2.3

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 2.765 125.1 128.5 7.0 0.6 0.8 0.2 2.7

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 1.819 122.2 125.9 7.1 0.5 0.5 0.4 3.0

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 0.946 130.8 133.7 6.9 1.2 1.1 -0.2 2.2

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.578 110.5 111.0 5.0 0.6 0.1 0.5 0.5

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

various materials................................ 42 0.513 111.0 111.6 5.6 0.6 0.2 0.5 0.5

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 1.159 114.3 113.3 1.4 -2.3 -0.4 0.4 -0.9

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 1.369 107.8 109.3 1.1 0.6 -1.8 0.6 1.4

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 0.922 101.4 103.1 -1.8 0.2 -2.9 0.3 1.7

Printed matter...................................... 49 0.254 117.6 118.6 3.3 0.2 0.3 0.0 0.9

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 5.024 103.0 103.4 2.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.4

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

knitted or crocheted............................ 61 1.828 100.7 101.0 0.8 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.3

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

not knitted or crocheted........................ 62 2.000 102.8 102.8 2.8 0.0 -0.1 0.1 0.0

Made-up or worn textile articles................. 63 0.499 92.8 93.6 -1.0 -0.1 0.3 0.0 0.9

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.. .. XII 1.190 103.8 103.8 2.6 0.2 0.1 1.5 0.0

Footwear and parts of such articles............ 64 0.992 102.3 102.3 0.9 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.0

See footnotes at end of table.

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

January 2008 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Dec.

20071

Index Percent change

Dec.

2007

Jan.

2008

Annual Monthly

Jan.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Sept.

2007 to

Oct. 2007

Oct. 2007

to Nov.

2007

Nov.

2007 to

Dec.

2007

Dec.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc........................................... XIII 0.947 113.8 113.9 4.3 0.8 0.4 0.5 0.1

Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, or

mica (Dec. 2001=100)......................... 68 0.337 105.9 106.3 3.5 1.3 0.4 0.7 0.4

Ceramic products.................................. 69 0.302 121.3 121.1 5.9 0.7 0.5 0.2 -0.2

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.308 113.6 113.7 3.8 0.3 0.5 0.7 0.1

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 2.658 142.1 142.7 11.1 2.2 2.3 1.5 0.4

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 6.539 171.1 171.5 5.0 0.1 0.9 -0.6 0.2

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.797 209.6 218.3 18.6 0.3 0.5 1.0 4.2

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.553 133.8 138.7 10.0 1.2 0.6 0.7 3.7

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.835 295.2 270.0 1.0 1.1 2.7 -6.2 -8.5

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.971 140.9 140.5 -5.1 -2.1 0.1 1.3 -0.3

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.356 111.1 112.0 3.9 0.4 1.5 0.1 0.8

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.448 126.5 126.6 1.6 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 24.271 88.5 88.4 0.3 0.0 0.1 0.1 -0.1

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 12.521 89.1 88.8 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 -0.3

Electrical machinery and equip, sound and TV

recorders & reproducers, parts............... 85 11.750 88.0 88.0 0.5 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.0

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 12.229 107.6 107.5 2.0 0.5 0.3 0.4 -0.1

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 11.333 106.7 106.6 1.8 0.4 0.4 0.3 -0.1

Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof (Dec.

2002=100)....................................... 88 0.806 110.4 110.5 2.6 0.6 0.1 0.2 0.1

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 2.851 99.8 99.7 -0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 -0.1

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical

instruments...................................... 90 2.557 98.0 97.9 -0.3 0.1 0.1 0.2 -0.1

Clocks and watches and parts thereof. . . . . . . .. 91 0.220 117.7 117.4 1.6 0.3 0.1 0.4 -0.3

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 3.620 101.8 102.5 1.7 0.2 0.1 -0.1 0.7

Furniture & stuffed furnishings; lamps &

lighting fittings, nesoi; prefab bldgs........... 94 2.072 105.3 106.1 1.8 0.4 0.1 -0.2 0.8

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 1.352 96.9 97.4 1.7 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.5

Miscellaneous manufactured articles........... 96 0.195 108.2 108.6 2.2 0.0 0.3 0.7 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

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

January 2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Dec.

20071

Index Percent change

Dec.

2007

Jan.

2008

Annual Monthly

Jan.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Sept.

2007 to

Oct. 2007

Oct. 2007

to Nov.

2007

Nov.

2007 to

Dec.

2007

Dec.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.534 154.9 155.0 14.5 -2.9 -1.2 0.6 0.1

Meat & edible meat offal (Dec. 2006=100). . .. 02 0.808 124.9 123.1 17.9 -3.1 -2.3 0.2 -1.4

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.395 132.3 136.0 14.6 1.5 -0.6 0.6 2.8

Vegetable products................................ II 4.978 202.3 219.5 44.8 7.5 1.3 4.2 8.5

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.709 121.8 123.6 9.6 2.9 0.1 -3.6 1.5

Cereals.............................................. 10 2.200 239.6 262.5 57.1 10.0 -0.6 8.9 9.6

Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds, fruits,

plants, straw and fodder....................... 12 1.473 208.7 230.2 71.0 6.4 5.1 7.0 10.3

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.338 128.8 131.8 11.2 1.9 1.9 0.8 2.3

Miscellaneous edible preparations.............. 21 0.447 117.7 119.9 8.7 0.7 0.8 0.7 1.9

Residues and waste from the food industries;

prepared animal feed........................... 23 0.545 176.1 185.8 31.6 5.8 6.6 1.7 5.5

Mineral products.................................... V 4.707 269.8 281.8 31.1 2.7 9.8 -0.8 4.4

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 4.112 262.2 275.7 40.2 3.1 11.8 -0.6 5.1

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 11.464 134.0 137.2 9.7 0.3 0.8 0.8 2.4

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 1.091 170.6 174.2 16.3 -0.4 1.0 1.9 2.1

Organic chemicals................................. 29 3.532 149.0 151.7 10.1 1.1 1.2 0.8 1.8

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 2.589 116.8 116.1 2.7 0.6 0.6 0.6 -0.6

Tanning or dyeing extracts, dyes, paints,

varnish, putty, & inks........................... 32 0.565 117.0 115.7 2.0 0.9 1.3 0.2 -1.1

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery

cosmetic or toilet preparations................ 33 0.668 118.4 118.2 1.6 0.3 1.2 0.1 -0.2

Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or scouring

products; candles, pastes..................... 34 0.397 112.8 115.9 5.7 -4.3 1.0 0.7 2.7

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 1.618 121.2 122.6 3.4 -0.4 0.8 0.7 1.2

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 5.279 135.4 137.1 7.1 0.2 0.5 0.7 1.3

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 4.291 131.5 133.2 7.5 0.2 0.4 0.9 1.3

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 0.988 151.7 153.6 5.9 0.5 0.7 0.1 1.3

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.412 117.4 117.6 -5.2 -0.6 -0.5 -0.4 0.2

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.651 110.6 110.7 1.2 -0.1 -1.4 -0.5 0.1

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 2.566 115.1 115.6 6.9 0.7 0.9 0.5 0.4

Woodpulp and recovered paper................. 47 0.699 123.2 124.9 14.9 2.7 1.5 0.5 1.4

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 1.320 110.3 111.0 3.6 -0.4 0.4 0.6 0.6

Printed material.................................... 49 0.547 121.7 120.1 6.1 1.1 1.5 0.2 -1.3

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 2.245 105.4 106.6 4.0 0.7 0.1 0.0 1.1

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics

thereof............................................ 52 0.684 103.7 105.8 11.6 2.8 0.0 0.0 2.0

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc........................................... XIII 0.813 110.5 110.3 3.8 0.7 -0.1 0.0 -0.2

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.442 99.3 99.0 3.2 1.0 -0.1 0.1 -0.3

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 3.866 171.5 169.8 7.3 4.1 3.2 0.9 -1.0

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 5.631 162.2 164.1 4.1 0.1 0.2 0.0 1.2

See footnotes at end of table.

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

January 2008 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Dec.

20071

Index Percent change

Dec.

2007

Jan.

2008

Annual Monthly

Jan.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Sept.

2007 to

Oct. 2007

Oct. 2007

to Nov.

2007

Nov.

2007 to

Dec.

2007

Dec.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.365 195.5 204.4 14.9 0.3 1.0 0.7 4.6

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.400 147.3 148.6 5.9 0.2 -0.2 -0.1 0.9

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.652 233.7 229.7 0.2 3.9 -3.9 -2.5 -1.7

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.984 141.1 138.8 -6.5 -2.2 1.1 1.2 -1.6

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.384 115.5 118.3 4.0 0.1 0.0 -0.1 2.4

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.376 128.6 128.8 3.4 0.2 0.1 -0.2 0.2

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 31.253 94.7 94.8 1.0 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 17.345 103.0 103.2 0.7 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.2

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts

and accessories thereof....................... 85 13.908 85.5 85.5 1.1 -0.2 0.4 0.2 0.0

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 14.200 115.0 115.3 1.9 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.3

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 8.446 106.1 106.2 0.9 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.1

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 6.144 105.0 105.1 1.4 0.7 0.3 0.1 0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 1.450 106.5 107.4 4.7 0.3 0.5 0.4 0.8

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and

lighting fittings nesoi;........................... 94 0.772 114.7 116.6 3.6 0.0 0.8 0.6 1.7

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 0.521 92.3 92.4 7.3 0.9 0.2 0.0 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

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

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Percent of

U.S.

imports1

Index Percent change

Dec.

2007

Jan.

2008

Annual Monthly

Jan. 2007

to Jan.

2008

Sept. 2007

to Oct.

2007

Oct. 2007

to Nov.

2007

Nov. 2007

to Dec.

2007

Dec. 2007

to Jan.

2008

Industrialized Countries2

...................... 42.888 124.1 125.2 7.7 0.7 2.4 0.0 0.9

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 4.201 226.5 232.3 37.6 2.6 13.0 0.0 2.6

Manufactured articles......................... 38.251 116.3 116.9 4.3 0.4 1.1 0.0 0.5

Other Countries3

................................ 57.112 127.3 130.3 18.7 2.0 3.6 -0.5 2.4

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 12.058 280.9 295.7 65.7 5.9 10.3 -0.5 5.3

Manufactured articles......................... 44.837 105.5 106.9 6.7 0.7 1.0 -0.4 1.3

Canada............................................ 16.032 142.0 142.1 11.3 1.3 5.0 -1.0 0.1

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 3.711 220.2 225.5 31.4 5.5 13.4 -2.0 2.4

Manufactured articles......................... 12.028 127.6 126.4 5.5 0.0 2.6 -0.8 -0.9

European Union4

............................... 17.355 124.1 125.5 4.1 0.2 0.5 0.8 1.1

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 0.249 304.8 316.6 75.0 -3.8 6.9 7.8 3.9

Manufactured articles......................... 16.987 121.1 122.4 2.8 0.3 0.2 0.6 1.1

France (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 1.844 111.1 112.6 4.8 0.4 0.3 0.6 1.4

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)..................... 4.732 109.3 110.6 4.1 -0.3 0.5 0.6 1.2

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)........... 2.684 126.6 128.2 11.4 -0.3 1.5 1.5 1.3

Latin America5

.................................. 18.032 161.2 167.0 24.7 2.2 4.4 -0.9 3.6

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 5.151 291.7 310.0 69.0 5.7 10.3 -0.1 6.3

Manufactured articles......................... 12.786 133.4 136.2 8.0 0.5 1.4 -1.3 2.1

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 10.710 137.8 141.6 19.9 1.7 2.7 0.8 2.8

Pacific Rim (Dec. 2003=100)6................. 33.822 99.8 100.3 2.2 0.2 0.3 0.0 0.5

China (Dec. 2003=100)......................... 15.926 99.6 100.4 3.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.8

Japan.............................................. 8.032 94.1 94.2 0.2 0.1 -0.1 0.2 0.1

Asian NICs7

...................................... 5.887 88.5 88.9 0.3 -0.2 0.6 -0.7 0.5

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)8

...................... 6.041 98.6 99.6 3.0 -0.3 0.9 0.4 1.0

Asia Near East (Dec. 2003=100)9

............ 3.928 231.1 238.7 48.0 5.2 6.8 -1.4 3.3

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: January

2007 to January 2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Relative

importance

Dec.

20071

Index Percent change

Dec.

2007

Jan.

2008

Annual Monthly

Jan. 2007

to Jan.

2008

Sept.

2007 to

Oct. 2007

Oct. 2007

to Nov.

2007

Nov. 2007

to Dec.

2007

Dec. 2007

to Jan.

2008

Air Freight

Import Air Freight..................................... 100.000 142.6 142.4 7.6 0.8 2.4 3.0 -0.1

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 28.505 148.1 148.6 13.5 2.2 4.0 3.6 0.3

Asia.................................................... 61.413 122.1 121.7 5.6 0.3 1.8 2.9 -0.3

Export Air Freight..................................... 100.000 128.3 132.2 11.5 2.1 1.1 3.8 3.0

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)............................ 40.051 113.8 123.2 21.4 5.4 1.7 3.8 8.3

Inbound Air Freight................................... 100.000 138.6 139.2 8.7 1.2 2.4 3.2 0.4

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 30.629 143.8 145.3 14.7 2.5 4.4 3.6 1.0

Asia.................................................... 57.457 116.9 117.0 6.0 0.5 1.5 3.4 0.1

Outbound Air Freight................................. 100.000 124.4 126.7 11.8 1.6 1.8 2.8 1.8

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 41.587 141.4 144.9 13.6 1.8 2.7 2.8 2.5

Asia.................................................... 40.656 110.9 112.8 8.7 0.9 1.2 2.7 1.7

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 135.3 132.4 7.8 -5.6 -3.2 5.5 -2.1

Europe................................................. 39.916 124.1 124.6 8.5 -12.7 -7.8 1.5 0.4

Asia.................................................... 28.430 133.5 118.5 1.6 -2.1 -0.9 16.0 -11.2

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 13.002 128.3 127.6 3.6 2.6 2.4 1.0 -0.5

Export Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 155.7 168.0 18.6 -0.6 -1.2 2.6 7.9

Europe................................................. 29.218 182.6 179.5 8.8 -0.5 -5.5 3.5 -1.7

Asia.................................................... 33.603 126.4 149.8 31.1 -3.8 -2.5 6.3 18.5

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 21.756 169.9 180.7 8.7 0.0 1.6 -0.8 6.4

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