U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES – MAY 2016 

Prices for U.S. imports increased 1.4 percent in May, following advances of 0.7 percent in April and 0.4 

percent in March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The May rise was primarily driven by 

higher fuel prices, although nonfuel prices also increased. U.S. export prices advanced 1.1 percent in May, 

after rising 0.5 percent the previous month. 

Chart 1. One-month percent change in the Import Price Index: May 2015 – May 2016 

 Percent change 

Chart 2. 12-month percent change in the Import Price Index: May 2015 – May 2016 

 Percent change 

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Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until 

8:30 a.m. (EDT) Tuesday, June 14, 2016 

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

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

USDL-16-1195
2

All Imports: Import prices rose for the third consecutive month in May, rising 1.4 percent, after recording 

0.7-percent and 0.4-percent increases in April and March. The May advance was the largest monthly rise 

since the index increased 1.4 percent in March 2012. The last 1-month gain larger than 1.4 percent was a 

2.6-percent advance in April 2011. Despite the recent increases, import prices declined 5.0 percent over the 

past 12 months, driven by decreases over the second half of 2015 and the first 2 months of 2016. 

Fuel Imports: The price index for import fuel increased 16.2 percent in May, following a 9.4-percent 

advance in April and an 8.4-percent rise in March. The May increase was the largest monthly jump in fuel 

prices since the index rose 17.3 percent in April 1999 and the second largest 1-month advance since the 

index was first published monthly in October 1992. A 17.4-percent increase in petroleum prices led the May 

rise in fuel prices, although natural gas prices also rose, up 2.5 percent for the month. Prices for imported 

fuel continued to decrease on a 12-month basis, falling 28.8 percent between May 2015 and May 2016. 

Petroleum prices declined 29.1 percent for the year ended in May, and natural gas prices decreased 38.4 

percent over the same period. 

All Imports Excluding Fuel: Nonfuel prices advanced 0.3 percent in May, after ticking up 0.1 percent in 

April. The May increase was the largest 1-month rise since the index advanced 0.3 percent in March 2014. 

The last time the index rose by more than 0.3 percent was a 0.4-percent increase in March 2012. Higher 

prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials; automotive vehicles; consumer goods; and foods, feeds, 

and beverages all contributed to the May rise in nonfuel prices. The price index for nonfuel imports declined 

1.7 percent over the past year. 

 

Table A. Percent change in Import and Export Price Indexes, selected categories 

 
3

Chart 3. One-month percent change in the Export Price Index: May 2015 – May 2016 

 Percent change 

Chart 4. 12-month percent change in the Export Price Index: May 2015 – May 2016 

 Percent change

All Exports: U.S. export prices rose 1.1 percent in May, following a 0.5-percent advance the previous 

month. Higher agricultural prices and nonagricultural prices both contributed to the May and April 

increases. The May advance in export prices was the largest monthly rise since the index increased 1.5 

percent in March 2011. Overall export prices continued to decrease on a 12-month basis, although the 4.5- 

percent drop between May 2015 and May 2016 was the smallest over-the-year decrease since the index fell 

3.0 percent for the year ended in December 2014. 

Agricultural Exports: Agricultural prices advanced 2.9 percent in May, the largest 1-month rise since the 

index increased 4.8 percent in August 2012. The May increase in agricultural prices was driven by an 11.2-

percent advance in soybean prices and a 6.7-percent rise in corn prices. Higher prices for meat and nuts also 

contributed to the May advance. Prices for agricultural exports fell 5.4 percent over the past 12 months. 

Lower prices for nuts, meat, and wheat were the primary contributors to the decline. 

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: Nonagricultural export prices increased 1.0 percent in May, after a 

0.4-percent advance the previous month. In May, the increase was driven by rising prices for nonagricultural 

industrial supplies and materials, capital goods, and consumer goods which more than offset falling 

automotive vehicles prices. The price index for nonagricultural exports decreased 4.4 percent for the year 

ended in May. 

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4

SELECTED MAY HIGHLIGHTS 

Import Prices 

Imports by Locality of Origin: Prices for imports from Canada, the European Union, and Mexico all rose 

in May, largely resulting from higher petroleum prices. Import prices from Canada advanced 4.2 percent in 

May, after increasing 3.7 percent in April and 1.6 percent in March. The price index for imports from the 

European Union rose 0.6 percent in May and 0.2 percent in April. Prices for imports from Mexico advanced 

0.9 percent in May, following 0.3-percent and 0.2-percent rises the previous 2 months. Import prices from 

Japan also rose in May, ticking up 0.1 percent for the second consecutive month. The price index for 

imports from China recorded no change in May, after declining 0.2 percent in each of the 3 previous 

months. Prices for imports from China have not recorded a monthly advance since the index rose 0.1 

percent in December 2014. 

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonfuel industrial supplies and materials prices increased 1.7 

percent in May, following a 0.4-percent advance in April. The May rise was led by a 5.5-percent increase in 

unfinished metals prices that was in turn driven by higher prices for iron and steel mill products, 

steelmaking materials, gold, and other precious metals. 

 

Finished Goods: Finished goods prices were mostly up in May. Automotive vehicle prices rose 0.2 percent, 

driven by higher prices for non-engine parts. Consumer goods prices also advanced in May, ticking up 0.1 

percent. The price index for capital goods recorded no change in May. 

 

Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Prices for foods, feeds, and beverages increased 0.3 percent in May, after 

rising 1.4 percent the previous month. In May, higher meat prices more than offset falling prices for 

vegetables and fruit. 

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares increased 1.5 percent in May, following a 3.5-percent 

advance the previous month. The May rise was driven by a 3.0-percent increase in Asian fares. Despite the 

recent increases, import air passenger fares fell 0.5 percent over the past year. The price index for import air 

freight declined 0.9 percent in May, after rising 0.9 percent in April. Import air freight prices declined 11.9 

percent over the past 12 months. 

Export Prices 

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials 

prices advanced 3.0 percent in May, following a 1.2-percent increase the previous month. Both increases 

were led by higher fuel prices. 

 

Finished Goods: Finished goods prices were mixed in May. Capital goods prices ticked up 0.1 percent, 

following a 0.2-percent increase in April. Prices for consumer goods also rose, advancing 0.2 percent in 

May. In contrast, automotive vehicles prices edged down 0.1 percent in May. 

Transportation Services: Export air passenger prices declined 1.0 percent in May, following a 6.0-percent 

decrease in April. The decreases for both months were driven by lower European fares, which fell 3.4 

percent in May and 11.4 percent in April. Export air passenger fares declined 10.6 percent for the year 

ended in May. Export air freight prices recorded no change in May and fell 2.4 percent over the past year. 

 

Import and Export Price Index data for June 2016 are scheduled for release on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at 

8:30 a.m. (EDT). 
Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: May 2015 to May

2016

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Apr.

20161

Index Percent change

Apr.

2016

May

2016

Annual Monthly

May

2015 to

May

2016

Jan.

2016 to

Feb.

2016

Feb.

2016 to

Mar.

2016

Mar.

2016 to

Apr.

2016

Apr.

2016 to

May

2016

All commodities................................... 100.000 118.5 120.2 -5.0 -0.5 0.4 0.7 1.4

All imports excluding food and fuels (Dec.

2010=100)........................................ 86.775 98.0 98.4 -1.7 0.0 -0.1 0.0 0.4

All imports excluding petroleum.............. 93.494 110.4 110.8 -1.9 -0.2 -0.1 0.0 0.4

All imports excluding fuels (Dec.

2001=100)........................................ 92.982 114.7 115.1 -1.7 -0.1 -0.1 0.1 0.3

Foods, feeds, & beverages................... 0 6.207 172.7 173.2 -1.9 -1.6 -0.4 1.4 0.3

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............. 00 4.790 188.6 188.4 -3.9 -2.0 -0.8 1.3 -0.1

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................. 01 1.417 137.0 139.1 4.9 -0.3 1.0 1.5 1.5

Industrial supplies & materials.............. 1 20.477 144.6 154.2 -16.6 -2.3 3.0 3.4 6.6

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

petroleum.................................... 13.971 137.1 139.3 -6.4 -0.3 0.0 0.2 1.6

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

fuels (Dec. 2001=100)..................... 13.459 157.2 159.8 -5.4 -0.1 0.6 0.4 1.7

Industrial supplies & materials, durable. . .. 8.133 145.6 149.2 -4.4 0.4 1.4 0.8 2.5

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable

excluding petroleum....................... 5.327 126.4 126.9 -9.1 -1.1 -1.8 -0.7 0.4

Fuels & lubricants............................. 10 7.017 126.6 147.1 -28.8 -6.8 8.4 9.4 16.2

Petroleum & petroleum products......... 100 6.505 136.6 160.4 -29.1 -7.2 10.7 11.0 17.4

Crude........................................ 10000 4.732 139.2 167.0 -27.4 -7.1 14.7 12.4 20.0

Fuels, n.e.s.-coals & gas.................. 101 0.327 63.7 64.9 -32.3 -5.3 -15.7 -8.6 1.9

Gas-natural.................................. 10110 0.235 47.2 48.4 -38.4 -6.6 -20.0 -11.8 2.5

Paper & paper base stocks.................. 11 0.585 107.0 106.6 -4.0 -0.2 -0.1 -0.5 -0.4

Materials associated with nondurable

supplies & materials....................... 12 4.809 148.5 149.2 -7.3 -0.9 -0.6 0.0 0.5

Selected building materials.................. 13 1.314 136.1 137.6 1.5 -0.6 0.7 1.3 1.1

Unfinished metals related to durable

goods........................................ 14 3.293 183.2 193.3 -8.0 0.5 3.2 1.7 5.5

Finished metals related to durable

goods........................................ 15 1.710 144.7 145.0 -5.4 0.0 0.3 -0.2 0.2

Nonmetals related to durable goods. . . . . .. 16 1.748 108.6 108.8 -1.1 1.1 -0.1 -0.1 0.2

Capital goods................................... 2 29.089 89.3 89.3 -1.9 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 0.0

Electric generating equipment............... 20 3.520 115.9 116.0 -1.9 -0.3 -0.1 -0.4 0.1

Nonelectrical machinery...................... 21 22.802 81.8 81.8 -2.0 0.0 -0.2 0.0 0.0

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................. 22 2.768 137.4 137.4 0.4 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines..... 3 16.385 110.3 110.5 -0.6 -0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2

Consumer goods, excluding

automotives.................................. 4 27.842 107.0 107.1 -0.3 0.3 -0.4 -0.2 0.1

Nondurables, manufactured................. 40 13.300 119.8 120.0 0.8 0.8 -0.5 -0.1 0.2

Durables, manufactured...................... 41 13.028 94.3 94.4 -1.4 -0.2 -0.2 -0.3 0.1

Nonmanufactured consumer goods. . . . . . .. 42 1.514 118.5 119.6 1.1 0.3 -1.1 -0.3 0.9

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2014 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.

Dash = Not available

5
Table 2. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: May 2015 to May

2016

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Apr.

20161

Index Percent change

Apr.

2016

May

2016

Annual Monthly

May

2015 to

May

2016

Jan.

2016 to

Feb.

2016

Feb.

2016 to

Mar.

2016

Mar.

2016 to

Apr.

2016

Apr.

2016 to

May

2016

All commodities................................... 100.000 118.7 120.0 -4.5 -0.4 -0.1 0.5 1.1

Agricultural commodities....................... 9.017 172.2 177.2 -5.4 0.7 -2.2 0.8 2.9

All exports excluding food and fuels (Dec.

2010=100)........................................ 85.748 98.2 98.5 -2.1 -0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3

Nonagricultural commodities.................. 90.982 114.6 115.7 -4.4 -0.6 0.2 0.4 1.0

Foods, feeds, & beverages................... 0 8.452 174.0 179.1 -5.2 0.9 -2.2 0.9 2.9

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............. 00 7.769 173.9 179.5 -5.0 0.8 -2.3 0.9 3.2

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................. 01 0.683 184.0 182.1 -7.9 2.2 -0.7 0.6 -1.0

Industrial supplies & materials.............. 1 27.899 134.0 137.9 -11.8 -2.0 0.6 1.1 2.9

Industrial supplies & materials, durable. . .. 10.635 150.8 153.7 -4.0 0.1 1.9 0.5 1.9

Industrial supplies & materials,

nondurable.................................. 17.263 125.9 130.3 -16.0 -3.3 -0.2 1.5 3.5

Agricultural industrial supplies &

materials..................................... 10 1.248 167.4 168.0 -8.4 0.0 -1.2 -0.1 0.4

Nonagricultural industrial supplies &

materials...................................... 26.651 132.9 136.9 -12.0 -2.1 0.7 1.2 3.0

Fuels & lubricants............................. 11 5.799 121.5 134.0 -28.3 -7.3 -0.1 3.8 10.3

Nonagricultural supplies & materials

excluding fuels & building materials. . . .. 12 19.811 147.2 148.7 -5.9 -0.5 1.0 0.5 1.0

Selected building materials.................. 13 1.041 114.3 114.5 -2.8 -0.8 -0.4 0.8 0.2

Capital goods................................... 2 39.685 107.2 107.3 -0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1

Electrical generating equipment............. 20 4.043 112.7 112.5 -1.7 0.1 0.2 0.3 -0.2

Nonelectrical machinery...................... 21 26.806 94.5 94.5 -0.6 -0.1 0.1 0.2 0.0

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................. 22 8.836 163.9 164.1 1.8 0.8 0.1 0.2 0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines..... 3 10.883 113.1 113.0 -0.9 -0.2 -0.2 0.0 -0.1

Consumer goods, excluding

automotives.................................. 4 13.080 110.3 110.5 -1.9 -0.2 0.0 -0.1 0.2

Nondurables, manufactured................. 40 5.917 105.7 106.1 -2.2 -0.4 0.1 0.3 0.4

Durables, manufactured...................... 41 5.506 108.4 108.4 -1.9 0.0 -0.2 -0.4 0.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2014 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.

Dash = Not available

6
Table 3. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: May 2015 to May

2016

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Apr.

20161

Index Percent change

Apr.

2016

May

2016

Annual Monthly

May

2015 to

May

2016

Jan.

2016 to

Feb.

2016

Feb.

2016 to

Mar.

2016

Mar.

2016 to

Apr.

2016

Apr.

2016 to

May

2016

Nonmanufactured articles...................... 7.246 73.6 83.1 -23.5 -6.2 7.2 7.6 12.9

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and

hunting........................................ 11 1.979 168.3 166.7 -6.3 -5.2 -2.1 1.0 -1.0

Crop production............................... 111 1.581 178.5 177.2 -6.0 -6.3 -2.7 0.7 -0.7

Animal production (Dec. 2014=100)........ 112 0.224 84.4 80.8 -11.9 1.0 1.7 1.1 -4.3

Mining............................................ 21 5.267 61.9 73.1 -27.3 -6.7 11.3 10.5 18.1

Mining (except oil and gas) (Dec.

2006=100)................................... 212 0.245 95.7 95.0 -7.6 0.1 -0.1 2.8 -0.7

Manufactured articles............................ 92.440 108.3 108.9 -2.8 -0.1 -0.1 0.2 0.6

Manufactured goods, part 1................. 31 12.367 123.3 123.9 -0.5 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.5

Food manufacturing.......................... 311 3.501 150.5 153.0 -0.1 0.3 0.1 1.6 1.7

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing............................... 312 1.116 118.7 118.9 1.2 0.1 0.5 0.0 0.2

Textile mills (Dec. 2011=100)............... 313 0.412 98.6 98.6 -2.6 -0.3 -0.4 -0.1 0.0

Textile product mills.......................... 314 0.916 109.3 109.1 -3.0 -0.4 -0.2 -0.2 -0.2

Apparel manufacturing....................... 315 4.458 111.5 111.5 -0.6 0.0 -0.1 0.0 0.0

Leather and allied product

manufacturing............................... 316 1.963 123.6 123.6 -0.5 -0.2 0.0 -0.1 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 2................. 32 16.690 113.0 114.6 -7.7 -0.3 -0.5 0.6 1.4

Wood product manufacturing................ 321 0.792 113.8 115.4 2.4 -0.4 1.0 2.0 1.4

Paper manufacturing......................... 322 1.094 105.3 105.1 -3.7 0.0 0.3 -0.4 -0.2

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing............................... 324 1.654 61.0 67.8 -34.8 -7.3 1.1 7.6 11.1

Chemical manufacturing..................... 325 9.584 130.2 130.6 -2.8 0.6 -1.1 -0.2 0.3

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing............................... 326 2.308 116.8 117.1 -2.2 0.3 -0.3 -0.3 0.3

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing............................... 327 1.055 129.9 130.3 0.0 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 0.3

Manufactured goods, part 3................. 33 63.384 103.2 103.6 -1.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4

Primary metal manufacturing................ 331 4.051 122.8 128.4 -8.4 0.2 2.8 1.2 4.6

Fabricated metal product manufacturing... 332 3.172 122.6 122.4 -3.0 -0.2 -0.2 -0.1 -0.2

Machinery manufacturing.................... 333 7.859 116.6 116.8 -1.8 -0.2 -0.3 0.0 0.2

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing............................... 334 18.424 76.8 76.8 -1.7 0.0 -0.3 -0.1 0.0

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing................. 335 4.927 114.8 115.2 -2.0 -0.4 -0.2 -0.9 0.3

Transportation equipment manufacturing... 336 17.627 109.6 109.8 -0.5 -0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2

Furniture and related product

manufacturing............................... 337 1.695 115.1 115.2 -0.7 -0.1 -0.1 0.0 0.1

Miscellaneous manufacturing............... 339 5.628 119.6 119.9 -0.2 0.5 0.2 -0.3 0.3

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2014 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.

Dash = Not available

7
Table 4. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: May 2015 to May

2016

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Apr.

20161

Index Percent change

Apr.

2016

May

2016

Annual Monthly

May

2015 to

May

2016

Jan.

2016 to

Feb.

2016

Feb.

2016 to

Mar.

2016

Mar.

2016 to

Apr.

2016

Apr.

2016 to

May

2016

Nonmanufactured articles...................... 6.636 115.2 119.1 -11.4 -1.7 -5.5 2.7 3.4

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and

hunting........................................ 11 4.561 149.0 154.6 -6.7 1.3 -4.5 1.1 3.8

Crop production............................... 111 4.192 154.6 161.9 -5.4 1.1 -4.1 1.1 4.7

Mining............................................ 21 2.075 58.2 59.7 -20.3 -7.8 -7.6 6.2 2.6

Mining (except oil and gas).................. 212 1.121 75.9 78.8 -13.0 -2.2 2.2 0.5 3.8

Manufactured articles............................ 92.058 109.9 110.8 -3.9 -0.4 0.2 0.3 0.8

Manufactured goods, part 1................. 31 6.761 132.7 134.3 -4.9 0.2 -0.1 0.2 1.2

Food manufacturing.......................... 311 4.514 148.3 150.5 -5.6 0.0 0.0 0.3 1.5

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing............................... 312 0.624 107.0 108.2 -6.1 1.2 0.6 0.1 1.1

Manufactured goods, part 2................. 32 22.517 101.0 103.4 -11.4 -1.8 0.2 0.9 2.4

Paper manufacturing......................... 322 1.771 121.7 121.9 -1.5 0.1 0.0 -0.1 0.2

Printing and related support activities

(Dec. 2015=100)........................... 323 0.273 100.0 100.0 – 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing............................... 324 3.661 68.7 77.6 -31.1 -7.1 1.9 4.4 13.0

Chemical manufacturing..................... 325 12.998 112.6 113.0 -6.9 -0.9 -0.2 0.4 0.4

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing............................... 326 2.416 114.9 115.0 -3.0 -0.1 0.0 -0.3 0.1

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing............................... 327 0.876 112.2 112.7 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.4

Manufactured goods, part 3................. 33 62.780 111.2 111.4 -0.8 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.2

Primary metal manufacturing................ 331 4.231 131.4 134.6 -4.1 -0.4 4.4 -0.2 2.4

Fabricated metal product manufacturing... 332 3.325 129.3 129.9 0.5 -0.1 -0.2 -0.4 0.5

Machinery manufacturing.................... 333 11.836 126.4 126.4 0.9 0.0 0.2 0.6 0.0

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing............................... 334 14.717 83.8 83.9 -2.2 -0.2 -0.1 -0.2 0.1

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing................. 335 3.904 112.6 112.6 -2.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.0

Transportation equipment manufacturing... 336 18.613 122.0 122.0 0.4 0.2 -0.1 0.2 0.0

Furniture and related product

manufacturing (Dec. 2011=100).......... 337 0.409 113.5 113.7 3.6 2.3 -0.1 0.4 0.2

Miscellaneous manufacturing............... 339 5.746 121.0 121.0 -1.5 -0.1 -0.2 -0.5 0.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2014 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.

Dash = Not available

8
Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: May 2015 to May

2016

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Apr.

20161

Index Percent change

Apr.

2016

May

2016

Annual Monthly

May

2015 to

May

2016

Jan.

2016 to

Feb.

2016

Feb.

2016 to

Mar.

2016

Mar.

2016 to

Apr.

2016

Apr.

2016 to

May

2016

Live animals; animal products................. I 1.487 187.2 190.8 2.3 1.1 0.1 2.6 1.9

Meat and edible meat offal..................... 02 0.379 228.7 242.5 1.2 4.5 -3.1 4.6 6.0

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates......................... 03 0.781 138.6 141.2 9.0 -0.5 1.9 3.0 1.9

Vegetable products............................... II 1.993 194.2 192.7 -5.3 -6.2 -3.4 1.0 -0.8

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers.......... 07 0.499 445.1 411.0 -11.8 -24.0 -5.2 4.8 -7.7

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons.......................................... 08 0.573 92.5 90.7 -7.9 3.9 -2.8 -1.7 -1.9

Coffee, tea, mate and spices.................. 09 0.365 226.5 228.1 -5.3 0.3 -0.5 0.8 0.7

Oilseeds & misc grains, seeds, plants, straw

& fodder (Dec. 2015=100)................... 12 0.171 103.4 107.0 – -0.8 -0.7 1.9 3.5

Animal or vegetable fats and oils (Dec.

2009=100)........................................ III 0.291 109.1 106.7 1.2 1.9 2.9 6.3 -2.2

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and

tobacco........................................... IV 2.816 159.7 160.4 -0.3 -0.1 0.7 0.3 0.4

Sugars and sugar confectionary (Dec.

2012=100)..................................... 17 0.194 86.0 85.7 -5.7 0.2 1.3 -0.1 -0.3

Cocoa and cocoa preparations (Dec.

2009=100)..................................... 18 0.244 111.6 114.7 3.7 -2.7 4.2 0.8 2.8

Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk;

bakers’ wares (Dec. 2007=100)............. 19 0.291 133.1 133.2 0.9 -0.2 0.2 0.5 0.1

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts, or

other parts of plants.......................... 20 0.331 155.7 155.0 -2.0 -0.4 0.9 0.3 -0.4

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar................ 22 1.052 128.6 128.7 1.0 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1

Mineral products.................................. V 7.073 126.6 147.0 -29.1 -6.7 8.5 9.3 16.1

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............. 27 6.809 123.5 144.2 -29.5 -6.9 8.9 9.7 16.8

Products of the chemical or allied

industries........................................ VI 9.012 146.6 147.0 -1.2 0.7 -1.1 -0.1 0.3

Inorganic chemicals............................. 28 0.574 262.8 262.4 -13.1 -1.2 -1.0 -1.1 -0.2

Organic chemicals............................... 29 2.415 120.1 120.4 -3.1 -0.6 -2.4 0.4 0.2

Pharmaceutical products....................... 30 3.922 142.0 142.8 4.5 2.4 0.1 -0.1 0.6

Fertilizers (Dec. 2009=100).................... 31 0.287 76.6 76.1 -33.0 0.2 -7.7 -0.5 -0.7

Tanning extracts; dye, pigments, varnish,

paints & putty (Dec. 2011=100)............. 32 0.191 97.3 97.6 -0.7 0.6 1.0 0.1 0.3

Miscellaneous chemical products............. 38 0.678 101.3 101.3 12.6 0.2 0.0 -1.3 0.0

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof.................................. VII 3.548 136.1 136.4 -4.1 -0.1 -0.3 0.2 0.2

Plastics and articles thereof.................... 39 2.279 139.7 139.9 -4.6 -0.5 0.0 0.0 0.1

Rubber and articles thereof.................... 40 1.269 131.1 131.7 -3.1 0.5 -0.8 0.6 0.5

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc....................................... VIII 0.725 124.6 124.6 -2.7 -0.8 -0.4 -0.2 0.0

Articles of leather; travel goods, bags, etc.

of various materials........................... 42 0.690 129.2 129.2 -1.1 -0.2 -0.2 -0.2 0.0

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................. IX 0.828 138.5 140.4 2.4 -0.4 0.9 1.8 1.4

Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal

(Dec. 2014=100).............................. 44 0.788 95.1 96.5 2.7 -0.5 1.0 1.9 1.5

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products......................................... X 1.173 109.7 109.6 -2.1 -0.1 0.4 -0.5 -0.1

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper

pulp, paper or paperboard................... 48 0.795 104.4 104.3 -1.8 0.2 0.4 -0.1 -0.1

See footnotes at end of table.

9
Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: May 2015 to May

2016 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Apr.

20161

Index Percent change

Apr.

2016

May

2016

Annual Monthly

May

2015 to

May

2016

Jan.

2016 to

Feb.

2016

Feb.

2016 to

Mar.

2016

Mar.

2016 to

Apr.

2016

Apr.

2016 to

May

2016

Printed matter (Dec. 2015=100)............... 49 0.215 100.4 100.3 – -0.1 0.4 0.0 -0.1

Textile and textile articles....................... XI 5.597 113.4 113.4 -1.0 -0.1 -0.2 0.0 0.0

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

knitted or crocheted.......................... 61 2.310 103.7 103.5 -0.8 0.0 -0.2 0.0 -0.2

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

not knitted or crocheted...................... 62 1.937 120.0 120.1 -0.2 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1

Made-up or worn textile articles............... 63 0.645 103.1 102.9 -3.5 -0.5 -0.4 -0.1 -0.2

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc... XII 1.564 123.0 123.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.1 0.0

Footwear and parts of such articles........... 64 1.358 122.1 122.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 -0.1 0.0

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos,

ceramics, glass etc............................ XIII 0.983 131.9 132.5 0.0 -0.1 0.1 0.2 0.5

Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos,

or mica (Dec. 2015=100).................... 68 0.341 99.8 100.6 – -0.4 0.4 0.4 0.8

Ceramic products................................ 69 0.288 137.5 137.5 -0.9 -0.1 -0.7 0.0 0.0

Glass and glassware............................ 70 0.354 129.8 130.3 0.5 0.1 0.4 0.2 0.4

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins.............................. XIV 3.081 167.7 172.5 0.8 1.4 3.3 -0.2 2.9

Base metals and articles of base metals. . .. XV 5.452 152.9 155.9 -8.1 -0.5 0.3 0.9 2.0

Iron and steel.................................... 72 1.248 155.9 166.8 -8.7 -0.7 0.1 4.0 7.0

Articles of iron or steel.......................... 73 1.759 138.9 139.0 -6.9 -0.7 -0.3 0.0 0.1

Copper and articles thereof.................... 74 0.376 248.4 246.3 -15.9 -2.1 2.9 -0.2 -0.8

Aluminum and articles thereof................. 76 0.736 120.7 122.3 -10.2 -0.4 0.4 0.1 1.3

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and

forks, of base metal; parts thereof.......... 82 0.465 125.4 125.4 -2.6 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal. . . . . . . .. 83 0.537 136.6 136.9 -1.0 -0.1 -0.1 0.0 0.2

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............. XVI 31.251 81.0 81.1 -1.8 -0.2 -0.1 -0.2 0.1

Machinery and mechanical appliances;

parts thereof................................... 84 15.880 86.0 86.2 -1.8 -0.1 -0.1 -0.2 0.2

Electrical machinery and equip, sound and

TV recorders & reproducers, parts......... 85 15.371 76.1 76.1 -2.1 -0.4 -0.1 -0.4 0.0

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment........................... XVII 14.664 114.1 114.3 -0.3 -0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2

Motor vehicles and their parts................. 87 13.130 112.7 112.9 -0.3 -0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2

Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof (Dec.

2002=100)..................................... 88 1.461 120.2 120.2 0.3 0.0 0.0 -0.1 0.0

Optical, photo, measuring, medical &

musical instruments; & timepieces. . . . . . .. XVIII 4.090 103.2 103.2 -0.5 0.9 -0.2 -0.3 0.0

Optical, photographic, measuring and

medical instruments.......................... 90 3.752 99.9 100.0 -0.5 1.0 -0.3 -0.4 0.1

Clocks and watches and parts thereof. . . . . .. 91 0.272 141.8 142.0 0.1 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles......... XX 4.283 112.2 112.2 -0.7 -0.1 -0.1 0.1 0.0

Furniture & stuffed furnishings; lamps &

lighting fittings, nesoi; prefab bldgs......... 94 2.620 116.7 116.9 -0.6 0.0 -0.2 0.1 0.2

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts

and accessories thereof...................... 95 1.378 103.6 103.5 -1.2 -0.2 0.0 0.0 -0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . . . .. 96 0.285 135.3 135.2 0.7 -0.1 0.0 0.0 -0.1

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2014 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.

Dash = Not available

10
Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: May 2015 to May

2016

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Apr.

20161

Index Percent change

Apr.

2016

May

2016

Annual Monthly

May

2015 to

May

2016

Jan.

2016 to

Feb.

2016

Feb.

2016 to

Mar.

2016

Mar.

2016 to

Apr.

2016

Apr.

2016 to

May

2016

Live animals; animal products................. I 1.727 183.0 184.2 -8.4 1.7 0.4 -0.1 0.7

Meat & edible meat offal (Dec. 2006=100)... 02 1.027 145.2 148.0 -4.6 5.2 2.5 -0.6 1.9

Vegetable products............................... II 4.300 190.6 199.3 -5.2 1.4 -4.5 1.2 4.6

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons.......................................... 08 0.929 153.7 155.2 -14.3 -0.1 -8.7 -2.2 1.0

Cereals............................................ 10 1.255 177.7 184.7 -4.1 3.2 -4.3 0.6 3.9

Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds, fruits,

plants, straw and fodder..................... 12 1.521 187.4 204.8 -3.5 1.1 -3.4 3.3 9.3

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and

tobacco........................................... IV 2.968 146.7 149.0 -4.0 -1.0 -0.1 1.0 1.6

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or

other parts of plants (Dec. 2009=100). . . .. 20 0.384 119.0 119.0 0.5 -0.3 0.0 0.1 0.0

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar (Dec.

2008=100)..................................... 22 0.542 108.0 111.6 0.8 -0.2 1.2 2.4 3.3

Residues and waste from the food

industries; prepared animal feed............ 23 0.647 192.7 199.8 -10.4 -0.6 -1.3 0.7 3.7

Mineral products.................................. V 5.802 140.4 153.1 -28.5 -6.2 -0.9 3.5 9.0

Ores, slag and ash (Dec. 2012=100)......... 26 0.475 73.8 77.0 -15.1 0.7 3.3 3.2 4.3

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............. 27 5.126 131.7 144.6 -30.1 -7.0 -1.2 3.6 9.8

Products of the chemical or allied

industries........................................ VI 10.819 134.8 135.1 -6.2 -1.5 -0.1 0.3 0.2

Inorganic chemicals............................. 28 0.915 171.8 171.8 -7.5 -6.2 -0.3 -0.3 0.0

Organic chemicals............................... 29 2.470 131.2 131.1 -11.0 -0.9 -0.2 1.1 -0.1

Pharmaceutical products....................... 30 2.945 106.4 107.4 -3.3 -0.9 0.3 0.4 0.9

Tanning or dyeing extracts, dyes, paints

varnish, putty, & inks (Dec. 2015=100). . .. 32 0.556 99.2 99.4 – -0.7 0.0 0.3 0.2

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery

cosmetic or toilet preparations.............. 33 0.845 134.5 134.6 -1.8 -0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1

Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or

scouring products; candles, pastes......... 34 0.526 116.6 116.6 1.9 0.2 0.0 0.3 0.0

Miscellaneous chemical products............. 38 1.834 143.3 143.3 -6.6 -2.2 -0.4 -0.3 0.0

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof.................................. VII 5.158 136.0 136.3 -5.1 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.2

Plastics and articles thereof.................... 39 4.165 131.4 131.6 -5.6 0.5 -0.2 0.2 0.2

Rubber and articles thereof.................... 40 0.993 155.2 156.4 -3.2 -0.3 0.4 -0.3 0.8

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc........................................ VIII 0.331 118.5 118.4 -16.5 0.8 -2.6 0.7 -0.1

Raw hides and skins other than furskins

and leather (Dec.2014=100)................. 41 0.183 69.2 69.2 -23.1 -0.1 0.6 1.3 0.0

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw, baskets

and wickerwork (Dec. 2014=100)............ IX 0.658 95.0 94.5 -3.2 -1.4 -0.9 1.2 -0.5

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products......................................... X 2.157 121.3 121.6 -1.5 -0.4 0.6 0.3 0.2

Woodpulp and recovered paper............... 47 0.618 122.5 123.5 -0.1 -1.4 2.0 1.9 0.8

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper

pulp, paper or paperboard................... 48 1.152 119.9 119.8 -3.1 -0.1 0.1 -0.3 -0.1

Printed material (Dec. 2014=100)............. 49 0.387 100.4 100.4 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Textile and textile articles....................... XI 1.734 119.3 119.5 -2.0 -0.4 -0.9 0.5 0.2

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics

thereof.......................................... 52 0.384 112.6 115.2 -2.0 -1.1 -3.1 2.5 2.3

See footnotes at end of table.

11
Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: May 2015 to May

2016 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Apr.

20161

Index Percent change

Apr.

2016

May

2016

Annual Monthly

May

2015 to

May

2016

Jan.

2016 to

Feb.

2016

Feb.

2016 to

Mar.

2016

Mar.

2016 to

Apr.

2016

Apr.

2016 to

May

2016

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos,

ceramics, glass etc............................ XIII 0.883 122.8 122.9 0.6 0.0 -0.1 0.0 0.1

Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos,

or mica (Dec. 2015=100).................... 68 0.298 100.5 100.5 – 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Glass and glassware............................ 70 0.445 99.4 99.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins.............................. XIV 4.455 231.0 234.8 0.0 1.7 3.4 0.0 1.6

Base metals and articles of base metals. . .. XV 4.994 141.7 145.5 -4.6 -0.9 0.8 0.4 2.7

Iron and steel.................................... 72 1.001 139.3 152.2 -3.0 -1.1 -0.2 3.6 9.3

Copper and articles thereof.................... 74 0.430 152.1 152.6 -23.4 -0.1 5.2 0.1 0.3

Aluminum and articles thereof................. 76 0.775 102.8 105.7 -10.7 -4.4 2.9 0.3 2.8

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and

forks, of base metal (Dec. 2015=100). . . .. 82 0.397 99.7 100.1 – -0.4 0.0 -0.1 0.4

Miscellaneous articles of base metal. . . . . . . .. 83 0.361 148.2 148.2 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............. XVI 30.323 96.0 96.0 -1.1 0.2 -0.1 0.0 0.0

Machinery and mechanical appliances;

parts thereof................................... 84 18.131 112.9 112.9 -0.6 0.4 -0.1 0.0 0.0

Electrical machinery and equipment and

parts and accessories thereof............... 85 12.192 77.6 77.7 -2.0 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 0.1

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment........................... XVII 15.419 131.5 131.7 0.7 -0.1 0.1 0.4 0.2

Motor vehicles and their parts................. 87 9.399 115.1 115.2 0.2 -0.2 -0.1 0.5 0.1

Optical, photo, measuring, medical &

musical instruments; & timepieces. . . . . . .. XVIII 6.344 106.9 107.0 0.2 -0.3 -0.1 0.0 0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles......... XX 1.574 111.6 110.7 -0.8 0.4 0.0 0.1 -0.8

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and

lighting fittings nesoi;......................... 94 0.932 125.4 124.9 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.3 -0.4

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts

and accessories thereof...................... 95 0.481 89.5 89.2 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 -0.3 -0.3

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2014 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.

Dash = Not available

12
Table 7. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes by locality of origin: May 2015 to May 2016

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Relative

importance

Apr.

20161

Index Percent change

Apr.

2016

May

2016

Annual Monthly

May 2015

to May

2016

Jan. 2016

to Feb.

2016

Feb. 2016

to Mar.

2016

Mar. 2016

to Apr.

2016

Apr. 2016

to May

2016

Industrialized Countries2

.................... 100.000 115.1 117.2 -4.0 -0.3 0.6 0.8 1.8

Nonmanufactured articles................... 6.877 109.6 125.0 -18.7 -5.8 10.2 11.0 14.1

Manufactured articles........................ 92.700 115.1 116.1 -2.6 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.9

Other Countries3

.............................. 100.000 115.9 117.6 -5.5 -0.7 0.3 0.5 1.5

Nonmanufactured articles................... 7.554 148.3 167.9 -24.9 -6.6 5.5 6.5 13.2

Manufactured articles........................ 92.201 102.3 102.8 -2.7 -0.3 -0.1 0.1 0.5

Canada.......................................... 100.000 114.4 119.2 -7.7 -1.4 1.6 3.7 4.2

Nonmanufactured articles................... 20.037 104.0 119.1 -19.4 -6.3 10.7 11.8 14.5

Manufactured articles........................ 79.204 121.2 123.0 -4.1 -0.3 -0.3 1.8 1.5

European Union4

.............................. 100.000 131.2 132.0 -1.9 -0.5 -0.2 0.2 0.6

Manufactured articles........................ 99.529 127.9 128.6 -1.8 -0.5 -0.2 0.2 0.5

France (Dec. 2003=100)...................... 100.000 122.6 122.8 1.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.2

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)................... 100.000 113.1 113.2 -2.8 0.3 -0.1 -0.3 0.1

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100).......... 100.000 118.5 119.1 -2.1 -0.3 -2.6 0.2 0.5

Latin America5

................................. 100.000 135.7 138.5 -8.3 -1.3 0.8 0.8 2.1

Nonmanufactured articles................... 14.696 170.0 189.0 -23.7 -5.4 5.6 5.3 11.2

Manufactured articles........................ 84.823 118.8 119.3 -4.4 -0.6 0.1 0.1 0.4

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)...................... 100.000 124.4 125.5 -4.8 -1.0 0.2 0.3 0.9

Nonmanufactured articles (Dec.

2008=100).................................. 7.266 90.7 100.0 -25.9 -11.1 3.4 5.1 10.3

Manufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100). .. 92.267 88.7 88.9 -2.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 0.2

Pacific Rim (Dec. 2003=100)6

............... 100.000 98.6 98.7 -1.8 -0.1 -0.1 -0.2 0.1

China (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 100.000 101.2 101.2 -1.7 -0.2 -0.2 -0.2 0.0

Japan............................................ 100.000 95.3 95.4 -1.0 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.1

Asian NICs7..................................... 100.000 84.6 84.6 -2.6 0.7 -0.6 -0.1 0.0

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)8.................... 100.000 96.7 96.8 -2.1 -0.7 0.0 0.4 0.1

Asia Near East (Dec. 2003=100)9

........... 100.000 129.9 142.6 -21.6 -5.0 3.8 6.2 9.8

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2014 trade values.

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

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

4 European Union countries.

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

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

Countries.

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

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

9 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 3 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: May 2015 to

May 2016

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Relative

importance

Apr.

20161

Index Percent change

Apr.

2016

May

2016

Annual Monthly

May 2015

to May

2016

Jan. 2016

to Feb.

2016

Feb. 2016

to Mar.

2016

Mar. 2016

to Apr.

2016

Apr. 2016

to May

2016

Air Freight

Import Air Freight.................................... 100.000 152.4 151.1 -11.9 -2.1 -0.1 0.9 -0.9

Europe (Dec. 2003=100).......................... 23.361 135.8 137.7 -5.4 -1.5 1.2 -3.3 1.4

Asia.................................................. 62.817 136.2 133.2 -15.9 -3.3 -0.5 3.0 -2.2

Export Air Freight................................... 100.000 153.7 153.7 -2.4 -0.1 -3.4 0.3 0.0

Europe (Dec. 2006=100).......................... 37.783 145.5 145.5 -3.3 0.1 -3.6 -0.5 0.0

Inbound Air Freight................................. 100.000 146.2 144.4 -9.0 -1.3 -1.6 1.2 -1.2

Europe (Dec. 2003=100).......................... 28.147 134.4 135.8 -1.2 -1.3 0.7 -0.1 1.0

Asia.................................................. 57.480 129.8 126.1 -14.5 -2.0 -2.7 2.5 -2.9

Outbound Air Freight............................... 100.000 137.5 137.6 -7.7 1.0 -3.9 -2.0 0.1

Europe (Dec. 2003=100).......................... 32.834 142.4 142.4 -9.9 0.2 -4.2 -6.1 0.0

Asia.................................................. 43.385 130.2 130.2 -8.2 2.5 -5.3 0.0 0.0

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares....................... 100.000 185.5 188.3 -0.5 -1.5 -5.4 3.5 1.5

Europe............................................... 45.480 220.5 221.5 -2.6 3.6 -11.3 5.1 0.5

Asia.................................................. 23.026 135.4 139.5 -4.1 -6.7 -2.8 3.8 3.0

Latin America/Caribbean.......................... 8.704 145.1 144.1 -9.5 2.9 1.2 -2.2 -0.7

Export Air Passenger Fares....................... 100.000 147.2 145.8 -10.6 -13.5 7.5 -6.0 -1.0

Europe............................................... 31.423 197.8 191.1 -9.0 -1.7 14.7 -11.4 -3.4

Asia.................................................. 27.340 123.8 133.4 -6.1 -16.4 1.2 -3.7 7.8

Latin America/Caribbean.......................... 22.715 149.6 148.5 -10.2 -15.1 4.3 -4.3 -0.7

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2014 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.

Dash = Not available

14
15 

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 2-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 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 Producer Price Index (PPI) 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 indexes and excluded from 

the export air passenger fares indexes. 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 www.bls.gov/mxp under "MXP Publications."
16 

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 3 months after original publication. After 3 months, no further data 

revisions take place. For example, data first published 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 (NIPA) 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 NIPA, 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. 

Email Subscription - The U.S. import and export price indexes news release is available through an 

email subscription service at www.bls.gov/bls/list.htm. 

 

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

page at www.bls.gov/mxp. For import and export price indexes data requests, send an email 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.