Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until 

8:30 a.m. (EDT) Wednesday, October 13, 2010 

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

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

USDL-10-1424

U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES – SEPTEMBER 2010 

U.S. import prices fell 0.3 percent in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, 

following a 0.6 percent increase the previous month. Declining fuel prices more than offset an increase in 

nonfuel prices. In contrast, the price index for U.S. exports rose 0.6 percent in September after a 0.8 percent 

rise in August. 

Chart 1. One-month percent change in the Import Price Index: September 2009 – September 2010 

 Percent change 

0.2

0.8

1.5

0.2

1.2

-0.1

0.4

1.1

-0.8

-1.2

0.0

0.6

-0.3

-2

-1

0

1

2

Sep'09 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep'10

Chart 2. 12-month percent change in the Import Price Index: September 2009 – September 2010 

 Percent change

-12.0

-5.6

3.4

8.6

11.4 11.3 11.2 11.2

8.5

4.3 4.9 4.0 3.5

-16

-12

-8

-4

0

4

8

12

16

Sep'09 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep'10
 

All Imports: Import prices fell 0.3 percent in September after rising 0.6 percent in August, the only 

monthly advance since April. The index rose 3.5 percent over the past year, the smallest increase on a 12-

month basis since a 3.4 percent advance for the November 2008-09 period. 

Fuel Imports: A 3.1 percent drop in fuel prices drove the September decline in import prices. The 

downturn followed increases of 1.7 percent and 1.0 percent, respectively, the previous two months. Falling 

prices for both petroleum products and natural gas, down 3.1 percent and 4.4 percent, respectively, 

contributed to the overall decline in fuel prices. Despite the September decrease, fuel prices rose 7.1 percent 

over the past 12 months. 

All Imports Excluding Fuel: In contrast, nonfuel prices rose 0.3 percent for the second consecutive month 

after recording similar declines of 0.3 percent in July and 0.4 percent in June. Higher prices for nonfuel 

industrial supplies and materials, finished goods, and foods, feeds, and beverages all contributed to the 

overall advance in September. The price index for nonfuel imports also rose over the past year, increasing 

2.6 percent, an advance that was primarily driven by an 11.7 percent increase in nonfuel industrial supplies 

and materials prices. 

Table A. Percent changes 

2
Chart 3. One-month percent change in the Export Price Index: September 2009 – September 2010 

 Percent change 

-0.2

0.0

0.8 0.7 0.8

-0.3

0.7

1.1

0.5

-0.7

-0.1

0.8 0.6

-1

0

1

2

Sep'09 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep'10

Chart 4. 12-month percent change in the Export Price Index: September 2009 – September 2010 

 Percent change 

-5.6

-3.6

0.4

3.4 3.5 3.4

4.9

5.5 5.6

3.7 4.0 4.2

5.0

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

Sep'09 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep'10

All Exports: Export prices rose for the second consecutive month in September, increasing 0.6 percent after 

a 0.8 percent advance in August. Rising prices for nonagricultural exports and agricultural exports each 

contributed to the overall September increase. The price index for overall exports advanced 5.0 percent for 

the year ended in September, the largest year-over-year increase since a 5.6 percent rise for the May 2009-

10 period. 

Agricultural Exports: Prices for agricultural exports rose 2.4 percent in September after a 4.1 percent 

advance the previous month. The September increase was led by higher corn prices, up 10.4 percent, and a 

9.5 percent rise in wheat prices. The price indexes for corn and wheat were up 5.1 percent and 31.1 percent, 

respectively, in August. Rising corn and wheat prices also contributed to the 12.1 percent increase in 

agricultural export prices over the past 12 months. 

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: Nonagricultural export prices advanced 0.3 percent in September 

following a 0.5 percent increase in August. The rise was driven by a 0.6 percent increase in nonagricultural 

industrial supplies and materials prices and a 1.0 percent jump in prices for consumer goods. The price 

index for nonagricultural exports rose 4.3 percent for the year ended in September, mostly led by a 12.7 

percent increase in nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials prices over the same period. 

3
4

 

SELECTED SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS 

Import Prices 

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

prices rose 1.3 percent in September after ticking up 0.1 percent in August. The September advance was led 

by a 2.8 percent increase in unfinished metals prices, a 1.8 percent rise in finished metal prices, and a 1.0 

percent gain in chemical prices. Nonfuel industrial supplies and materials rose 11.7 percent over the past 

year, driven by a 20.4 percent advance in unfinished metals prices. 

Finished Goods: Prices for imported finished goods were up overall in September, led by a 0.2 percent 

increase in automotive vehicles prices and a 0.1 percent advance in the price index for consumer goods. 

Capital goods prices were unchanged in September as a 0.2 percent increase in capital goods prices 

excluding computers was offset by a 0.3 percent drop in computers, peripherals, and semiconductors prices. 

 

Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Foods, feeds, and beverages prices increased 0.8 percent in September after 

a 2.1 percent rise the previous month. The advance for September was driven by an 8.4 percent jump in 

coffee prices, which rose 36.7 percent over the past year, and a 2.1 percent rise in fish and shellfish prices. 

A 3.8 percent downturn in vegetable prices somewhat offset the overall advance. 

Imports by Locality of Origin: Prices of imports from China fell 0.2 percent in September and also 

declined 0.2 percent over the past 12 months. The price index for imports from Mexico also fell in 

September, edging down 0.1 percent. In contrast, import prices from the European Union and from Japan 

each ticked up 0.1 percent in September. The price index for imports from Canada was unchanged. 

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares fell for the third consecutive month, declining 3.1 

percent in September. A 6.4 percent drop in Asian fares was the largest contributor to the overall decrease, 

and European fares and Latin American/Caribbean fares declined as well. Despite the recent decreases, 

import air passenger fares rose 16.7 percent over the past year. The price index for import air freight ticked 

up 0.2 percent in September and rose 21.1 percent over the past 12 months. 

Export Prices 

 

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials 

prices rose 0.6 percent in September following a 1.6 percent rise in August. The September advance was 

primarily led by a 2.6 percent increase in nonferrous metals prices and a 0.9 percent rise in chemicals prices, 

which more than offset a 1.2 percent decline in fuel prices. 

 

Finished Goods: Finished goods prices were mostly up in September, with consumer goods prices rising 

1.0 percent and prices for automotive vehicles ticking up 0.1 percent. The price index for capital goods was 

unchanged. 

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares fell 7.2 percent in September, led by a 16.4 percent 

drop in Asian fares. Overall, export air passenger fares rose 23.6 percent for the year ended in September. 

Export air freight prices increased 0.5 percent in September after a similar 0.6 percent rise in August. The 

index advanced 3.5 percent over the past year. 

 

Import and Export Price Index data for October 2010 are scheduled for release on Wednesday, 

November 10, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. (EST).
Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: September 2009 to

September 2010

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Aug.

20101

Index Percent change

Aug.

2010

Sept.

2010

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2009 to

Sept.

2010

May

2010 to

June

2010

June

2010 to

July 2010

July 2010

to Aug.

2010

Aug.

2010 to

Sept.

2010

All commodities..................................... 100.000 125.9 125.5 3.5 -1.2 0.0 0.6 -0.3

All imports excluding petroleum................ 80.841 110.7 111.0 2.9 -0.4 -0.2 0.2 0.3

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)... 79.399 114.4 114.8 2.6 -0.4 -0.3 0.3 0.3

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 4.907 152.3 153.5 9.2 -1.6 0.3 2.1 0.8

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 3.803 170.2 171.1 9.1 -2.2 0.0 2.5 0.5

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 1.104 111.9 113.6 9.1 0.5 1.3 1.2 1.5

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 34.954 201.8 199.2 8.9 -3.0 0.2 1.0 -1.3

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

petroleum..................................... 15.795 150.2 151.5 12.7 -1.6 -0.7 -0.3 0.9

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

fuels (Dec. 2001=100)....................... 14.353 167.3 169.4 11.7 -1.7 -1.1 0.1 1.3

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 8.989 160.6 163.3 12.1 -2.1 -1.8 -0.1 1.7

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable

excluding petroleum......................... 5.364 137.9 137.7 13.8 -0.7 0.8 -0.5 -0.1

Fuels & lubricants............................... 10 20.601 252.4 244.7 7.1 -3.8 1.0 1.7 -3.1

Petroleum & petroleum products........... 100 19.159 275.2 266.8 5.8 -4.1 0.9 2.0 -3.1

Crude.......................................... 10000 14.176 281.7 274.2 6.3 -3.4 1.1 2.2 -2.7

Fuels, n.e.s.-coals & gas.................... 101 1.201 124.5 120.4 30.7 -0.1 3.8 -4.2 -3.3

Gas-natural................................... 10110 0.899 111.3 106.4 39.1 -0.2 5.1 -3.2 -4.4

Paper & paper base stocks................... 11 0.741 115.9 116.0 17.1 2.5 0.6 -0.3 0.1

Materials associated with nondurable

supplies & materials......................... 12 4.700 147.1 148.1 9.9 -1.5 0.1 0.5 0.7

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.337 124.8 124.5 4.7 -1.3 -4.2 -1.2 -0.2

Unfinished metals related to durable

goods.......................................... 14 4.166 239.0 245.6 20.4 -3.6 -2.4 0.1 2.8

Finished metals related to durable goods. .. 15 1.848 146.5 149.2 8.8 -0.9 -0.3 0.3 1.8

Nonmetals related to durable goods......... 16 1.561 107.6 107.7 3.3 -0.3 0.3 0.1 0.1

Capital goods..................................... 2 23.273 91.6 91.6 -0.3 -0.1 -0.1 0.2 0.0

Electric generating equipment................ 20 2.966 112.1 112.5 2.0 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.4

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 18.303 86.0 86.0 -0.6 -0.1 -0.2 0.2 0.0

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 2.004 121.4 121.5 -1.4 -0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 12.168 109.1 109.3 0.6 0.0 0.4 0.2 0.2

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 24.698 104.3 104.4 0.3 -0.2 -0.2 0.1 0.1

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 11.608 109.8 109.9 1.9 0.1 0.4 0.1 0.1

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 11.865 99.1 99.1 -1.6 -0.5 -0.7 0.0 0.0

Nonmanufactured consumer goods.......... 42 1.225 103.1 103.0 1.8 -0.6 -0.5 1.2 -0.1

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

5
Table 2. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: September 2009 to

September 2010

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Aug.

20101

Index Percent change

Aug.

2010

Sept.

2010

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2009 to

Sept.

2010

May

2010 to

June

2010

June

2010 to

July 2010

July 2010

to Aug.

2010

Aug.

2010 to

Sept.

2010

All commodities..................................... 100.000 123.1 123.8 5.0 -0.7 -0.1 0.8 0.6

Agricultural commodities......................... 9.126 171.8 175.9 12.1 0.0 -0.2 4.1 2.4

Nonagricultural commodities.................... 90.874 119.6 120.0 4.3 -0.8 -0.1 0.5 0.3

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 8.235 171.1 174.8 10.5 -0.4 -0.3 4.3 2.2

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 7.653 173.9 177.5 10.5 -0.4 -0.4 4.7 2.1

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 0.582 148.4 152.2 10.9 -0.1 0.3 0.5 2.6

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 31.710 161.5 162.8 13.1 -1.5 -0.5 1.6 0.8

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 12.299 165.5 167.5 11.1 -1.3 -0.3 0.3 1.2

Industrial supplies & materials,

nondurable.................................... 19.411 159.9 160.8 14.4 -1.5 -0.6 2.4 0.6

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials... 10 1.473 165.8 172.1 21.0 2.1 0.9 1.1 3.8

Nonagricultural industrial supplies &

materials........................................ 30.237 161.6 162.6 12.7 -1.6 -0.6 1.6 0.6

Fuels & lubricants............................... 11 6.081 215.3 212.7 23.7 -3.3 -1.7 5.3 -1.2

Nonagricultural supplies & materials

excluding fuels & building materials. . . . . .. 12 23.143 156.6 158.4 11.0 -1.3 -0.3 0.8 1.1

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.013 117.3 117.1 2.7 0.4 -0.7 -0.5 -0.2

Capital goods..................................... 2 38.109 103.5 103.5 0.0 -0.3 -0.1 0.1 0.0

Electrical generating equipment.............. 20 3.541 108.8 108.8 1.3 0.2 -0.5 0.1 0.0

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 27.801 94.3 94.3 -0.6 -0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 6.767 140.0 140.1 2.1 -0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 9.116 108.5 108.6 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 12.830 110.5 111.6 2.2 -0.4 0.4 -0.3 1.0

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 5.899 112.2 112.9 3.2 -0.6 0.1 0.5 0.6

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 5.617 107.7 109.4 -0.1 0.2 0.7 -1.2 1.6

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

6
Table 3. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: September 2009 to

September 2010

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Aug.

20101

Index Percent change

Aug.

2010

Sept.

2010

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2009 to

Sept.

2010

May

2010 to

June

2010

June

2010 to

July 2010

July 2010

to Aug.

2010

Aug.

2010 to

Sept.

2010

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 18.040 126.9 124.1 9.8 -3.5 1.1 2.1 -2.2

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 1.871 153.1 153.4 15.6 -4.0 -1.2 4.4 0.2

Crop production................................. 111 1.334 159.9 159.4 13.9 -4.8 -1.2 5.4 -0.3

Mining.............................................. 21 16.169 124.1 121.0 9.2 -3.5 1.2 1.9 -2.5

Mining (except oil and gas) (Dec.

2006=100)..................................... 212 0.549 139.2 142.2 9.6 3.9 0.9 -0.8 2.2

Manufactured articles.............................. 81.431 110.0 110.1 2.2 -0.5 -0.3 0.2 0.1

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 10.318 110.6 110.9 3.6 0.1 0.7 0.5 0.3

Food manufacturing............................ 311 2.701 131.5 132.8 12.6 0.6 1.5 1.6 1.0

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.918 108.7 108.7 1.2 -0.8 0.1 0.5 0.0

Textile product mills............................ 314 0.794 103.4 103.6 4.2 0.4 1.3 0.0 0.2

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 3.970 101.6 101.6 -0.3 0.1 0.3 0.0 0.0

Leather and allied product manufacturing. .. 316 1.530 107.8 107.9 0.7 0.3 0.7 0.1 0.1

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 18.035 121.8 120.7 4.9 -1.3 -0.4 0.2 -0.9

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.805 102.0 101.5 7.5 -2.5 -6.9 -1.3 -0.5

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.263 109.3 109.4 10.5 1.8 0.6 -0.2 0.1

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 4.008 124.1 118.3 1.5 -4.4 0.0 0.8 -4.7

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 9.026 125.9 126.3 6.0 -0.7 -0.4 0.2 0.3

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 1.823 115.9 116.0 3.6 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.1

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 1.002 121.6 122.1 2.1 0.1 0.7 -0.1 0.4

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 53.078 106.3 106.6 1.0 -0.6 -0.3 0.1 0.3

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 4.859 157.7 161.6 19.3 -3.5 -2.2 0.2 2.5

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.738 118.8 118.7 2.6 0.1 0.3 0.2 -0.1

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 6.817 113.6 114.0 1.3 -0.2 0.2 0.4 0.4

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 14.934 86.4 86.3 -3.0 -0.5 -0.9 -0.1 -0.1

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.839 112.9 113.1 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 13.409 106.1 106.3 0.3 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.2

Furniture and related product

manufacturing................................ 337 1.329 106.1 106.2 -2.7 0.1 -0.1 0.2 0.1

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 5.154 112.3 112.5 0.5 0.0 0.1 -0.1 0.2

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

7
Table 4. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: September 2009 to

September 2010

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Aug.

20101

Index Percent change

Aug.

2010

Sept.

2010

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2009 to

Sept.

2010

May

2010 to

June

2010

June

2010 to

July 2010

July 2010

to Aug.

2010

Aug.

2010 to

Sept.

2010

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 7.123 140.1 144.7 26.0 -0.4 -1.6 6.1 3.3

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 4.865 151.1 157.0 19.6 -1.0 -0.7 7.4 3.9

Crop production................................. 111 4.556 155.4 161.8 20.1 -1.2 -0.7 8.0 4.1

Mining.............................................. 21 2.258 110.4 112.8 44.4 0.6 -3.3 3.4 2.2

Mining (except oil and gas).................... 212 1.822 130.6 132.8 48.4 0.7 -1.5 3.8 1.7

Manufactured articles.............................. 90.164 112.5 112.9 3.6 -0.5 0.0 0.4 0.4

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 6.729 127.8 129.0 6.2 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.9

Food manufacturing............................ 311 4.566 143.4 145.0 6.1 0.4 0.3 0.6 1.1

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.538 110.2 110.5 3.3 1.9 1.9 0.4 0.3

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 0.377 104.7 105.6 2.8 2.4 0.0 0.0 0.9

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 23.939 120.3 120.4 8.4 -1.6 -0.2 2.0 0.1

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.452 114.5 113.4 6.0 -0.1 -0.5 -0.8 -1.0

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 2.058 123.5 124.7 13.6 2.2 1.5 0.6 1.0

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 3.715 125.2 121.6 19.1 -6.8 -1.5 8.8 -2.9

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 14.829 121.8 122.8 7.7 -1.1 -0.1 1.0 0.8

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 2.056 107.6 107.7 -0.1 -0.4 0.4 0.6 0.1

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 0.829 112.6 112.8 0.8 -0.5 0.0 0.0 0.2

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 59.496 108.1 108.5 1.5 -0.2 0.1 -0.2 0.4

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 4.972 146.4 148.9 18.9 0.4 0.3 -0.9 1.7

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.745 121.2 121.5 -0.2 -0.4 0.2 -0.1 0.2

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 12.575 114.8 114.8 1.9 -0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 15.338 91.5 91.6 -2.6 -0.8 -0.2 -0.1 0.1

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.392 108.1 108.3 1.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.2

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 15.133 111.3 111.4 1.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 4.990 110.2 111.6 0.8 -0.3 0.7 -0.6 1.3

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

8
Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: September 2009 to

September 2010

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Aug.

20101

Index Percent change

Aug.

2010

Sept.

2010

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2009 to

Sept.

2010

May

2010 to

June

2010

June

2010 to

July 2010

July 2010

to Aug.

2010

Aug.

2010 to

Sept.

2010

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.142 145.6 148.3 13.5 -1.0 0.1 1.7 1.9

Meat and edible meat offal....................... 02 0.260 183.2 184.7 17.4 -2.0 -1.6 1.7 0.8

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.598 110.6 113.7 14.6 0.4 1.9 1.4 2.8

Vegetable products................................ II 1.559 177.1 178.1 12.4 -4.2 -0.2 4.7 0.6

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers............ 07 0.427 329.5 313.8 7.0 -5.4 -7.8 9.6 -4.8

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.413 108.5 111.6 12.8 -7.3 -1.2 2.8 2.9

Coffee, tea, mate and spices.................... 09 0.321 188.9 202.8 30.9 1.7 7.0 3.2 7.4

Animal or vegetable fats and oils (Dec.

2009=100).......................................... III 0.226 110.5 111.6 – -2.1 1.8 7.0 1.0

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.337 143.6 143.3 5.1 0.0 1.1 0.6 -0.2

Cocoa and cocoa preparations (Dec.

2009=100)....................................... 18 0.201 96.2 94.3 – -6.6 0.0 -1.4 -2.0

Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk;

bakers’ wares (Dec. 2007=100).............. 19 0.263 124.7 124.7 10.5 1.9 6.9 -0.2 0.0

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts, or other

parts of plants................................... 20 0.287 129.5 129.2 2.8 -0.6 -0.5 0.3 -0.2

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar.................. 22 0.904 118.2 118.1 1.2 -1.0 0.2 0.5 -0.1

Mineral products.................................... V 20.630 254.9 247.4 7.3 -3.5 1.0 1.5 -2.9

Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plaster

materials, lime & cement (Dec.

2009=100)....................................... 25 0.190 102.4 102.4 – -0.4 0.4 0.0 0.0

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 20.189 251.3 243.6 7.2 -3.7 1.1 1.5 -3.1

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 8.291 139.1 139.9 6.7 -1.1 -0.5 0.4 0.6

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 0.959 275.3 286.6 33.2 -3.9 -0.3 -0.6 4.1

Organic chemicals................................. 29 2.775 134.1 133.9 5.7 -0.9 -0.4 0.7 -0.1

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 2.843 118.2 118.2 3.5 -0.1 0.1 0.2 0.0

Fertilizers (Dec. 2009=100)...................... 31 0.309 100.1 103.1 – -3.1 -1.2 0.3 3.0

Tanning & dyeing extracts; dye & pigments;

varnish & paints; putty......................... 32 0.164 106.8 106.6 0.1 -1.7 -0.9 0.3 -0.2

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec.

2001=100)....................................... 33 0.402 117.4 117.9 -2.6 -2.0 -1.6 2.1 0.4

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 0.495 92.9 93.1 3.3 -1.4 0.4 -0.1 0.2

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 3.031 137.5 137.8 8.4 -0.4 0.4 0.2 0.2

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 1.893 132.0 132.1 6.6 -0.5 0.5 0.2 0.1

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 1.138 148.1 148.7 11.6 -0.1 0.1 0.3 0.4

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.594 114.7 115.0 1.1 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.3

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

various materials................................ 42 0.538 114.8 115.0 0.4 0.1 -0.1 0.0 0.2

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.826 123.3 122.6 6.7 -2.0 -6.6 -1.7 -0.6

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 1.405 112.9 113.2 8.2 1.5 0.5 -0.2 0.3

Pulp wood, waste paper, and paperboard

(Dec. 2009=100)................................ 47 0.226 127.4 126.2 – 6.2 1.2 -2.5 -0.9

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 0.908 105.5 105.9 4.4 0.9 0.5 0.4 0.4

Printed matter...................................... 49 0.270 121.8 122.7 2.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.7

See footnotes at end of table.

9
Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: September 2009 to

September 2010 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Aug.

20101

Index Percent change

Aug.

2010

Sept.

2010

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2009 to

Sept.

2010

May

2010 to

June

2010

June

2010 to

July 2010

July 2010

to Aug.

2010

Aug.

2010 to

Sept.

2010

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 5.001 103.6 103.6 0.7 0.1 0.4 0.1 0.0

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

knitted or crocheted............................ 61 1.919 98.9 98.9 -0.7 0.3 0.6 0.0 0.0

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

not knitted or crocheted........................ 62 1.871 103.0 102.9 0.0 -0.1 0.0 0.1 -0.1

Made-up or worn textile articles................. 63 0.544 95.5 95.7 5.5 0.2 1.7 0.0 0.2

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.. .. XII 1.226 107.9 108.0 0.4 0.3 0.8 0.1 0.1

Footwear and parts of such articles............ 64 1.044 107.2 107.3 0.6 0.4 0.9 0.1 0.1

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc........................................... XIII 0.884 124.0 124.5 -0.1 -0.2 0.2 0.0 0.4

Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, or

mica (Dec. 2001=100)......................... 68 0.315 117.9 118.3 0.5 -0.1 0.4 0.0 0.3

Ceramic products.................................. 69 0.275 138.0 139.3 -0.1 -0.5 -0.4 -0.4 0.9

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.294 115.7 115.8 -0.8 -0.3 0.3 0.4 0.1

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 2.779 159.2 160.6 12.9 -0.2 -0.4 -1.1 0.9

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 6.075 179.0 182.4 12.5 -2.8 -1.4 0.7 1.9

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.395 228.4 230.8 20.3 0.2 -2.2 -2.2 1.1

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.897 152.4 154.3 13.2 0.7 0.6 1.1 1.2

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.655 315.3 333.1 14.1 -9.2 -1.9 2.4 5.6

Nickel and articles thereof (Dec. 2009=100). .. 75 0.182 118.4 121.9 – -12.2 -10.4 1.4 3.0

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.815 133.2 135.4 9.8 -6.3 -2.3 2.7 1.7

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.365 118.1 118.2 0.9 -0.1 -0.1 0.3 0.1

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.412 127.1 127.1 -1.2 -0.2 0.3 0.1 0.0

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 25.410 86.2 86.3 -1.0 -0.3 -0.5 0.1 0.1

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 12.828 87.9 88.0 -0.5 -0.1 -0.2 0.2 0.1

Electrical machinery and equip, sound and TV

recorders & reproducers, parts............... 85 12.582 84.6 84.6 -1.7 -0.4 -0.7 0.0 0.0

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 11.376 110.3 110.5 0.3 -0.1 0.4 0.2 0.2

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 10.279 109.4 109.5 0.4 -0.1 0.4 0.2 0.1

Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof (Dec.

2002=100)....................................... 88 1.002 113.6 113.7 -1.7 -0.4 0.0 -0.1 0.1

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 3.272 101.1 101.2 -1.1 -0.3 0.1 0.2 0.1

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical

instruments...................................... 90 2.957 98.6 98.7 -1.4 -0.3 0.1 0.0 0.1

Clocks and watches and parts thereof. . . . . . . .. 91 0.236 125.7 125.9 1.5 -0.7 0.1 3.3 0.2

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 3.872 106.6 106.7 -1.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1

Furniture & stuffed furnishings; lamps &

lighting fittings, nesoi; prefab bldgs........... 94 1.973 109.7 109.7 -2.1 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 1.696 101.0 101.0 -0.4 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0

Miscellaneous manufactured articles........... 96 0.203 119.8 119.8 3.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

10
Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: September 2009 to

September 2010

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Aug.

20101

Index Percent change

Aug.

2010

Sept.

2010

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2009 to

Sept.

2010

May

2010 to

June

2010

June

2010 to

July 2010

July 2010

to Aug.

2010

Aug.

2010 to

Sept.

2010

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.762 173.0 176.6 15.2 0.6 0.2 0.2 2.1

Meat & edible meat offal (Dec. 2006=100). . .. 02 1.020 144.6 144.4 16.5 -1.0 1.4 -0.6 -0.1

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.324 154.5 159.8 19.0 0.3 1.0 0.5 3.4

Vegetable products................................ II 4.413 190.4 195.6 10.6 -1.9 -0.3 7.6 2.7

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.718 119.4 117.8 9.7 1.9 -7.9 -1.1 -1.3

Cereals.............................................. 10 1.785 197.1 216.6 28.7 -5.5 1.8 13.0 9.9

Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds, fruits,

plants, straw and fodder....................... 12 1.417 215.2 207.9 -1.7 -0.4 1.5 8.0 -3.4

Animal or vegetable fats and oils (Dec.

2009=100).......................................... III 0.308 108.5 110.2 – -2.0 -1.3 0.5 1.6

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.490 142.2 142.1 1.4 1.1 0.9 1.2 -0.1

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other

parts of plants (Dec. 2009=100).............. 20 0.346 105.6 103.7 – -0.2 0.1 0.0 -1.8

Miscellaneous edible preparations.............. 21 0.405 117.7 117.8 -0.2 -0.3 -0.2 0.1 0.1

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar (Dec.

2008=100)....................................... 22 0.327 102.5 102.8 0.9 -0.6 -0.5 0.7 0.3

Residues and waste from the food industries;

prepared animal feed........................... 23 0.604 196.5 197.5 -4.3 4.9 4.5 4.2 0.5

Mineral products.................................... V 6.030 256.7 254.2 27.0 -3.6 -2.2 5.9 -1.0

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 5.303 247.8 244.3 26.6 -3.9 -2.2 5.9 -1.4

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 12.067 145.5 146.7 7.9 -0.8 -0.1 0.8 0.8

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 1.092 188.9 189.3 6.9 1.6 1.7 0.2 0.2

Organic chemicals................................. 29 3.082 154.1 155.3 10.5 -1.3 -0.8 1.0 0.8

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 2.955 123.0 124.1 6.5 -1.5 0.9 0.7 0.9

Tanning or dyeing extracts, dyes, paints,

varnish, putty, & inks........................... 32 0.540 116.5 116.8 2.0 -2.1 2.3 0.1 0.3

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery

cosmetic or toilet preparations................ 33 0.714 124.1 124.8 -1.0 -1.0 -1.0 1.3 0.6

Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or scouring

products; candles, pastes..................... 34 0.436 119.2 122.9 5.9 -0.4 0.4 0.8 3.1

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 2.111 144.7 145.0 9.2 0.6 0.5 1.0 0.2

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 5.083 138.3 139.2 3.2 -1.3 -0.1 1.2 0.7

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 4.124 132.0 133.0 2.8 -1.7 -0.2 1.4 0.8

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 0.959 166.7 166.9 4.9 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.1

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.376 120.9 120.7 22.9 -0.6 -0.3 0.1 -0.2

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.556 109.8 109.3 6.3 0.3 -0.4 -0.8 -0.5

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 2.561 120.6 122.2 13.3 0.1 1.9 0.7 1.3

Woodpulp and recovered paper................. 47 0.716 134.2 139.6 40.3 -1.4 2.9 0.3 4.0

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 1.348 117.8 118.3 7.9 1.0 2.2 1.1 0.4

Printed material.................................... 49 0.498 116.0 116.0 -1.4 -0.3 -0.3 0.0 0.0

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 2.042 117.2 120.7 16.7 1.3 0.1 1.2 3.0

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics

thereof............................................ 52 0.704 137.2 148.0 54.0 2.7 0.2 3.6 7.9

See footnotes at end of table.

11
Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: September 2009 to

September 2010 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Aug.

20101

Index Percent change

Aug.

2010

Sept.

2010

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2009 to

Sept.

2010

May

2010 to

June

2010

June

2010 to

July 2010

July 2010

to Aug.

2010

Aug.

2010 to

Sept.

2010

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc. (Dec. 2008=100)..................... XIII 0.784 115.5 115.5 1.0 -0.3 -0.3 0.0 0.0

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.414 97.1 97.2 -0.4 -0.5 -0.2 0.0 0.1

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 4.962 209.7 215.7 21.9 1.3 0.9 -1.5 2.9

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 5.845 161.5 164.1 8.0 -3.7 -0.4 1.1 1.6

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.735 192.3 196.9 12.8 -5.7 -1.8 0.8 2.4

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.507 158.4 159.5 1.1 -0.4 0.4 -0.2 0.7

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.589 230.8 236.1 21.6 -4.4 0.9 5.4 2.3

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.864 120.4 123.6 9.5 -8.8 -0.3 2.5 2.7

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.410 124.1 124.1 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.313 124.8 124.2 2.1 0.5 0.2 -0.4 -0.5

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 29.920 95.3 95.3 -0.4 -0.3 -0.1 -0.1 0.0

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 17.594 106.6 106.3 0.5 -0.5 -0.1 -0.1 -0.3

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts

and accessories thereof....................... 85 12.326 83.0 83.2 -1.9 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 0.2

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 13.223 121.5 121.7 1.2 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 8.498 108.5 108.6 1.0 0.0 -0.1 0.1 0.1

Ships, boats and floating structures (Dec.

2009=100)....................................... 89 0.293 100.9 101.9 – 0.1 0.2 0.6 1.0

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 5.925 106.7 106.8 -1.7 -0.3 0.4 0.1 0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 1.507 107.7 107.6 -0.6 0.0 -0.1 -0.3 -0.1

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and

lighting fittings nesoi;........................... 94 0.753 118.5 118.2 -0.4 0.2 -0.2 -0.2 -0.3

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 0.641 92.4 92.5 -0.9 -0.3 0.1 -0.6 0.1

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

12
Table 7. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes by locality of origin: September 2009 to September

2010

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Percent of

U.S.

imports1

Index Percent change

Aug.

2010

Sept.

2010

Annual Monthly

Sept. 2009

to Sept.

2010

May 2010

to June

2010

June 2010

to July

2010

July 2010

to Aug.

2010

Aug. 2010

to Sept.

2010

Industrialized Countries2

..................... 41.082 125.0 124.5 3.4 -1.3 0.5 0.3 -0.4

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 5.687 195.1 191.7 13.4 -2.7 3.4 0.4 -1.7

Manufactured articles......................... 34.943 119.3 119.0 2.5 -1.0 0.1 0.3 -0.3

Other Countries3

............................... 58.918 124.0 123.5 2.9 -1.0 0.1 0.6 -0.4

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 15.714 257.6 251.4 8.7 -3.9 0.7 2.8 -2.4

Manufactured articles......................... 43.010 105.2 105.4 1.1 -0.2 -0.1 0.0 0.2

Canada............................................ 15.923 140.6 140.6 7.2 -2.0 0.4 0.6 0.0

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 5.257 189.1 185.7 14.9 -2.7 4.0 0.3 -1.8

Manufactured articles......................... 10.335 131.7 132.5 5.3 -1.7 -0.8 0.6 0.6

European Union4

............................... 16.799 127.9 128.0 2.1 -0.8 -0.2 0.4 0.1

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 0.211 254.0 249.9 6.2 0.8 -1.0 2.4 -1.6

Manufactured articles......................... 16.491 125.3 125.5 2.0 -0.8 -0.2 0.3 0.2

France (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 1.948 121.3 121.3 -1.4 -0.4 0.0 0.2 0.0

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)..................... 4.572 111.4 111.4 1.2 -1.2 -0.4 0.5 0.0

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)........... 2.566 125.6 125.9 3.4 -0.6 -0.3 0.6 0.2

Latin America5

.................................. 17.999 156.8 155.9 5.0 -1.3 0.2 1.3 -0.6

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 6.186 284.4 278.1 8.2 -2.3 2.2 3.4 -2.2

Manufactured articles......................... 11.730 129.9 130.2 2.9 -0.8 -0.7 0.2 0.2

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 10.275 136.8 136.7 2.2 -0.9 -0.7 0.7 -0.1

Nonmanufactured articles (Dec.

2008=100)................................... 2.141 149.0 146.6 7.9 -5.2 0.9 2.9 -1.6

Manufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100). . .. 8.085 96.3 96.6 0.2 0.4 -1.1 0.1 0.3

Pacific Rim (Dec. 2003=100)6

................ 31.500 101.1 101.2 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1

China (Dec. 2003=100)......................... 16.449 100.5 100.3 -0.2 -0.2 0.1 0.0 -0.2

Japan.............................................. 6.678 98.8 98.9 1.7 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.1

Asian NICs7..................................... 5.003 88.4 88.6 2.9 0.1 0.5 -0.1 0.2

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)8

..................... 5.274 96.7 97.3 0.2 -0.1 0.4 0.4 0.6

Asia Near East (Dec. 2003=100)9

........... 5.380 203.0 199.5 3.4 -2.2 -2.1 1.2 -1.7

1 Percentage of trade figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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

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

4 Includes European Union countries.

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

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

Countries.

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

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

Vietnam.

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

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

Regions are not mutually exclusive.

Dash = Not available

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

2009 to September 2010

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Relative

importance

Aug.

20101

Index Percent change

Aug.

2010

Sept.

2010

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2009 to

Sept.

2010

May 2010

to June

2010

June 2010

to July

2010

July 2010

to Aug.

2010

Aug. 2010

to Sept.

2010

Air Freight

Import Air Freight..................................... 100.000 162.8 163.2 21.1 -0.9 -1.1 1.3 0.2

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 21.378 130.4 131.7 -1.1 -5.4 -1.3 4.3 1.0

Asia.................................................... 75.590 151.6 151.7 30.4 0.3 -0.3 0.6 0.1

Export Air Freight..................................... 100.000 125.3 125.9 3.5 1.5 -1.3 0.6 0.5

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)............................ 33.131 114.9 114.3 3.0 3.0 -1.7 0.1 -0.5

Inbound Air Freight................................... 100.000 146.7 147.2 15.5 -0.1 -1.4 1.2 0.3

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 22.162 122.8 124.5 -0.2 -3.8 -1.3 3.8 1.4

Asia.................................................... 67.702 137.0 137.1 24.1 0.5 -0.6 0.6 0.1

Outbound Air Freight................................. 100.000 121.7 122.5 9.5 1.2 -0.7 0.1 0.7

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 41.415 141.6 141.3 9.2 1.9 -0.7 0.2 -0.2

Asia.................................................... 41.790 110.2 110.9 7.9 0.8 -0.7 0.1 0.6

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 166.0 160.9 16.7 9.2 -1.3 -4.1 -3.1

Europe................................................. 42.893 182.4 177.0 20.4 13.7 -3.9 -5.9 -3.0

Asia.................................................... 29.156 149.7 140.1 12.6 11.5 0.8 -4.5 -6.4

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 12.706 146.9 142.8 21.4 1.6 3.5 1.0 -2.8

Export Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 188.2 174.7 23.6 7.9 5.4 1.3 -7.2

Europe................................................. 33.054 231.9 215.8 29.3 16.5 3.1 -6.6 -6.9

Asia.................................................... 34.929 195.7 163.6 33.9 2.5 5.4 19.5 -16.4

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 19.006 169.1 176.3 22.3 5.6 2.1 -2.3 4.3

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

14
TECHNICAL NOTE

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

formula and are not seasonally adjusted. Price indexes are reweighted annually, with a two-year lag in 

the weights. Published series use a base year of 2000=100 where possible. More detailed index series 

and additional information may be obtained at http://www.bls.gov/mxp, or by calling (202) 691-7101. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Index) to produce the NAICS primary products indexes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Agriculture. 

Services Price Indexes -- Starting in September 2008 the Import Air Passenger Fares Indexes represent 

changes in the average revenue per passenger received by foreign carriers from U.S. residents and are 

calculated from data obtained from an airline consulting service. These data include tickets sold by 

travel agencies and travel websites. Tickets sold directly by the airlines are excluded, as are frequent 

flyer tickets generally. Starting in January 2008 the Export Air Passenger Fares Indexes represent 

changes in the average revenue per passenger received by U.S. carriers from foreign residents and are 

calculated from data collected directly from airlines. These data include frequent flyer tickets and those 

sold by consolidators. Taxes and fees are included in the Import Air Passenger Fares Index and excluded 

from the Export Air Passenger Fares Index. The Air Freight Indexes are calculated from data collected 

directly from airlines. These data exclude mail and passenger baggage. The scope of the service being 

priced is the movement of freight from airport to airport only, and does not include any ground 

transportation or port service. The Air Freight Indexes are presented using two definitions: Balance of 

Payments (which represent transactions between U.S. and foreign residents) and International (which 

represent transactions inbound to and outbound from the U.S.). Fact sheets specifying detailed 

information for each services industry are available at http://www.bls.gov/mxp under "MXP 

Publications."

15
Import Indexes by Locality of Origin -- Prices used in these indexes are a subset of the data collected 

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

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

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

NAICS 31-33. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

E-Mail Subscription -- The U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes news release is available through an 

e-mail subscription service at (http://www.bls.gov/bls/list.htm). 

 

Additional Information -- More detailed data are available on the Import/Export Price Indexes home 

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

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

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

(labstat.helpdesk@bls.gov). For Import/Export Price Index data requests, send e-mail to 

(mxpinfo@bls.gov). 

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

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

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