Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

Technical information: USDL-08-1272 

 (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, September 11, 2008 

U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES 

- AUGUST 2008 - 

The U.S. Import Price Index decreased 3.7 percent in August, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of 

the U.S. Department of Labor reported today, after a revised 0.2 percent advance in July. A 12.8 

percent drop in petroleum prices led the August decline. Prices for overall exports decreased 1.7 percent 

for the month. 

Percent changes in import and export price indexes 

by End Use category 

- not seasonally adjusted - 

News United States 

 Department 

of Labor
Import Goods

Import prices fell 3.7 percent in August, the first decrease since December 2007 and the largest 

one-month decline since the index was first published monthly in December 1988. Despite the drop, 

import prices rose 16.0 percent over the past year. The August decrease in import prices was led by a 

12.8 percent decline in petroleum prices, the largest monthly drop since an 18.8 percent decline in April 

2003. The August decline in petroleum prices followed a revised 1.0 percent decrease in July; however 

the index still rose 52.0 percent over the past 12 months. Nonpetroleum import prices declined 0.3 

percent in August after a 0.7 percent increase the previous month. The August decrease was driven by a 

16.4 percent downturn in natural gas prices. Overall nonpetroleum prices rose 7.5 percent for the year 

ended in August. 

Excluding all fuels, import prices ticked up 0.2 percent in August. Rising prices for nonfuel 

industrial supplies and materials; foods, feeds, and beverages; and automotive vehicles all contributed to 

the modest increase. Nonfuel industrial supplies and materials prices advanced 0.4 percent in August as 

higher chemical prices offset declining prices for unfinished metals. A 0.7 percent increase in foods, 

feeds, and beverages largely resulted from elevated prices for meat, fish, and fruit. A 0.1 percent up-tick 

in the price index for automotive vehicles also contributed to the increase in nonfuel import prices. 

Capital goods prices declined in August while prices for consumer goods were unchanged. The 

0.1 percent decrease in capital goods prices was led by computer prices which continued to trend down 

in August. The fall in computer prices more than offset a 0.2 percent advance in capital goods prices 

excluding computers. 

 

Export Goods 

Export prices, down 1.7 percent in August, fell for the first time since October 2006. The 

August decline was mostly led by a 9.6 percent drop in agricultural prices, although nonagricultural 

prices also fell, decreasing 0.7 percent. Despite the downturn, export prices rose 8.2 percent for the year 

ended in August. The decline in agricultural prices in August followed a 6.5 percent advance in July, 

and was the largest one-month drop since the index was first published monthly in December 1988. The 

August decline was led by sharp decreases in corn, soybeans, and wheat prices, all of which remained 

up over the past 12-months. The price index for overall agricultural exports rose 24.8 percent over the 

same period. The August decrease in nonagricultural prices was the first monthly decline since July 

2007 and the index advanced 6.7 percent over the past year. 

The August decrease in nonagricultural prices resulted from a 2.5 percent downturn in the price 

index for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials which last recorded a monthly drop in 

September 2007. Decreasing prices for fuel led the decline. 

In contrast, prices for each of the major finished goods categories increased in August. 

Consumer goods prices rose 0.3 percent for the second consecutive month. The price indexes for capital 

goods and for automotive vehicles each rose 0.1 percent. Excluding a 0.5 percent decrease in computer 

prices, prices for capital goods excluding computers advanced 0.3 percent in August. 

 

2
Imports by Locality of Origin 

 

Lower fuel prices impacted the import price indexes from Canada, Mexico, and the European 

Union in August. Import prices from Canada fell 3.8 percent, the largest one-month drop since a 4.4 

percent decrease in October 2006. Prices for imports from Mexico declined 3.2 percent while import 

prices from the European Union fell 0.8 percent. Despite the August decreases, prices for imports from 

Canada, Mexico, and the European Union rose 21.4 percent, 16.7 percent, and 9.2 percent respectively 

over the past 12 months. 

Prices for imports from Japan also declined in August, edging down 0.1 percent, which was the 

first monthly downturn for the index since November 2007. The index rose 1.8 percent over the past 

year. 

In contrast, import prices from China continued to rise in August, ticking up a modest 0.1 

percent after rising 2.1 percent over the previous three months. Import prices from China increased 4.9 

percent for the year ended in August. 

Import and Export Services

 Import air passenger fares fell 3.0 percent in August after rising 4.1 percent and 18.3 percent, 

respectively, in July and June. The August downturn was led by a 5.7 percent decrease in Asian fares. 

The index for import air passenger fares increased 15.8 percent for the August 2007-2008 period. 

Export air passenger fares rose 5.3 percent in August and 19.8 percent over the past year. The August 

increase was driven by a 16.1 percent jump in Asian fares. 

The price index for import air freight edged down 0.2 percent in August as a 1.7 percent decline 

in Asian air freight prices offset a 1.6 percent increase in European air freight prices. The August 

downturn in overall import air freight prices followed a 2.6 percent increase the previous month. In 

contrast, export air freight prices rose 3.6 percent in August after advancing 1.6 percent in July. Import 

air freight prices rose 21.5 percent over the past 12 months while export air freight prices advanced 25.4 

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 September are scheduled for release on October 10 at 

8:30 A.M. (EDT) 

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

August 2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

July

20081

Index Percent change

July

2008

Aug.

2008

Annual Monthly

Aug.

2007 to

Aug.

2008

Apr. 2008

to May

2008

May

2008 to

June

2008

June

2008 to

July 2008

July 2008

to Aug.

2008

All commodities..................................... 100.000 145.9 140.5 16.0 2.8 3.1 0.2 -3.7

All imports excluding petroleum................ 72.881 115.6 115.2 7.5 0.7 0.8 0.7 -0.3

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)... 70.389 117.2 117.4 6.6 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.2

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 4.188 149.7 150.8 15.9 0.9 1.8 1.4 0.7

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 3.275 167.9 168.5 18.6 1.5 1.8 1.7 0.4

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 0.913 108.5 110.8 7.4 -1.2 1.9 0.6 2.1

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 44.746 283.6 259.8 37.8 6.6 6.9 0.1 -8.4

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

petroleum..................................... 17.628 176.9 173.9 22.0 2.2 3.1 1.9 -1.7

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

fuels (Dec. 2001=100)....................... 15.136 181.7 182.4 19.8 1.4 2.5 1.6 0.4

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 10.119 176.1 176.3 18.8 1.8 2.7 1.4 0.1

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable

excluding petroleum......................... 5.017 177.1 169.8 26.3 2.8 3.6 2.5 -4.1

Fuels & lubricants............................... 10 29.611 421.7 367.4 50.6 9.5 9.3 -0.6 -12.9

Petroleum & petroleum products........... 100 27.119 446.8 389.6 52.0 9.7 9.4 -1.0 -12.8

Crude.......................................... 10000 20.136 465.3 401.6 52.5 9.8 9.5 -2.1 -13.7

Fuels, n.e.s.-coals & gas.................... 101 2.261 281.8 239.4 63.1 9.0 8.4 4.7 -15.0

Gas-natural................................... 10110 2.116 283.4 236.9 68.7 9.7 9.1 4.9 -16.4

Paper & paper base stocks................... 11 0.697 119.8 120.6 8.9 0.8 0.7 1.6 0.7

Materials associated with nondurable

supplies & materials......................... 12 4.383 155.8 157.3 23.6 0.6 2.0 2.1 1.0

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.636 121.6 122.5 5.2 1.7 2.6 2.0 0.7

Unfinished metals related to durable

goods.......................................... 14 5.089 275.6 273.9 27.2 1.7 3.8 0.8 -0.6

Finished metals related to durable goods. .. 15 1.875 161.3 162.4 19.3 2.8 2.2 1.6 0.7

Nonmetals related to durable goods......... 16 1.456 110.9 112.1 9.7 1.0 0.4 3.0 1.1

Capital goods..................................... 2 18.956 93.4 93.3 1.6 0.3 -0.1 0.2 -0.1

Electric generating equipment................ 20 2.462 112.7 112.9 6.1 0.2 0.3 0.6 0.2

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 15.036 88.4 88.2 0.7 0.5 -0.2 0.2 -0.2

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 1.458 117.9 118.0 4.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 11.747 108.0 108.1 3.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 20.362 105.2 105.2 3.1 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.0

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 9.401 108.3 108.6 3.5 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.3

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 9.952 101.8 101.7 2.9 0.2 0.3 0.2 -0.1

Nonmanufactured consumer goods.......... 42 1.009 106.7 106.7 3.2 0.2 0.8 0.1 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: August 2007 to

August 2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

July

20081

Index Percent change

July

2008

Aug.

2008

Annual Monthly

Aug.

2007 to

Aug.

2008

Apr. 2008

to May

2008

May

2008 to

June

2008

June

2008 to

July 2008

July 2008

to Aug.

2008

All commodities..................................... 100.000 128.0 125.8 8.2 0.3 1.0 1.5 -1.7

Agricultural commodities......................... 10.594 207.8 187.8 24.8 0.2 2.3 6.5 -9.6

Nonagricultural commodities.................... 89.406 122.3 121.4 6.7 0.4 0.9 0.9 -0.7

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 9.687 211.1 188.9 24.8 0.3 2.5 6.6 -10.5

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 9.020 218.4 194.0 26.2 0.4 2.6 7.0 -11.2

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 0.667 147.1 145.2 9.8 -0.6 0.4 0.7 -1.3

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 31.971 177.9 173.7 16.7 1.0 2.1 2.7 -2.4

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 11.740 174.9 174.6 11.6 -0.6 -0.3 1.2 -0.2

Industrial supplies & materials,

nondurable.................................... 20.231 180.5 174.0 20.1 2.1 3.6 3.6 -3.6

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials... 10 1.574 162.8 161.6 17.6 -0.6 0.7 3.0 -0.7

Nonagricultural industrial supplies &

materials........................................ 30.397 179.0 174.6 16.7 1.1 2.2 2.7 -2.5

Fuels & lubricants............................... 11 6.066 313.4 275.0 39.3 6.4 7.8 5.4 -12.3

Nonagricultural supplies & materials

excluding fuels & building materials. . . . . .. 12 23.357 165.0 165.0 13.2 0.0 0.9 2.1 0.0

Selected building materials.................... 13 0.974 113.9 113.9 -0.1 -0.2 -0.1 0.1 0.0

Capital goods..................................... 2 37.612 102.0 102.1 2.3 0.1 0.4 0.0 0.1

Electrical generating equipment.............. 20 3.564 108.9 109.2 2.3 -0.1 0.0 0.3 0.3

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 26.526 94.1 94.2 1.2 0.0 0.3 -0.1 0.1

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 7.522 130.6 130.7 6.2 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 9.265 107.7 107.8 1.5 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.1

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 11.465 108.5 108.8 2.4 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.3

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 5.379 109.9 110.4 3.0 0.2 0.1 -0.2 0.5

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 5.123 106.0 106.1 1.8 0.0 0.1 0.8 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: August 2007 to

August 2008

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

July

20081

Index Percent change

July

2008

Aug.

2008

Annual Monthly

Aug.

2007 to

Aug.

2008

Apr. 2008

to May

2008

May

2008 to

June

2008

June

2008 to

July 2008

July 2008

to Aug.

2008

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 24.950 204.9 179.6 50.7 9.0 8.7 -0.7 -12.3

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 1.578 141.2 143.0 23.5 1.0 1.6 2.8 1.3

Crop production................................. 111 1.118 144.0 145.9 24.4 0.4 0.6 3.4 1.3

Mining.............................................. 21 23.372 211.2 183.1 53.1 9.5 9.2 -0.9 -13.3

Mining (except oil and gas) (Dec.

2006=100)..................................... 212 0.353 124.0 126.4 23.2 -0.2 -0.1 1.0 1.9

Manufactured articles.............................. 74.373 115.9 114.9 8.3 1.1 1.2 0.5 -0.9

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 8.861 110.2 110.4 5.6 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.2

Food manufacturing............................ 311 2.304 131.5 132.0 16.6 1.5 2.2 1.4 0.4

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.727 106.4 106.6 3.3 0.4 0.3 0.5 0.2

Textile mills...................................... 313 0.398 113.9 114.6 6.7 1.2 -0.1 0.9 0.6

Textile product mills............................ 314 0.658 101.7 101.8 0.8 0.1 -0.8 0.1 0.1

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 3.498 102.4 102.4 1.0 -0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0

Leather and allied product manufacturing. .. 316 1.275 105.9 106.0 3.9 0.2 0.1 0.8 0.1

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 17.935 136.9 132.6 20.7 3.3 3.8 1.3 -3.1

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 1.026 98.3 99.6 4.5 2.5 3.8 1.5 1.3

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.163 113.6 115.4 11.1 0.5 0.6 1.5 1.6

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 5.640 196.4 174.2 51.7 9.9 10.0 1.1 -11.3

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 7.481 126.3 127.1 12.7 0.6 1.0 0.9 0.6

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 1.527 113.5 114.1 9.5 0.9 0.5 2.1 0.5

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 1.013 116.3 115.5 7.5 0.9 0.1 3.8 -0.7

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 47.577 110.5 110.3 4.8 0.4 0.5 0.3 -0.2

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 5.919 188.2 186.6 25.6 1.8 3.6 1.0 -0.9

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.379 121.2 121.9 11.2 1.0 1.7 1.1 0.6

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 5.942 111.2 111.2 4.7 0.5 -0.1 0.5 0.0

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 12.126 92.5 92.1 -3.0 0.0 -0.5 -0.6 -0.4

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.333 113.8 113.8 6.1 0.4 0.5 0.8 0.0

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 12.426 105.0 105.0 3.2 -0.1 0.2 0.2 0.0

Furniture and related product

manufacturing................................ 337 1.344 111.8 112.2 10.4 0.6 0.5 1.6 0.4

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 4.108 111.4 111.1 3.6 0.0 0.5 0.5 -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

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

August 2008

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

July

20081

Index Percent change

July

2008

Aug.

2008

Annual Monthly

Aug.

2007 to

Aug.

2008

Apr. 2008

to May

2008

May

2008 to

June

2008

June

2008 to

July 2008

July 2008

to Aug.

2008

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 7.733 170.5 147.8 24.9 -0.6 2.3 6.4 -13.3

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 6.340 196.9 167.8 29.6 -1.7 2.4 9.1 -14.8

Crop production................................. 111 5.996 206.4 174.3 32.2 -1.8 2.5 9.6 -15.6

Mining.............................................. 21 1.393 110.2 102.7 9.8 3.9 1.8 -4.3 -6.8

Mining (except oil and gas).................... 212 0.833 98.8 100.5 1.3 0.3 -0.9 -0.3 1.7

Manufactured articles.............................. 89.401 114.5 113.9 7.3 0.5 1.1 1.1 -0.5

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 6.820 126.9 126.7 13.6 1.3 1.5 1.4 -0.2

Food manufacturing............................ 311 4.567 144.4 143.8 20.2 2.1 1.9 1.8 -0.4

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.476 106.6 107.0 4.3 0.1 0.2 -0.2 0.4

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 0.447 100.9 101.3 0.8 0.0 0.1 -0.2 0.4

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 24.130 131.9 128.7 15.2 1.7 2.8 3.2 -2.4

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.496 111.4 111.4 0.5 0.4 -0.1 -0.5 0.0

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.863 116.0 116.1 4.8 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.1

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 4.389 216.0 185.9 51.4 6.9 10.3 7.7 -13.9

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 14.430 125.8 126.0 13.0 0.9 1.7 2.9 0.2

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 2.090 110.5 111.0 5.4 0.3 1.1 1.0 0.5

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 0.777 108.9 109.0 2.2 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.1

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 58.451 107.2 107.4 3.6 0.0 0.3 0.2 0.2

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 4.871 154.5 155.2 24.1 -0.5 0.9 1.4 0.5

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.616 117.6 118.6 5.5 0.3 0.7 1.2 0.9

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 11.481 110.2 110.8 4.7 0.2 0.2 0.6 0.5

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 15.766 95.0 94.8 -1.4 -0.2 0.4 -0.8 -0.2

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.445 106.9 107.2 2.4 -0.1 -0.1 0.4 0.3

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 15.740 107.1 107.1 2.6 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.0

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 4.207 107.8 107.9 3.5 0.4 0.3 0.8 0.1

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2006 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

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

August 2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

July

20081

Index Percent change

July

2008

Aug.

2008

Annual Monthly

Aug.

2007 to

Aug.

2008

Apr. 2008

to May

2008

May

2008 to

June

2008

June

2008 to

July 2008

July 2008

to Aug.

2008

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.053 143.4 149.3 15.8 2.9 1.6 1.3 4.1

Meat and edible meat offal....................... 02 0.248 173.3 182.2 22.8 4.2 3.8 4.6 5.1

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.503 106.7 110.3 8.8 -1.3 1.9 0.5 3.4

Vegetable products................................ II 1.257 162.2 164.5 22.3 0.6 1.5 1.8 1.4

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers............ 07 0.303 214.0 219.8 8.2 -7.3 -2.7 5.6 2.7

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.363 108.3 114.9 28.5 1.1 5.5 -4.0 6.1

Coffee, tea, mate and spices.................... 09 0.239 173.6 173.2 19.9 -0.4 0.1 4.1 -0.2

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.028 142.2 142.3 13.5 1.0 1.7 1.8 0.1

Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk;

bakers’ wares (Dec. 2007=100).............. 19 0.169 113.9 114.8 – 0.1 1.5 4.8 0.8

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts, or other

parts of plants................................... 20 0.212 140.7 139.8 14.1 0.4 -0.4 -0.6 -0.6

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar.................. 22 0.729 120.1 120.2 7.9 0.7 0.8 1.0 0.1

Mineral products.................................... V 29.301 416.9 363.5 51.8 9.4 9.2 -0.5 -12.8

Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plaster

materials, lime & cement (Dec.2007=100)... 25 0.188 103.2 103.4 – -0.1 0.2 0.3 0.2

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 28.740 419.9 364.9 52.6 9.6 9.4 -0.5 -13.1

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 6.756 139.4 140.9 12.1 0.4 0.7 0.5 1.1

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 0.835 243.3 252.9 9.4 -1.7 -1.9 -1.9 3.9

Organic chemicals................................. 29 2.218 133.4 134.6 11.7 0.2 1.1 0.5 0.9

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 2.030 114.0 114.1 4.8 0.8 0.0 -0.2 0.1

Tanning & dyeing extracts; dye & pigments;

varnish & paints; putty......................... 32 0.146 106.5 106.5 4.2 0.8 0.6 1.2 0.0

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec.

2001=100)....................................... 33 0.365 125.4 126.0 10.7 0.6 0.5 0.1 0.5

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 0.370 101.4 102.1 3.7 1.8 -0.2 0.4 0.7

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 2.618 135.8 136.5 11.2 1.0 1.0 1.9 0.5

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 1.714 132.0 133.0 10.7 0.7 0.5 1.5 0.8

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 0.904 143.3 143.5 12.4 1.6 1.7 2.6 0.1

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.517 113.2 113.3 4.9 -0.1 0.3 0.7 0.1

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

various materials................................ 42 0.475 113.8 113.8 5.3 -0.2 0.2 0.9 0.0

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 1.065 120.4 122.1 4.4 2.3 3.8 1.6 1.4

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 1.295 117.0 118.9 9.8 0.3 0.3 1.2 1.6

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 0.897 113.2 116.0 11.8 0.5 0.2 1.7 2.5

Printed matter...................................... 49 0.223 118.2 118.2 1.6 0.0 0.1 -0.3 0.0

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 4.425 104.0 104.3 1.9 -0.2 0.1 0.3 0.3

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

knitted or crocheted............................ 61 1.603 101.2 101.2 0.7 0.1 0.5 0.2 0.0

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

not knitted or crocheted........................ 62 1.739 102.5 102.6 1.0 -0.9 0.1 0.1 0.1

Made-up or worn textile articles................. 63 0.448 95.5 95.5 1.5 0.1 -1.2 0.6 0.0

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.. .. XII 1.063 106.3 106.4 4.3 0.3 0.0 0.5 0.1

Footwear and parts of such articles............ 64 0.891 105.4 105.5 3.5 0.4 0.0 0.7 0.1

See footnotes at end of table.

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

August 2008 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

July

20081

Index Percent change

July

2008

Aug.

2008

Annual Monthly

Aug.

2007 to

Aug.

2008

Apr. 2008

to May

2008

May

2008 to

June

2008

June

2008 to

July 2008

July 2008

to Aug.

2008

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc........................................... XIII 0.870 120.0 119.2 6.6 0.0 0.1 4.0 -0.7

Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, or

mica (Dec. 2001=100)......................... 68 0.322 116.0 115.7 11.3 0.0 -0.1 8.5 -0.3

Ceramic products.................................. 69 0.273 125.7 123.4 3.9 0.1 0.6 -0.1 -1.8

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.275 116.5 116.6 4.2 0.0 -0.2 2.9 0.1

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 2.564 157.2 153.6 14.1 -1.8 1.0 0.1 -2.3

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 6.987 209.6 210.7 20.9 3.1 3.1 1.2 0.5

Iron and steel...................................... 72 2.393 320.1 320.6 53.0 6.8 8.4 3.4 0.2

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.669 164.9 167.1 27.9 3.5 3.5 3.2 1.3

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.791 320.7 325.2 2.7 2.9 -2.2 -1.7 1.4

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.941 156.5 158.9 9.3 -0.1 -1.5 0.4 1.5

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.323 115.6 116.5 7.6 0.1 0.7 0.4 0.8

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.402 130.4 130.7 4.1 0.5 0.9 0.8 0.2

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 21.224 88.8 88.6 0.3 0.2 -0.2 -0.1 -0.2

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 10.941 89.2 88.9 0.0 0.1 -0.3 -0.1 -0.3

Electrical machinery and equip, sound and TV

recorders & reproducers, parts............... 85 10.283 88.3 88.3 0.7 0.2 -0.1 -0.2 0.0

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 10.873 109.7 109.8 3.4 -0.1 0.3 0.2 0.1

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 10.079 108.8 108.9 3.3 -0.1 0.3 0.1 0.1

Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof (Dec.

2002=100)....................................... 88 0.713 112.1 112.2 2.6 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.1

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 2.528 101.5 101.4 2.1 0.4 -0.2 0.2 -0.1

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical

instruments...................................... 90 2.263 99.4 99.3 1.8 0.4 -0.2 0.1 -0.1

Clocks and watches and parts thereof. . . . . . . .. 91 0.199 121.8 121.9 4.5 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 3.328 107.4 107.6 6.1 0.4 0.5 0.8 0.2

Furniture & stuffed furnishings; lamps &

lighting fittings, nesoi; prefab bldgs........... 94 1.943 113.2 113.5 8.2 0.5 0.6 1.0 0.3

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 1.207 99.2 99.4 2.9 0.2 0.2 0.5 0.2

Miscellaneous manufactured articles........... 96 0.178 113.1 113.3 5.9 0.5 0.1 1.6 0.2

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: August 2007 to

August 2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

July

20081

Index Percent change

July

2008

Aug.

2008

Annual Monthly

Aug.

2007 to

Aug.

2008

Apr. 2008

to May

2008

May

2008 to

June

2008

June

2008 to

July 2008

July 2008

to Aug.

2008

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.642 178.3 182.2 14.0 2.3 2.5 2.2 2.2

Meat & edible meat offal (Dec. 2006=100). . .. 02 0.896 148.8 155.6 19.8 3.4 2.4 2.3 4.6

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.416 149.8 148.8 15.2 -1.1 0.1 0.5 -0.7

Vegetable products................................ II 5.973 261.0 220.5 33.4 -0.6 2.6 9.1 -15.5

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.656 121.2 123.9 3.7 -0.2 0.7 -1.5 2.2

Cereals.............................................. 10 2.756 322.8 246.3 37.1 -4.0 0.4 9.9 -23.7

Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds, fruits,

plants, straw and fodder....................... 12 1.961 298.9 249.3 50.2 2.0 8.8 15.3 -16.6

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.338 138.5 135.9 11.8 0.0 1.0 1.5 -1.9

Miscellaneous edible preparations.............. 21 0.426 120.6 120.6 4.6 0.2 -0.1 0.2 0.0

Residues and waste from the food industries;

prepared animal feed........................... 23 0.625 217.0 197.7 35.6 0.2 3.2 6.4 -8.9

Mineral products.................................... V 6.205 382.5 340.0 43.0 6.0 7.8 6.1 -11.1

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 5.644 387.0 339.4 51.5 6.8 8.8 6.9 -12.3

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 11.869 149.2 148.0 11.4 0.7 1.9 2.6 -0.8

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 1.180 197.9 198.4 20.8 1.9 1.5 2.9 0.3

Organic chemicals................................. 29 3.838 173.6 167.8 12.4 1.1 3.4 4.2 -3.3

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 2.469 119.4 119.6 4.2 0.2 0.0 -0.3 0.2

Tanning or dyeing extracts, dyes, paints,

varnish, putty, & inks........................... 32 0.513 113.8 114.9 0.4 -1.7 0.3 -0.8 1.0

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery

cosmetic or toilet preparations................ 33 0.648 123.1 125.7 6.3 0.1 0.1 0.9 2.1

Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or scouring

products; candles, pastes..................... 34 0.394 120.0 121.4 4.8 1.4 0.8 1.2 1.2

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 1.608 129.2 129.5 8.1 0.6 0.5 2.7 0.2

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 5.323 146.8 149.5 12.4 0.8 1.9 3.2 1.8

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 4.275 140.9 143.6 11.4 0.6 1.6 2.6 1.9

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 1.048 172.9 175.6 16.8 1.5 2.9 5.6 1.6

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.381 116.7 116.4 -2.3 0.3 -0.3 -0.5 -0.3

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.614 112.1 112.1 -0.2 1.2 -0.2 -0.2 0.0

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 2.448 118.1 118.3 5.5 -0.8 0.4 0.5 0.2

Woodpulp and recovered paper................. 47 0.691 130.9 130.9 13.0 -2.2 1.0 2.0 0.0

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 1.259 113.1 113.6 4.0 -0.3 0.3 0.5 0.4

Printed material.................................... 49 0.498 119.2 118.8 0.3 -0.2 0.3 -1.8 -0.3

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 2.176 109.8 109.7 5.6 -0.6 0.4 1.7 -0.1

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics

thereof............................................ 52 0.699 114.0 112.8 15.1 -2.3 0.9 3.9 -1.1

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc........................................... XIII 0.762 111.3 111.3 1.1 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.0

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.410 98.9 98.9 0.1 0.0 -0.7 0.0 0.0

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 3.898 185.9 186.4 18.9 -2.2 -1.7 1.5 0.3

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 5.914 183.2 182.6 10.9 0.4 0.7 1.1 -0.3

See footnotes at end of table.

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

August 2008 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

July

20081

Index Percent change

July

2008

Aug.

2008

Annual Monthly

Aug.

2007 to

Aug.

2008

Apr. 2008

to May

2008

May

2008 to

June

2008

June

2008 to

July 2008

July 2008

to Aug.

2008

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.629 250.8 249.7 28.5 1.7 2.9 3.1 -0.4

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.405 158.9 161.2 9.4 0.9 2.9 1.5 1.4

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.680 262.3 258.8 4.1 -1.6 -2.2 0.4 -1.3

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.981 151.2 148.8 0.9 -0.5 -2.7 0.4 -1.6

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.368 118.9 118.9 3.0 0.0 -0.1 0.0 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.354 130.3 130.7 2.1 0.6 0.7 0.2 0.3

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 29.238 95.2 95.3 1.1 -0.2 0.2 -0.1 0.1

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 16.303 104.1 104.3 1.5 -0.1 -0.1 0.4 0.2

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts

and accessories thereof....................... 85 12.935 85.5 85.5 0.5 -0.5 0.7 -0.7 0.0

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 13.417 116.8 116.9 2.4 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.1

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 7.909 106.9 106.9 1.1 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.0

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 5.824 107.1 107.4 3.4 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.3

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 1.377 108.8 108.9 3.3 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.1

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and

lighting fittings nesoi;........................... 94 0.730 116.7 116.8 2.8 0.3 0.0 -0.3 0.1

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 0.501 95.4 95.5 4.9 0.4 -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

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

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Percent of

U.S.

imports1

Index Percent change

July

2008

Aug.

2008

Annual Monthly

Aug. 2007

to Aug.

2008

Apr. 2008

to May

2008

May 2008

to June

2008

June 2008

to July

2008

July 2008

to Aug.

2008

Industrialized Countries2

..................... 42.888 140.4 137.5 14.4 1.8 1.8 0.6 -2.1

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 4.201 339.8 295.8 53.2 8.5 6.8 -1.9 -12.9

Manufactured articles......................... 38.251 125.5 125.4 9.5 0.6 1.0 1.0 -0.1

Other Countries3

............................... 57.112 147.8 141.2 17.2 3.5 3.7 0.3 -4.5

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 12.058 399.9 352.7 49.4 8.8 9.3 -0.9 -11.8

Manufactured articles......................... 44.837 112.7 111.6 7.1 1.3 1.3 0.8 -1.0

Canada............................................ 16.032 170.6 164.2 21.4 3.3 3.4 -0.2 -3.8

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 3.711 339.5 293.8 56.3 8.4 7.0 -1.5 -13.5

Manufactured articles......................... 12.028 137.8 139.2 11.0 1.0 1.9 0.2 1.0

European Union4

............................... 17.355 134.1 133.0 9.2 0.8 0.8 0.2 -0.8

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 0.249 403.3 358.8 48.0 12.7 2.7 0.8 -11.0

Manufactured articles......................... 16.987 130.3 129.6 8.4 0.5 0.7 0.2 -0.5

France (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 1.844 120.4 121.2 10.6 0.3 0.4 0.9 0.7

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)..................... 4.732 113.1 112.8 4.0 0.2 -0.1 0.1 -0.3

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)........... 2.684 143.1 138.3 14.5 2.3 1.2 0.4 -3.4

Latin America5

.................................. 18.032 197.0 186.7 24.2 4.1 4.2 1.5 -5.2

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 5.151 414.1 367.6 51.2 9.1 8.9 1.2 -11.2

Manufactured articles......................... 12.786 148.7 147.0 11.4 1.2 1.3 1.8 -1.1

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 10.710 155.2 150.3 16.7 2.7 3.1 0.6 -3.2

Pacific Rim (Dec. 2003=100)6................ 33.822 103.4 103.4 4.3 0.6 0.4 0.7 0.0

China (Dec. 2003=100)......................... 15.926 103.6 103.7 4.9 0.7 0.6 0.8 0.1

Japan.............................................. 8.032 95.6 95.5 1.8 0.0 0.2 0.5 -0.1

Asian NICs7

..................................... 5.887 92.4 93.4 5.3 0.6 0.1 1.4 1.1

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)8

..................... 6.041 102.7 101.8 4.0 1.5 0.7 -0.4 -0.9

Asia Near East (Dec. 2003=100)9

........... 3.928 317.9 283.3 39.8 7.0 6.9 1.1 -10.9

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: August

2007 to August 2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Relative

importance

July

20081

Index Percent change

July

2008

Aug.

2008

Annual Monthly

Aug. 2007

to Aug.

2008

Apr. 2008

to May

2008

May 2008

to June

2008

June 2008

to July

2008

July 2008

to Aug.

2008

Air Freight

Import Air Freight..................................... 100.000 163.2 162.8 21.5 4.4 1.1 2.6 -0.2

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 30.274 180.0 182.9 35.3 4.6 0.6 3.0 1.6

Asia.................................................... 58.225 132.5 130.2 12.6 2.1 0.7 1.9 -1.7

Export Air Freight..................................... 100.000 143.1 148.3 25.4 2.0 2.5 1.6 3.6

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)............................ 43.826 138.8 142.1 39.6 3.2 3.7 2.4 2.4

Inbound Air Freight................................... 100.000 155.6 156.3 20.8 3.0 1.5 2.1 0.4

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 32.185 169.6 172.4 32.1 3.0 1.7 2.7 1.7

Asia.................................................... 55.111 125.9 125.2 13.6 1.7 1.0 1.6 -0.6

Outbound Air Freight................................. 100.000 149.3 150.7 29.7 3.8 4.7 4.0 0.9

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 41.772 170.5 173.2 31.8 3.4 5.4 3.4 1.6

Asia.................................................... 40.973 134.2 133.6 26.2 4.5 4.6 4.7 -0.4

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 178.6 173.3 15.8 1.3 18.3 4.1 -3.0

Europe................................................. 46.632 191.3 188.0 20.8 0.5 27.0 2.6 -1.7

Asia.................................................... 25.077 155.5 146.6 4.4 2.7 20.9 4.0 -5.7

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 11.964 155.8 154.2 25.0 4.4 4.2 5.7 -1.0

Export Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 182.1 191.8 19.8 3.5 8.2 6.2 5.3

Europe................................................. 32.836 238.8 239.2 18.1 3.5 16.2 6.2 0.2

Asia.................................................... 32.761 143.4 166.5 25.9 3.1 2.2 5.1 16.1

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 19.421 176.4 179.4 9.3 4.4 3.2 6.3 1.7

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

Indexes are based on 2005 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

13
TECHNICAL NOTE

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

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

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

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

calling (202) 691-7101. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Index) to produce the NAICS primary products indexes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Agriculture. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

sheets specifying detailed information for each services industry are available at 

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

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

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

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

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

NAICS 31-33. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

15