Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until 

8:30 a.m. (EDT) Tuesday, March 15, 2011 

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

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

USDL-11-0348

Note: This release was reissued on March 16, 2011, to change incorrect text references to January on pages 3 and 4.

U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES – FEBRUARY 2011 

U.S. import prices rose 1.4 percent in February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, 

following a similar 1.3 percent advance in January. The price index for U.S. exports increased 1.2 percent in 

February after rising 1.3 percent the previous month. Higher agricultural and nonagricultural export prices 

each contributed to the overall advance in February. 

Chart 1. One-month percent change in the Import Price Index: February 2010 – February 2011 

 Percent change 

-0.1

0.4

1.1

-0.8

-1.2

0.0

0.4

0.0

1.1

1.7 1.4 1.3 1.4

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

Feb'10 Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb'11

Chart 2. 12-month percent change in the Import Price Index: February 2010 – February 2011 

 Percent change

11.3 11.2 11.2

8.5

4.3

4.9

3.8 3.6 3.9 4.1

5.3 5.4

6.9

0

5

10

Feb'10 Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb'11
 

All Imports: Prices for imports rose 1.4 percent in February, continuing a five-month trend of monthly 

increases greater than 1.0 percent. Import prices advanced 6.9 percent for the year ended in February, driven 

by a 7.0 percent jump for the index over the past five months. The year-over-year rise in February was the 

largest 12-month advance since an 8.5 percent increase for the year ended in May 2010. Higher prices for 

both fuel and nonfuel import prices contributed to the increase in February and over the past year. 

Fuel Imports: Fuel prices increased 4.0 percent in February following a 3.5 percent advance the previous 

month. Rising prices for both petroleum and natural gas factored into the February increase, advancing 3.7 

percent and 12.1 percent, respectively. Fuel prices rose 18.6 percent over the past 12 months, led by a 20.6 

percent jump in petroleum prices. Despite rising 23.4 percent over the past two months, however, natural 

gas prices declined 10.9 percent between February 2010 and February 2011. 

All Imports Excluding Fuel: Nonfuel import prices advanced 0.3 percent in February after a 0.7 percent 

increase in January. Higher prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials; foods, feeds, and beverages; 

and each of the major finished goods categories all contributed to the rise in nonfuel prices in February. The 

price index for nonfuel imports increased 3.6 percent the past year, the largest 12-month advance since a 4.8 

percent increase between October 2007 and October 2008. The current 12-month rise was mostly driven by 

a 12.9 percent advance for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials prices and a 15.8 percent increase for 

foods, feeds, and beverages prices. 

Table A. Percent changes 

2
Chart 3. One-month percent change in the Export Price Index: February 2010 – February 2011 

 Percent change 

-0.3

0.7

1.1

0.5

-0.7

-0.2

0.8

0.6 0.8

1.5

0.7

1.3 1.2

-1

0

1

2

Feb'10 Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb'11

Chart 4. 12-month percent change in the Export Price Index: February 2010 – February 2011 

 Percent change 

3.4

4.9

5.5 5.6

3.7 3.9 4.1

4.9

5.8

6.5 6.5

7.0

8.6

0

2

4

6

8

10

Feb'10 Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb'11

All Exports: Export prices rose 1.2 percent in February following a 1.3 percent advance the previous 

month. The index has risen at least 0.6 percent every month since a 0.2 percent decline in July 2010. The 

price index for overall exports increased 8.6 percent over the past year, the largest 12-month advance since a 

10.2 percent rise for the year ended in July 2008. 

Agricultural Exports: Agricultural exports advanced 4.4 percent in February and 33.5 percent over the past 

12 months. The price index for agricultural exports is at the highest level since the index was first published 

in March 1985, and the year-over-year increase in February was the largest since a 39.7 percent surge for 

the July 2007-08 period. Rising cotton prices, up 15.7 percent in February and 153.5 percent over the past 

year, had the largest contribution to both the February and 12-month advances for agricultural prices. Prices 

for corn, wheat, and soybeans, which rose 7.9 percent, 11.0 percent, and 3.4 percent, respectively, in 

February, also continued an upward trend. 

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: Nonagricultural prices increased 0.9 percent in February following a 

1.0 percent advance the previous month. Rising prices in February for nonagricultural industrial supplies 

and materials prices and consumer goods, up 2.6 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively, more than offset a 

0.3 percent drop in capital goods prices. The price index for nonagricultural exports increased 6.2 percent 

for the year ended in February. 

3
4

 

 

SELECTED FEBRUARY HIGHLIGHTS 

Import Prices 

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

rose 1.3 percent in February following a 2.1 percent rise the previous month. Higher prices for metals and 

chemicals drove the increases in each month. Unfinished metal prices advanced 1.8 percent in February, 

while chemical prices rose 1.2 percent. 

Finished Goods: Prices for each of the major finished goods categories advanced in February. Consumer 

goods prices increased 0.2 percent in February, led by a 0.9 percent increase in the price index for cotton 

apparel and household goods. The price index for capital goods also rose 0.2 percent as higher prices for 

both computers, peripherals and semiconductors, and capital goods excluding computers contributed to the 

advance. Prices for automotive vehicles ticked up 0.1 percent in February after rising 0.3 percent in January. 

 

Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Foods, feeds, and beverages prices rose 0.8 percent in February following a 

2.5 percent increase the previous month. In February, rising prices for meat, food oils, fruit, and coffee, up 

7.2 percent, 5.6 percent, 2.9 percent, and 3.9 percent, respectively, more than offset a 6.4 percent drop in 

vegetable prices and a 3.9 percent decline in the price index for bakery and confectionery products. 

Imports by Locality of Origin: Prices for imports from China continued to rise in February, increasing 0.4 

percent for the second consecutive month. Import prices from China have risen 2.0 percent over the past 

year, the largest 12-month advance since a 2.8 percent increase for the December 2007-08 period. Prices for 

imports from Japan advanced 0.5 percent for the second consecutive month and rose 3.1 percent for the year 

ended in February, the largest 12-month increase for the index since a 3.3 percent advance in November 

1995. 

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares fell 2.4 percent in February after a similar 2.6 percent 

drop the previous month. Lower Asian and European fares contributed to the February decline. Import air 

freight prices advanced 1.7 percent in February, following a 1.6 percent decrease in January. 

Export Prices 

 

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: Prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies and 

materials advanced 2.6 percent in February after a similar 2.5 percent increase the previous month. The rise 

was driven by a 3.5 percent advance in fuel prices, a 2.4 percent increase in chemicals prices, and a 15.4 

percent jump in steelmaking and ferroalloying material prices. 

 

Finished Goods: Finished goods prices were mixed in February. Capital goods prices fell 0.3 percent, 

driven by a 1.5 percent drop in the price index for computers, peripherals, and semiconductors. In contrast, 

consumer goods prices rose 0.5 percent in February, while prices for automotive vehicles were unchanged. 

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares fell 6.0 percent in February, the largest monthly 

decline since an 8.6 percent drop in September. The February decrease was driven by a 16.8 percent drop in 

Asian fares. The price index for export air freight rose 1.5 percent in February and 3.8 percent the previous 

month. 

 

Import and Export Price Index data for March 2011 are scheduled for release on Tuesday, April 12, 

2011 at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).
Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: February 2010 to

February 2011

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Jan.

20111

Index Percent change

Jan.

2011

Feb.

2011

Annual Monthly

Feb.

2010 to

Feb.

2011

Oct. 2010

to Nov.

2010

Nov.

2010 to

Dec.

2010

Dec.

2010 to

Jan.

2011

Jan.

2011 to

Feb.

2011

All commodities..................................... 100.000 132.7 134.5 6.9 1.7 1.4 1.3 1.4

All imports excluding food and fuels (Dec.

2010=100).......................................... 70.225 100.5 100.9 – – – 0.5 0.4

All imports excluding petroleum................ 77.665 113.6 114.3 3.5 0.8 0.4 0.8 0.6

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)... 76.051 117.2 117.6 3.6 0.8 0.3 0.7 0.3

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 5.826 166.9 168.3 15.8 2.6 1.4 2.5 0.8

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 4.537 187.7 189.8 16.4 3.1 1.5 2.6 1.1

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 1.289 119.8 119.6 14.2 0.9 1.3 2.0 -0.2

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 37.164 229.2 236.2 16.5 3.8 3.8 3.0 3.1

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

petroleum..................................... 14.830 163.9 167.4 11.2 2.4 1.6 2.8 2.1

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

fuels (Dec. 2001=100)....................... 13.216 181.7 184.1 12.9 2.5 1.1 2.1 1.3

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 8.071 174.5 176.8 12.2 2.7 0.7 2.0 1.3

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable

excluding petroleum......................... 5.145 151.2 155.9 9.7 2.0 2.7 3.9 3.1

Fuels & lubricants............................... 10 23.948 295.0 306.9 18.6 4.8 5.6 3.5 4.0

Petroleum & petroleum products........... 100 22.334 322.6 334.5 20.6 5.0 5.5 3.1 3.7

Crude.......................................... 10000 16.619 329.8 341.5 21.5 4.3 5.9 3.0 3.5

Fuels, n.e.s.-coals & gas.................... 101 1.234 137.3 152.5 -6.3 1.4 7.2 9.1 11.1

Gas-natural................................... 10110 1.110 122.7 137.5 -10.9 1.9 10.0 10.1 12.1

Paper & paper base stocks................... 11 0.673 117.7 115.5 8.6 0.5 0.0 0.2 -1.9

Materials associated with nondurable

supplies & materials......................... 12 4.537 161.0 163.8 14.6 2.4 1.9 2.5 1.7

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.107 129.4 129.6 3.9 1.0 0.4 1.8 0.2

Unfinished metals related to durable

goods.......................................... 14 3.875 274.0 278.8 19.3 4.5 1.2 3.0 1.8

Finished metals related to durable goods. .. 15 1.586 153.2 155.4 9.9 1.3 0.5 0.3 1.4

Nonmetals related to durable goods......... 16 1.438 110.0 111.0 4.0 0.6 0.2 1.2 0.9

Capital goods..................................... 2 22.037 92.0 92.2 0.5 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.2

Electric generating equipment................ 20 2.759 114.5 114.6 2.5 0.7 0.1 0.7 0.1

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 17.405 86.2 86.3 0.2 -0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 1.874 122.0 122.9 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.7

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 9.548 109.7 109.8 1.4 0.2 -0.2 0.3 0.1

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 25.424 104.4 104.6 0.3 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.2

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 12.474 110.4 110.8 2.1 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.4

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 11.927 98.5 98.4 -1.9 0.4 -0.3 0.3 -0.1

Nonmanufactured consumer goods.......... 42 1.023 106.0 107.3 4.8 0.0 0.1 2.2 1.2

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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: February 2010 to

February 2011

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Jan.

20111

Index Percent change

Jan.

2011

Feb.

2011

Annual Monthly

Feb.

2010 to

Feb.

2011

Oct. 2010

to Nov.

2010

Nov.

2010 to

Dec.

2010

Dec.

2010 to

Jan.

2011

Jan.

2011 to

Feb.

2011

All commodities..................................... 100.000 129.1 130.7 8.6 1.5 0.7 1.3 1.2

Agricultural commodities......................... 11.672 204.8 213.8 33.5 7.6 1.9 3.2 4.4

All exports excluding food and fuels (Dec.

2010=100).......................................... 81.537 100.7 101.5 – – – 0.7 0.8

Nonagricultural commodities.................... 88.328 123.6 124.7 6.2 0.8 0.6 1.0 0.9

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 10.367 197.8 203.3 26.4 5.9 0.9 3.5 2.8

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 9.666 201.3 208.7 28.1 6.3 0.6 3.4 3.7

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 0.701 166.9 151.8 4.8 0.3 5.1 3.6 -9.0

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 33.803 176.9 182.0 19.3 2.5 1.8 2.5 2.9

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 12.140 178.9 183.2 14.6 1.7 1.4 2.3 2.4

Industrial supplies & materials,

nondurable.................................... 21.662 176.6 182.2 22.4 3.1 2.1 2.6 3.2

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials... 10 2.006 227.5 245.4 63.2 13.7 7.9 2.2 7.9

Nonagricultural industrial supplies &

materials........................................ 31.797 174.8 179.3 17.3 1.9 1.4 2.5 2.6

Fuels & lubricants............................... 11 8.096 245.1 253.6 33.2 3.6 2.8 4.8 3.5

Nonagricultural supplies & materials

excluding fuels & building materials. . . . . .. 12 22.809 167.4 171.3 13.8 1.6 1.2 1.8 2.3

Selected building materials.................... 13 0.892 116.2 115.6 -0.2 0.3 -0.9 0.0 -0.5

Capital goods..................................... 2 35.518 104.1 103.8 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.3 -0.3

Electrical generating equipment.............. 20 3.390 110.2 110.6 0.5 0.5 -0.1 0.5 0.4

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 24.879 94.1 93.7 -0.8 0.2 0.1 -0.3 -0.4

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 7.250 144.1 144.5 4.2 0.1 0.3 2.1 0.3

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 6.848 109.2 109.2 0.5 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.0

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 13.464 112.8 113.4 3.1 0.4 -0.1 0.0 0.5

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 6.913 113.6 113.9 1.8 0.7 -0.2 -0.4 0.3

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 5.479 111.2 112.2 4.4 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.9

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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: February 2010 to

February 2011

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Jan.

20111

Index Percent change

Jan.

2011

Feb.

2011

Annual Monthly

Feb.

2010 to

Feb.

2011

Oct. 2010

to Nov.

2010

Nov.

2010 to

Dec.

2010

Dec.

2010 to

Jan.

2011

Jan.

2011 to

Feb.

2011

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 21.034 147.5 153.3 19.4 3.9 5.6 3.6 3.9

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 2.182 173.2 176.6 23.8 2.4 3.0 4.3 2.0

Crop production................................. 111 1.561 176.6 177.1 18.1 2.3 2.1 3.4 0.3

Mining.............................................. 21 18.852 144.7 150.7 18.9 4.2 5.9 3.5 4.1

Mining (except oil and gas) (Dec.

2006=100)..................................... 212 0.375 145.2 145.7 12.1 0.8 0.1 3.3 0.3

Manufactured articles.............................. 78.470 113.3 114.0 4.1 1.1 0.4 0.8 0.6

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 10.974 115.9 116.6 8.1 1.3 0.8 1.5 0.6

Food manufacturing............................ 311 3.288 146.4 147.6 21.3 3.1 1.6 3.0 0.8

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.934 110.0 110.0 0.6 1.0 0.1 -0.3 0.0

Textile product mills............................ 314 0.844 107.7 108.8 7.7 1.0 1.5 1.0 1.0

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 4.048 104.1 104.7 3.5 0.4 0.5 1.0 0.6

Leather and allied product manufacturing. .. 316 1.489 109.2 109.8 3.0 0.1 0.1 0.6 0.5

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 18.698 129.4 131.1 8.4 2.5 1.4 1.6 1.3

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.684 108.3 108.7 7.1 1.8 0.5 3.3 0.4

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.222 111.3 110.5 7.2 0.5 -0.1 0.6 -0.7

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 4.650 144.5 149.5 16.2 7.1 4.3 2.9 3.5

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 9.462 130.4 131.5 6.3 1.6 0.9 0.7 0.8

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 1.772 119.5 120.0 5.3 0.3 0.3 2.6 0.4

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 0.809 125.4 125.5 4.1 0.2 0.2 1.5 0.1

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 48.798 107.8 108.2 1.8 0.6 0.0 0.4 0.4

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 4.617 178.1 181.3 18.2 4.1 1.2 2.5 1.8

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.541 122.2 122.3 5.2 0.4 0.7 0.7 0.1

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 5.529 115.6 116.2 2.7 0.3 0.0 0.8 0.5

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 15.516 84.4 84.5 -4.1 -0.2 -0.5 -0.8 0.1

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.608 114.0 114.0 1.0 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.0

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 10.652 106.3 106.5 0.8 0.1 -0.1 -0.1 0.2

Furniture and related product

manufacturing................................ 337 1.226 107.1 107.8 1.4 0.1 0.5 -0.1 0.7

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 5.109 117.2 117.2 4.5 0.8 0.3 2.5 0.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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: February 2010 to

February 2011

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Jan.

20111

Index Percent change

Jan.

2011

Feb.

2011

Annual Monthly

Feb.

2010 to

Feb.

2011

Oct. 2010

to Nov.

2010

Nov.

2010 to

Dec.

2010

Dec.

2010 to

Jan.

2011

Jan.

2011 to

Feb.

2011

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 9.465 175.8 181.1 46.9 10.0 1.2 6.4 3.0

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 6.931 199.8 212.5 55.1 13.4 2.8 5.4 6.4

Crop production................................. 111 6.666 209.0 222.6 58.9 14.4 2.9 5.6 6.5

Mining.............................................. 21 2.534 122.9 115.4 26.8 2.6 -3.0 9.0 -6.1

Mining (except oil and gas).................... 212 1.555 132.2 134.1 42.2 1.6 -4.7 1.2 1.4

Manufactured articles.............................. 86.908 115.9 116.9 5.6 0.9 0.5 0.7 0.9

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 7.204 136.7 138.1 11.9 1.8 1.3 1.2 1.0

Food manufacturing............................ 311 4.963 152.7 153.3 11.0 2.0 1.5 0.4 0.4

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.556 114.2 114.4 7.2 0.3 -0.3 -0.5 0.2

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 0.398 107.4 110.4 7.8 -0.5 -0.4 2.6 2.8

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 25.831 125.9 128.8 11.8 1.6 1.0 1.0 2.3

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.391 113.1 118.7 6.3 4.9 -2.4 -2.7 5.0

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 2.018 124.3 125.2 10.9 0.0 -0.6 1.3 0.7

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 5.290 144.6 153.5 36.7 5.0 4.6 3.4 6.2

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 15.472 126.1 128.0 8.3 1.1 0.5 0.6 1.5

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 1.949 107.8 108.7 1.9 -0.6 0.1 0.2 0.8

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 0.712 110.7 110.7 -3.4 0.0 -0.4 -1.6 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 53.873 110.1 110.2 2.3 0.6 0.3 0.5 0.1

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 4.923 165.0 167.3 19.5 3.4 1.9 2.9 1.4

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.473 123.4 124.4 2.6 0.2 0.3 0.9 0.8

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 10.590 115.6 115.7 1.5 0.3 -0.1 0.3 0.1

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 14.378 91.0 90.3 -2.2 0.1 0.2 -0.4 -0.8

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.101 110.2 110.4 0.6 0.8 0.1 0.4 0.2

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 13.248 113.2 113.4 2.3 0.1 0.2 1.2 0.2

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 4.853 112.2 113.1 3.7 0.1 0.1 -0.6 0.8

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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: February 2010 to

February 2011

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Jan.

20111

Index Percent change

Jan.

2011

Feb.

2011

Annual Monthly

Feb.

2010 to

Feb.

2011

Oct. 2010

to Nov.

2010

Nov.

2010 to

Dec.

2010

Dec.

2010 to

Jan.

2011

Jan.

2011 to

Feb.

2011

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.357 161.0 166.0 25.8 1.5 2.4 2.9 3.1

Meat and edible meat offal....................... 02 0.315 199.9 206.9 23.7 1.1 3.5 3.7 3.5

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.730 122.3 121.4 21.8 1.1 1.6 2.3 -0.7

Vegetable products................................ II 1.808 195.6 195.2 17.4 2.1 2.0 2.8 -0.2

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers............ 07 0.357 330.7 293.0 -1.3 -0.8 5.6 1.7 -11.4

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.542 119.1 123.4 15.3 -2.2 0.5 4.2 3.6

Coffee, tea, mate and spices.................... 09 0.409 226.0 233.0 42.9 9.3 0.1 3.5 3.1

Animal or vegetable fats and oils (Dec.

2009=100).......................................... III 0.352 150.6 159.2 60.0 7.0 7.3 11.6 5.7

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.628 150.4 150.4 7.0 2.4 0.3 0.8 0.0

Cocoa and cocoa preparations (Dec.

2009=100)....................................... 18 0.228 98.8 103.3 1.1 2.5 0.6 2.6 4.6

Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk;

bakers’ wares (Dec. 2007=100).............. 19 0.287 132.6 126.7 11.9 7.7 -3.6 -0.2 -4.4

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts, or other

parts of plants................................... 20 0.371 151.0 151.6 15.9 5.5 1.6 2.1 0.4

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar.................. 22 0.904 120.1 119.9 0.8 1.3 0.2 -0.4 -0.2

Mineral products.................................... V 23.520 295.8 307.6 18.0 4.5 5.5 3.4 4.0

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 23.193 292.2 304.0 18.0 4.6 5.5 3.4 4.0

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 9.113 144.8 145.8 5.9 1.6 0.8 0.8 0.7

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 1.075 341.4 349.8 34.8 5.1 1.3 4.5 2.5

Organic chemicals................................. 29 2.951 136.0 136.4 3.6 0.8 1.3 -0.7 0.3

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 3.390 115.7 115.9 -1.9 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.2

Fertilizers (Dec. 2009=100)...................... 31 0.259 120.3 120.9 18.2 5.0 4.2 7.3 0.5

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec.

2001=100)....................................... 33 0.434 122.3 123.0 2.6 3.6 -0.2 -1.2 0.6

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 0.508 104.2 105.6 13.7 2.8 1.5 3.8 1.3

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 2.969 145.3 147.0 10.9 0.9 1.4 2.3 1.2

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 1.827 135.1 135.9 6.3 0.6 0.8 0.7 0.6

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 1.142 164.9 168.5 18.9 1.3 2.3 5.0 2.2

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.540 116.3 116.5 2.4 0.1 0.2 0.8 0.2

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

various materials................................ 42 0.510 116.5 116.7 1.7 0.2 0.2 0.9 0.2

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.716 130.2 130.9 6.5 1.5 0.4 3.1 0.5

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 1.340 114.5 113.4 5.5 0.4 0.0 0.2 -1.0

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 0.887 107.3 107.2 5.2 0.2 0.1 0.5 -0.1

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 5.176 107.2 108.1 5.1 0.8 0.8 1.2 0.8

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

knitted or crocheted............................ 61 2.035 101.7 102.6 4.5 0.5 0.4 1.1 0.9

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

not knitted or crocheted........................ 62 1.885 105.4 105.8 2.9 0.5 0.6 0.9 0.4

Made-up or worn textile articles................. 63 0.626 101.6 102.6 10.9 1.7 2.4 1.1 1.0

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.. .. XII 1.246 109.6 110.1 3.1 0.3 0.1 0.6 0.5

See footnotes at end of table.

9
Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: February 2010 to

February 2011 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Jan.

20111

Index Percent change

Jan.

2011

Feb.

2011

Annual Monthly

Feb.

2010 to

Feb.

2011

Oct. 2010

to Nov.

2010

Nov.

2010 to

Dec.

2010

Dec.

2010 to

Jan.

2011

Jan.

2011 to

Feb.

2011

Footwear and parts of such articles............ 64 1.061 108.4 109.1 3.1 0.2 0.1 0.4 0.6

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc........................................... XIII 0.735 126.9 127.0 2.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.1

Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, or

mica (Dec. 2001=100)......................... 68 0.251 119.3 119.0 1.2 -0.4 0.8 -0.1 -0.3

Ceramic products.................................. 69 0.214 139.0 139.2 -0.6 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.1

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.270 121.4 121.8 5.5 1.0 -0.1 0.7 0.3

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 2.980 181.2 179.3 15.0 3.7 2.3 2.8 -1.0

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 5.217 190.9 194.7 12.0 2.2 0.3 1.6 2.0

Iron and steel...................................... 72 0.929 238.0 245.3 16.9 1.6 0.7 2.9 3.1

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.570 153.4 153.8 9.1 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.3

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.626 401.6 417.4 25.5 5.8 2.0 5.7 3.9

Nickel and articles thereof (Dec. 2009=100). .. 75 0.174 130.8 137.8 28.1 5.9 -4.3 2.2 5.4

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.900 145.1 149.2 9.5 3.9 -0.1 0.7 2.8

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.332 122.4 122.4 3.7 0.3 1.3 1.2 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.375 128.3 129.2 0.9 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.7

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 24.474 85.6 85.8 -1.4 0.0 -0.2 -0.2 0.2

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 12.108 88.2 88.4 0.3 0.0 0.0 -0.3 0.2

Electrical machinery and equip, sound and TV

recorders & reproducers, parts............... 85 12.366 83.2 83.2 -3.1 0.0 -0.4 -0.1 0.0

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 8.854 110.3 110.6 0.8 0.1 -0.2 -0.2 0.3

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 7.855 109.3 109.4 0.7 0.1 -0.2 -0.3 0.1

Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof (Dec.

2002=100)....................................... 88 0.912 114.0 115.5 -0.1 0.1 0.2 0.0 1.3

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 3.283 104.2 104.2 2.6 0.3 0.1 2.5 0.0

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical

instruments...................................... 90 3.033 101.9 102.0 2.8 0.2 0.2 2.5 0.1

Clocks and watches and parts thereof. . . . . . . .. 91 0.185 125.1 125.3 0.5 0.8 0.1 0.7 0.2

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 3.601 107.4 107.7 1.0 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.3

Furniture & stuffed furnishings; lamps &

lighting fittings, nesoi; prefab bldgs........... 94 1.760 110.2 110.5 0.6 0.1 0.4 -0.2 0.3

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 1.633 101.5 101.7 0.7 -0.1 0.0 0.5 0.2

Miscellaneous manufactured articles........... 96 0.208 127.3 127.3 7.3 0.4 0.3 1.9 0.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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: February 2010 to

February 2011

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Jan.

20111

Index Percent change

Jan.

2011

Feb.

2011

Annual Monthly

Feb.

2010 to

Feb.

2011

Oct. 2010

to Nov.

2010

Nov.

2010 to

Dec.

2010

Dec.

2010 to

Jan.

2011

Jan.

2011 to

Feb.

2011

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.855 180.5 184.3 15.0 -0.7 0.4 1.0 2.1

Meat & edible meat offal (Dec. 2006=100). . .. 02 1.126 145.8 151.8 17.8 -0.9 -0.3 0.6 4.1

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.414 184.4 166.8 12.9 0.1 7.0 6.3 -9.5

Vegetable products................................ II 6.030 239.3 249.7 41.9 10.9 1.2 6.1 4.3

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 1.016 134.1 132.6 6.6 3.0 2.0 4.0 -1.1

Cereals.............................................. 10 2.279 277.1 296.1 66.4 16.4 -1.2 8.2 6.9

Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds, fruits,

plants, straw and fodder....................... 12 2.228 263.6 271.7 43.6 11.9 4.1 5.0 3.1

Animal or vegetable fats and oils (Dec.

2009=100).......................................... III 0.528 150.8 154.6 54.9 8.0 12.3 7.6 2.5

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.673 147.1 148.2 5.8 1.2 0.6 -0.1 0.7

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other

parts of plants (Dec. 2009=100).............. 20 0.340 103.8 104.8 2.5 -0.7 1.1 -0.7 1.0

Miscellaneous edible preparations.............. 21 0.467 122.0 122.6 2.9 0.2 0.1 2.3 0.5

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar (Dec.

2008=100)....................................... 22 0.339 103.9 104.1 -0.2 0.1 -0.7 -0.8 0.2

Residues and waste from the food industries;

prepared animal feed........................... 23 0.714 216.8 218.5 17.8 6.4 1.3 -1.4 0.8

Mineral products.................................... V 8.068 290.9 300.6 33.2 3.7 2.2 4.6 3.3

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 7.430 284.3 294.6 34.4 4.0 2.9 4.9 3.6

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 12.854 148.8 151.0 7.0 1.1 0.3 0.4 1.5

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 1.047 197.0 196.6 16.1 1.6 0.9 1.7 -0.2

Organic chemicals................................. 29 3.220 156.5 161.8 9.5 0.9 0.6 1.2 3.4

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 4.011 125.6 125.7 2.7 1.1 -0.4 -0.2 0.1

Tanning or dyeing extracts, dyes, paints,

varnish, putty, & inks........................... 32 0.546 118.4 119.1 4.6 1.6 -3.4 0.3 0.6

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery

cosmetic or toilet preparations................ 33 0.745 126.0 127.1 1.8 0.8 0.0 -0.2 0.9

Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or scouring

products; candles, pastes..................... 34 0.477 121.0 122.9 5.8 0.8 0.0 0.1 1.6

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 1.816 144.4 145.2 5.8 0.1 0.1 0.6 0.6

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 5.101 141.4 142.8 5.6 0.8 0.6 0.8 1.0

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 4.145 134.8 136.4 6.0 0.9 0.7 0.6 1.2

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 0.956 170.5 171.5 4.5 0.4 0.2 1.1 0.6

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.408 124.4 127.2 12.5 0.7 0.7 1.2 2.3

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.519 108.9 109.8 1.0 1.3 -0.9 -0.6 0.8

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 2.758 125.5 125.7 11.6 0.7 0.0 1.4 0.2

Woodpulp and recovered paper................. 47 0.952 149.4 149.5 24.9 3.0 0.4 2.0 0.1

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 1.308 119.0 119.4 8.9 -0.4 -0.3 1.3 0.3

Printed material.................................... 49 0.498 118.0 118.0 1.5 -0.1 0.0 0.6 0.0

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 2.342 146.3 156.6 43.3 9.7 4.4 2.0 7.0

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics

thereof............................................ 52 1.060 230.2 264.5 132.0 24.9 10.1 2.4 14.9

See footnotes at end of table.

11
Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: February 2010 to

February 2011 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Jan.

20111

Index Percent change

Jan.

2011

Feb.

2011

Annual Monthly

Feb.

2010 to

Feb.

2011

Oct. 2010

to Nov.

2010

Nov.

2010 to

Dec.

2010

Dec.

2010 to

Jan.

2011

Jan.

2011 to

Feb.

2011

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc. (Dec. 2008=100)..................... XIII 0.698 115.5 115.6 -1.4 0.3 -0.3 -0.4 0.1

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.392 99.1 99.2 -0.8 0.4 -0.5 0.9 0.1

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 4.824 240.9 241.9 22.1 3.3 2.1 1.8 0.4

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 5.749 174.8 183.1 15.4 0.6 1.5 4.1 4.7

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.794 213.5 239.7 29.1 -0.7 4.2 7.4 12.3

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.250 162.7 163.4 3.8 0.5 0.1 1.8 0.4

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.757 278.2 284.6 31.9 2.1 2.6 7.4 2.3

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.954 132.6 136.6 10.7 2.1 -0.5 2.9 3.0

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.343 125.4 125.4 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.286 122.2 122.2 -1.1 -0.4 0.5 -2.1 0.0

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 27.142 96.1 95.8 0.0 0.4 0.1 0.5 -0.3

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 15.880 107.7 107.3 0.7 0.5 0.0 0.7 -0.4

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts

and accessories thereof....................... 85 11.262 83.4 83.4 -1.0 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.0

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 10.906 122.6 122.8 1.7 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 6.100 108.9 109.1 0.8 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 5.999 106.1 105.7 -0.6 0.3 0.1 -1.1 -0.4

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 1.404 107.4 107.6 -0.8 0.0 -0.4 0.2 0.2

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and

lighting fittings nesoi;........................... 94 0.672 118.4 118.6 1.2 -0.2 -0.1 0.0 0.2

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 0.622 91.5 91.8 -3.6 0.1 -0.7 -0.1 0.3

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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: February 2010 to February 2011

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Percent of

U.S.

imports1

Index Percent change

Jan.

2011

Feb.

2011

Annual Monthly

Feb. 2010

to Feb.

2011

Oct. 2010

to Nov.

2010

Nov. 2010

to Dec.

2010

Dec. 2010

to Jan.

2011

Jan. 2011

to Feb.

2011

Industrialized Countries2

..................... 39.494 129.2 130.7 4.0 1.8 1.1 0.9 1.2

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 4.457 221.7 231.4 8.1 6.9 7.4 1.6 4.4

Manufactured articles......................... 34.670 121.7 122.5 3.2 1.3 0.2 0.7 0.7

Other Countries3

............................... 60.506 131.1 132.8 7.8 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.3

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 12.079 301.2 311.4 23.3 3.6 4.8 4.3 3.4

Manufactured articles......................... 48.226 107.5 108.2 3.0 0.8 0.4 0.7 0.7

Canada............................................ 14.271 150.7 154.1 7.2 2.6 2.6 1.8 2.3

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 3.991 215.4 225.2 7.9 7.1 7.8 1.9 4.5

Manufactured articles......................... 10.005 137.7 139.2 6.5 1.2 0.6 1.6 1.1

European Union4

............................... 17.186 130.3 131.0 2.2 0.6 0.0 0.9 0.5

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 0.256 269.6 276.9 11.2 4.2 4.6 -1.8 2.7

Manufactured articles......................... 16.854 127.5 128.2 2.0 0.6 -0.1 0.9 0.5

France (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 1.995 121.6 122.2 0.1 0.3 -0.3 0.2 0.5

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)..................... 4.510 112.7 113.5 0.0 0.4 -0.3 0.3 0.7

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)........... 2.795 129.8 130.7 4.7 0.6 0.9 1.1 0.7

Latin America5

.................................. 18.406 167.3 169.6 9.0 1.9 1.7 2.0 1.4

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 5.479 324.3 333.7 20.6 3.5 4.8 3.1 2.9

Manufactured articles......................... 12.844 133.8 134.6 3.2 1.1 0.2 1.4 0.6

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 11.380 142.1 143.6 5.4 0.7 0.9 1.5 1.1

Nonmanufactured articles (Dec.

2008=100)................................... 1.900 176.6 180.4 22.8 2.4 5.9 5.0 2.2

Manufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100). . .. 9.437 96.2 96.9 0.7 0.2 -0.5 0.5 0.7

Pacific Rim (Dec. 2003=100)6

................ 34.852 102.4 102.9 2.6 0.1 0.6 0.4 0.5

China (Dec. 2003=100)......................... 19.595 101.8 102.2 2.0 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4

Japan.............................................. 6.198 100.3 100.8 3.1 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.5

Asian NICs7

..................................... 5.555 89.1 89.5 2.8 -0.2 1.0 0.8 0.4

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)8

..................... 5.987 102.6 103.6 7.1 0.9 1.9 2.2 1.0

Asia Near East (Dec. 2003=100)9........... 3.795 230.5 236.8 14.5 2.5 4.5 3.2 2.7

1 Percentage of trade figures are based on 2009 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: February

2010 to February 2011

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Relative

importance

Jan.

20111

Index Percent change

Jan.

2011

Feb.

2011

Annual Monthly

Feb. 2010

to Feb.

2011

Oct. 2010

to Nov.

2010

Nov. 2010

to Dec.

2010

Dec. 2010

to Jan.

2011

Jan. 2011

to Feb.

2011

Air Freight

Import Air Freight..................................... 100.000 167.3 170.1 8.9 3.0 0.2 -1.6 1.7

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 22.458 142.0 144.3 5.3 4.6 0.3 -0.4 1.6

Asia.................................................... 73.930 153.2 155.9 10.2 2.6 0.2 -2.0 1.8

Export Air Freight..................................... 100.000 132.8 134.8 9.3 0.7 0.6 3.8 1.5

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)............................ 38.978 120.7 121.8 7.8 0.2 1.7 3.0 0.9

Inbound Air Freight................................... 100.000 153.1 154.8 8.2 2.2 0.5 -0.3 1.1

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 22.740 132.8 134.5 5.6 3.8 0.4 0.2 1.3

Asia.................................................... 65.460 140.4 142.1 8.5 2.1 0.3 -0.6 1.2

Outbound Air Freight................................. 100.000 129.7 131.9 13.4 0.2 1.2 2.8 1.7

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 37.113 148.9 150.8 12.1 0.3 1.7 1.4 1.3

Asia.................................................... 44.032 119.1 122.0 14.1 0.2 0.8 4.3 2.4

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 165.4 161.5 13.6 -1.3 2.1 -2.6 -2.4

Europe................................................. 39.026 176.9 172.1 16.4 -3.2 -5.8 3.6 -2.7

Asia.................................................... 25.864 142.1 134.7 9.7 -1.9 9.8 -9.4 -5.2

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 14.295 157.7 158.5 19.8 4.5 9.2 -7.8 0.5

Export Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 178.5 167.8 8.3 -3.2 3.7 5.6 -6.0

Europe................................................. 26.624 184.9 182.7 -6.2 -13.6 2.2 -2.3 -1.2

Asia.................................................... 32.645 176.1 146.6 9.2 3.9 -1.1 11.7 -16.8

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 21.492 197.9 178.6 12.0 3.8 9.9 4.7 -9.8

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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. 

16