U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES – SEPTEMBER 2015 

Prices for U.S. imports edged down 0.1 percent in September, after a 1.6-percent decrease in August, the 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The continued downward trend in nonfuel import prices 

more than offset an advance in fuel prices. The price index for U.S. exports declined 0.7 percent in 

September, following a 1.4-percent drop the previous month. 

Chart 1. One-month percent change in the Import Price Index: September 2014 – September 2015 

 Percent change 

Chart 2. 12-month percent change in the Import Price Index: September 2014 – September 2015

 Percent change

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Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until 

8:30 a.m. (EDT) Friday, October 9, 2015 

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

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

USDL-15-1956
2

All Imports: U.S. import prices fell 0.1 percent in September, following declines of 1.6 percent in August 

and 1.0 percent in July. Unlike the decreases the 2 previous months where falling fuel and nonfuel prices 

each contributed to the decline, the September drop was entirely driven by lower nonfuel prices. The price 

index for overall imports decreased 10.7 percent between September 2014 and September 2015 and has not 

recorded a 12-month increase since the index rose 0.9 percent for the year ended July 2014. 

All Imports Excluding Fuel: The price index for nonfuel imports continued to trend downward in 

September, decreasing 0.3 percent following a 0.4-percent drop the previous month. Falling prices for 

nonfuel industrial supplies and materials; foods, feeds, and beverages; and capital goods more than offset a 

rise in consumer goods prices. Nonfuel import prices have not recorded a monthly advance since the index 

rose 0.1 percent in July 2014 and have declined 3.1 percent over the past year. 

Fuel Imports: In contrast, prices for import fuel advanced 1.4 percent in September, after declining 11.1 

percent in August and 6.4 percent in July. Both petroleum prices and natural gas prices contributed to the 

increase in September. Petroleum prices rose 1.1 percent, following an 11.8-percent decline in August and a 

6.6-percent drop in July. The price index for natural gas advanced 9.3 percent in September, the largest 

monthly increase for the index since an 11.1-percent rise in December 2014. Despite the September 

advance, overall fuel prices declined 44.7 percent over the past 12 months. The drop was led by a 46.1-

percent decrease in petroleum prices for the year ended in September, although a 27.3-percent drop in 

natural gas prices over the same period also factored into the overall decline. 

 

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

 
3

Chart 3. One-month percent change in the Export Price Index: September 2014 – September 2015 

 Percent change 

Chart 4. 12-month percent change in the Export Price Index: September 2014 – September 2015 

 Percent change

All Exports: Prices for U.S. exports fell 0.7 percent in September, following a 1.4-percent drop the 

previous month. Falling agricultural and nonagricultural export prices each contributed to the September 

and August declines. The price index for overall exports fell 7.4 percent over the past year, the largest yearover-year decrease for the index since an 8.3-percent drop for the 12 months ended July 2009. 

Agricultural Exports: Agricultural export prices declined 1.1 percent in September, after falling 2.5 

percent in August. The decrease was mostly the result of an 8.3-percent drop in soybean prices, although a 

4.3-percent decline in nut prices also contributed to falling export agricultural prices. The price index for 

agricultural exports decreased 13.5 percent for the year ended in September. Declining prices for meat, 

soybeans, and wheat over the past year primarily drove the drop. 

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: Prices for nonagricultural exports declined 0.6 percent in September, 

following a 1.3-percent drop the previous month. The September decrease was led by declining prices for 

nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials, consumer goods, and automotive vehicles. Overall 

nonagricultural prices fell 6.7 percent over the past year, the largest 12-month drop for the index since the 

index was first published in March 1985. 

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SELECTED SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS 

Import Prices 

Imports by Locality of Origin: Prices for imports from China declined 0.2 percent in September and 1.3 

percent over the past 12 months. The price index for imports from Japan recorded no change in September 

and has not increased on a monthly basis since the index rose 0.2 percent in March 2014. Prices for imports 

from Japan decreased 3.2 percent between September 2014 and September 2015. Import prices from the 

European Union declined 1.0 percent in September, the largest 1-month drop since a 1.6-percent decrease in 

January. The price indexes for imports from Canada and Mexico also fell in September, decreasing 0.4 

percent and 0.1 percent, respectively. 

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

fell 0.9 percent in September, following a 1.9-percent drop the previous month. Lower prices for chemicals, 

metals, and building materials led the decrease. 

 

Finished Goods: Prices for the major finished goods categories were mixed in September. Import capital 

goods prices edged down 0.1 percent for the month and fell 2.3 percent over the past year. In contrast, prices 

for consumer goods ticked up 0.1 percent, after declines of 0.1 percent in August and 0.3 percent in July. 

The price index for automotive vehicles recorded no change in September. 

 

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

rising 0.3 percent in August. Falling prices for food oils, feedstuff, fruit, fish, and coffee all contributed to 

the overall drop in September. 

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares declined 4.5 percent in September, following a 5.1-

percent drop the previous month. The September decrease was driven by lower Asian and Latin 

American/Caribbean fares which more than offset rising European fares. Overall import air passenger fares 

fell 7.2 percent for the year ended in September. The price index for import air freight declined 2.0 percent 

for the second consecutive month in September. Import air freight prices decreased 10.4 percent over the 

past 12 months. 

Export Prices 

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: In September, the price index for nonagricultural 

industrial supplies and materials fell 1.8 percent, after decreasing 3.7 percent in August. Both monthly 

declines were led by lower fuel prices which decreased 5.3 percent in September and 8.4 percent in August. 

 

Finished Goods: Finished goods prices were mostly down in September. The price index for consumer 

goods declined 0.2 percent, following 0.4-percent decreases in August and July. Automotive vehicle prices 

also fell in September, declining 0.1 percent. Prices for capital goods recorded no change in both September 

and over the past year. 

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares decreased 10.8 percent in September, the largest 

monthly decline since the index fell 13.5 percent in February. The September drop was driven by a 23.2-

percent decrease in Asian fares. Overall export air passenger fares fell 16.3 percent over the past 12 months. 

Export air freight prices declined 0.8 percent in September and 2.1 percent over the past year. 

 

Import and Export Price Index data for October 2015 are scheduled for release on Tuesday, November 10, 

2015 at 8:30 a.m. (EST). 
Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: September 2014 to

September 2015

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Aug.

20151

Index Percent change

Aug.

2015

Sept.

2015

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2014 to

Sept.

2015

May

2015 to

June

2015

June

2015 to

July

2015

July

2015 to

Aug.

2015

Aug.

2015 to

Sept.

2015

All commodities................................... 100.000 123.3 123.2 -10.7 0.1 -1.0 -1.6 -0.1

All imports excluding food and fuels (Dec.

2010=100)........................................ 83.556 99.2 99.0 -3.1 -0.2 -0.3 -0.4 -0.2

All imports excluding petroleum.............. 90.332 112.0 111.8 -3.3 -0.1 -0.4 -0.4 -0.2

All imports excluding fuels (Dec.

2001=100)........................................ 89.597 116.1 115.8 -3.1 -0.2 -0.3 -0.4 -0.3

Foods, feeds, & beverages................... 0 6.041 175.9 174.5 -3.1 -0.6 -0.1 0.3 -0.8

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............. 00 4.706 194.9 193.2 -2.1 -0.5 0.1 -0.1 -0.9

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................. 01 1.335 132.7 131.7 -6.4 -1.1 -0.4 1.6 -0.8

Industrial supplies & materials.............. 1 23.712 168.3 168.4 -30.2 0.5 -3.6 -6.1 0.1

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

petroleum.................................... 14.044 144.1 143.3 -10.6 -0.3 -1.1 -1.8 -0.6

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

fuels (Dec. 2001=100)..................... 13.309 163.6 162.1 -10.1 -0.3 -1.0 -1.9 -0.9

Industrial supplies & materials, durable. . .. 7.771 149.4 148.3 -12.4 -0.6 -1.4 -2.4 -0.7

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable

excluding petroleum....................... 5.538 137.3 136.8 -8.2 0.1 -0.6 -1.2 -0.4

Fuels & lubricants............................. 10 10.402 174.5 176.9 -44.7 1.5 -6.4 -11.1 1.4

Petroleum & petroleum products......... 100 9.667 189.2 191.3 -46.1 1.6 -6.6 -11.8 1.1

Crude........................................ 10000 6.967 191.4 199.2 -45.5 3.0 -7.6 -12.4 4.1

Fuels, n.e.s.-coals & gas.................. 101 0.548 95.3 101.7 -22.2 0.9 -1.2 -0.2 6.7

Gas-natural.................................. 10110 0.388 78.6 85.9 -27.3 1.9 -1.7 -0.1 9.3

Paper & paper base stocks.................. 11 0.595 109.4 109.4 -3.4 -0.6 -0.5 -0.4 0.0

Materials associated with nondurable

supplies & materials....................... 12 5.012 158.5 156.5 -7.0 0.1 -0.3 -1.3 -1.3

Selected building materials.................. 13 1.208 135.6 133.5 -6.3 0.8 0.7 -1.5 -1.5

Unfinished metals related to durable

goods........................................ 14 3.101 191.5 189.7 -21.7 -1.4 -3.3 -4.4 -0.9

Finished metals related to durable

goods........................................ 15 1.699 150.1 149.1 -5.9 -0.4 -0.7 -1.0 -0.7

Nonmetals related to durable goods. . . . . .. 16 1.694 109.2 109.3 -2.7 -0.2 -0.2 -0.4 0.1

Capital goods................................... 2 27.769 90.4 90.3 -2.3 -0.1 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1

Electric generating equipment............... 20 3.387 117.6 117.5 -2.4 0.0 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1

Nonelectrical machinery...................... 21 21.915 82.9 82.8 -2.5 -0.1 -0.4 -0.2 -0.1

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................. 22 2.467 137.0 136.8 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 -0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines..... 3 15.525 111.0 111.0 -1.4 -0.1 0.1 -0.2 0.0

Consumer goods, excluding

automotives.................................. 4 26.953 107.0 107.1 -1.1 0.0 -0.3 -0.1 0.1

Nondurables, manufactured................. 40 12.857 118.7 118.8 0.0 0.0 -0.3 -0.1 0.1

Durables, manufactured...................... 41 12.606 95.3 95.6 -1.8 0.0 -0.2 -0.2 0.3

Nonmanufactured consumer goods. . . . . . .. 42 1.490 117.4 116.7 -3.6 0.1 -0.7 -0.2 -0.6

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2013 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

5
Table 2. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: September 2014 to

September 2015

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Aug.

20151

Index Percent change

Aug.

2015

Sept.

2015

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2014 to

Sept.

2015

May

2015 to

June

2015

June

2015 to

July

2015

July

2015 to

Aug.

2015

Aug.

2015 to

Sept.

2015

All commodities................................... 100.000 123.0 122.2 -7.4 -0.3 -0.4 -1.4 -0.7

Agricultural commodities....................... 8.808 181.4 179.4 -13.5 -1.6 1.0 -2.5 -1.1

All exports excluding food and fuels (Dec.

2010=100)........................................ 84.399 99.5 99.3 -2.8 -0.1 -0.4 -0.6 -0.2

Nonagricultural commodities.................. 91.191 118.6 117.9 -6.7 -0.1 -0.6 -1.3 -0.6

Foods, feeds, & beverages................... 0 8.129 182.0 180.0 -14.3 -2.3 1.6 -2.9 -1.1

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............. 00 7.478 183.1 180.9 -14.8 -1.6 1.5 -2.9 -1.2

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................. 01 0.651 177.9 177.8 -7.6 -9.4 2.6 -3.3 -0.1

Industrial supplies & materials.............. 1 30.343 147.8 145.3 -17.1 -0.3 -1.5 -3.7 -1.7

Industrial supplies & materials, durable. . .. 10.733 153.0 152.8 -10.2 -0.3 -1.7 -2.5 -0.1

Industrial supplies & materials,

nondurable.................................. 19.610 145.8 142.1 -20.6 -0.4 -1.4 -4.3 -2.5

Agricultural industrial supplies &

materials..................................... 10 1.330 176.4 175.5 -5.4 -1.6 -1.8 -0.4 -0.5

Nonagricultural industrial supplies &

materials...................................... 29.013 146.9 144.3 -17.6 -0.3 -1.5 -3.7 -1.8

Fuels & lubricants............................. 11 7.471 166.5 157.7 -37.0 -0.4 -2.4 -8.4 -5.3

Nonagricultural supplies & materials

excluding fuels & building materials. . . .. 12 20.557 152.5 151.8 -8.8 -0.2 -1.2 -2.1 -0.5

Selected building materials.................. 13 0.985 113.9 112.8 -7.2 -1.7 -0.2 -1.5 -1.0

Capital goods................................... 2 38.523 107.3 107.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.2 0.0

Electrical generating equipment............. 20 3.883 114.0 113.2 -2.4 -0.1 -0.3 0.1 -0.7

Nonelectrical machinery...................... 21 26.318 94.9 95.0 -0.5 0.0 -0.1 -0.1 0.1

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................. 22 8.321 161.6 161.6 3.2 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines..... 3 10.347 113.8 113.7 -0.3 0.0 -0.2 0.0 -0.1

Consumer goods, excluding

automotives.................................. 4 12.657 112.2 112.0 -2.8 0.4 -0.4 -0.4 -0.2

Nondurables, manufactured................. 40 5.606 107.9 107.6 -4.1 0.3 -0.4 -0.5 -0.3

Durables, manufactured...................... 41 5.409 110.4 110.2 -1.3 0.5 -0.5 -0.2 -0.2

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2013 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

6
Table 3. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: September 2014 to

September 2015

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Aug.

20151

Index Percent change

Aug.

2015

Sept.

2015

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2014 to

Sept.

2015

May

2015 to

June

2015

June

2015 to

July

2015

July

2015 to

Aug.

2015

Aug.

2015 to

Sept.

2015

Nonmanufactured articles...................... 9.657 94.3 97.6 -39.2 1.9 -6.1 -9.3 3.5

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and

hunting........................................ 11 2.067 175.2 175.9 -1.2 -0.8 -0.5 -0.3 0.4

Crop production............................... 111 1.656 185.0 186.7 0.8 -1.1 -0.5 -0.3 0.9

Animal production (Dec. 2014=100)........ 112 0.221 89.2 86.7 – 2.4 -2.9 -2.2 -2.8

Forestry and logging (Dec. 2012=100)..... 113 0.115 66.2 65.8 -9.1 -0.3 1.7 2.0 -0.6

Mining............................................ 21 7.590 84.6 88.2 -44.3 2.6 -7.3 -11.5 4.3

Mining (except oil and gas) (Dec.

2006=100)................................... 212 0.209 98.2 98.0 -19.9 -0.2 -4.3 0.0 -0.2

Manufactured articles............................ 90.046 110.6 110.1 -5.2 -0.2 -0.4 -0.7 -0.5

Manufactured goods, part 1................. 31 12.117 124.4 123.9 -2.2 -0.2 -0.1 0.2 -0.4

Food manufacturing.......................... 311 3.357 152.8 150.5 -7.3 -0.6 -0.3 0.6 -1.5

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing............................... 312 1.106 118.2 118.3 0.7 0.2 0.5 -0.1 0.1

Textile mills (Dec. 2011=100)............... 313 0.408 100.6 100.5 -2.1 0.0 -0.4 -0.2 -0.1

Textile product mills.......................... 314 0.895 111.8 111.8 -2.1 -0.1 -0.4 -0.1 0.0

Apparel manufacturing....................... 315 4.423 111.8 111.7 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1

Leather and allied product

manufacturing............................... 316 1.928 124.5 124.8 0.9 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.2

Manufactured goods, part 2................. 32 17.399 119.9 118.1 -13.5 -0.2 -0.9 -2.3 -1.5

Wood product manufacturing................ 321 0.717 112.9 110.1 -9.8 1.2 1.2 -2.3 -2.5

Paper manufacturing......................... 322 1.101 107.0 107.0 -3.7 -0.6 -0.5 -0.8 0.0

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing............................... 324 2.567 88.4 82.1 -47.4 -1.4 -3.8 -10.3 -7.1

Chemical manufacturing..................... 325 9.611 132.8 131.9 -3.6 -0.1 -0.3 -0.8 -0.7

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing............................... 326 2.208 118.9 118.9 -2.4 -0.2 -0.5 0.0 0.0

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing............................... 327 0.989 130.5 130.0 -0.3 0.6 -0.2 -0.3 -0.4

Manufactured goods, part 3................. 33 60.529 104.5 104.4 -3.2 -0.1 -0.3 -0.5 -0.1

Primary metal manufacturing................ 331 3.787 129.6 128.2 -19.7 -1.3 -2.8 -3.6 -1.1

Fabricated metal product manufacturing... 332 3.050 125.7 125.5 -1.7 0.0 -0.2 -0.2 -0.2

Machinery manufacturing.................... 333 7.279 118.4 118.8 -1.9 0.1 -0.3 -0.2 0.3

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing............................... 334 17.862 77.7 77.5 -2.6 -0.1 -0.1 -0.3 -0.3

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing................. 335 4.728 116.7 117.0 -1.9 -0.1 -0.5 -0.2 0.3

Transportation equipment manufacturing... 336 16.688 110.1 110.1 -1.2 -0.1 0.1 -0.2 0.0

Furniture and related product

manufacturing............................... 337 1.600 115.8 115.7 -0.9 0.1 -0.1 -0.2 -0.1

Miscellaneous manufacturing............... 339 5.535 119.5 119.4 -2.2 0.0 -0.2 -0.3 -0.1

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2013 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

7
Table 4. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: September 2014 to

September 2015

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Aug.

20151

Index Percent change

Aug.

2015

Sept.

2015

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2014 to

Sept.

2015

May

2015 to

June

2015

June

2015 to

July

2015

July

2015 to

Aug.

2015

Aug.

2015 to

Sept.

2015

Nonmanufactured articles...................... 6.352 129.8 126.7 -14.6 -2.2 2.8 -3.9 -2.4

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and

hunting........................................ 11 4.171 159.9 156.3 -11.2 -2.0 3.8 -5.2 -2.3

Crop production............................... 111 3.935 166.1 162.2 -11.3 -1.3 3.7 -5.2 -2.3

Mining............................................ 21 2.181 72.5 70.7 -19.9 -2.5 1.0 -1.6 -2.5

Mining (except oil and gas).................. 212 1.154 83.8 82.7 -15.3 -2.2 -2.3 -3.2 -1.3

Manufactured articles............................ 92.212 113.2 112.7 -6.3 -0.2 -0.4 -1.2 -0.4

Manufactured goods, part 1................. 31 6.904 137.0 136.8 -12.3 -1.4 -1.1 -0.4 -0.1

Food manufacturing.......................... 311 4.699 154.0 153.9 -15.4 -1.7 -1.3 -0.5 -0.1

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing............................... 312 0.590 110.5 109.0 -1.4 -3.0 -0.5 -0.5 -1.4

Manufactured goods, part 2................. 32 24.085 111.4 109.5 -16.3 -0.2 -1.1 -3.3 -1.7

Paper manufacturing......................... 322 1.871 121.9 122.4 -2.3 0.2 0.2 -1.8 0.4

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing............................... 324 5.055 97.4 91.7 -42.4 -0.3 -3.2 -10.4 -5.9

Chemical manufacturing..................... 325 13.271 118.8 117.6 -8.2 -0.2 -0.7 -1.3 -1.0

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing............................... 326 2.249 117.1 117.1 -1.8 -0.3 -0.4 -0.5 0.0

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing............................... 327 0.832 112.3 112.2 0.2 0.2 -0.1 0.0 -0.1

Manufactured goods, part 3................. 33 61.223 111.7 111.7 -1.0 0.0 -0.2 -0.4 0.0

Primary metal manufacturing................ 331 4.571 132.2 133.6 -10.0 -0.6 -1.4 -3.9 1.1

Fabricated metal product manufacturing... 332 3.059 129.8 129.6 1.3 -0.1 0.1 0.5 -0.2

Machinery manufacturing.................... 333 11.675 125.4 125.5 1.2 0.1 -0.1 0.1 0.1

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing............................... 334 14.369 85.4 85.3 -2.4 0.0 -0.1 -0.4 -0.1

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing................. 335 3.770 113.8 113.3 -1.2 -0.4 -0.4 -0.2 -0.4

Transportation equipment manufacturing... 336 17.738 121.6 121.5 1.3 0.1 0.0 0.0 -0.1

Furniture and related product

manufacturing (Dec. 2011=100).......... 337 0.387 109.5 110.1 1.3 -0.5 0.3 0.1 0.5

Miscellaneous manufacturing............... 339 5.654 123.1 123.0 -1.8 0.6 -0.2 -0.2 -0.1

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2013 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

8
Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: September 2014 to

September 2015

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Aug.

20151

Index Percent change

Aug.

2015

Sept.

2015

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2014 to

Sept.

2015

May

2015 to

June

2015

June

2015 to

July

2015

July

2015 to

Aug.

2015

Aug.

2015 to

Sept.

2015

Live animals; animal products................. I 1.369 187.0 184.5 -9.3 -0.7 -0.5 1.5 -1.3

Meat and edible meat offal..................... 02 0.327 239.8 237.8 -13.4 -2.1 1.2 1.0 -0.8

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates......................... 03 0.700 130.5 128.8 -8.1 -1.7 -0.6 3.2 -1.3

Vegetable products............................... II 1.968 199.2 203.6 2.0 -0.8 -0.3 -1.0 2.2

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers.......... 07 0.574 476.5 529.6 41.8 -1.3 2.2 1.4 11.1

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons.......................................... 08 0.483 94.2 91.7 -7.8 -3.0 1.6 -2.9 -2.7

Coffee, tea, mate and spices.................. 09 0.366 233.6 230.2 -9.4 0.7 -3.9 0.2 -1.5

Animal or vegetable fats and oils (Dec.

2009=100)........................................ III 0.277 106.5 100.5 -9.4 0.5 -1.5 2.1 -5.6

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and

tobacco........................................... IV 2.846 161.1 160.2 -2.1 -0.1 0.5 -0.2 -0.6

Sugars and sugar confectionary (Dec.

2012=100)..................................... 17 0.179 85.6 85.7 -5.4 -0.4 0.1 -5.5 0.1

Cocoa and cocoa preparations (Dec.

2009=100)..................................... 18 0.259 113.1 116.0 -0.9 0.6 1.8 -0.2 2.6

Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk;

bakers’ wares (Dec. 2007=100)............. 19 0.284 132.3 132.2 -0.7 0.0 0.3 -0.1 -0.1

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts, or

other parts of plants.......................... 20 0.335 156.3 152.3 -9.6 -1.6 0.1 0.3 -2.6

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar................ 22 1.073 128.1 128.2 0.2 0.1 0.5 -0.1 0.1

Mineral products.................................. V 10.320 175.5 178.1 -44.8 1.7 -6.4 -11.1 1.5

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............. 27 10.082 172.6 175.3 -45.2 1.7 -6.5 -11.3 1.6

Products of the chemical or allied

industries........................................ VI 8.803 147.5 146.3 -3.8 -0.3 0.1 -0.6 -0.8

Inorganic chemicals............................. 28 0.663 292.2 289.0 -7.6 -1.5 -1.6 -0.3 -1.1

Organic chemicals............................... 29 2.532 124.9 122.0 -9.8 -0.4 1.9 -0.9 -2.3

Pharmaceutical products....................... 30 3.540 135.9 135.9 1.3 0.1 -0.4 -0.1 0.0

Fertilizers (Dec. 2009=100).................... 31 0.358 101.7 100.3 -7.6 -2.3 -1.2 -7.3 -1.4

Tanning extracts; dye, pigments, varnish,

paints & putty (Dec. 2011=100)............. 32 0.208 98.6 98.7 -6.3 1.2 -0.9 0.0 0.1

Miscellaneous chemical products............. 38 0.561 90.3 90.3 -3.1 0.0 -0.1 0.4 0.0

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof.................................. VII 3.414 139.9 139.7 -4.3 -0.1 -0.8 -0.7 -0.1

Plastics and articles thereof.................... 39 2.210 143.4 143.2 -4.1 -0.3 -1.0 -1.0 -0.1

Rubber and articles thereof.................... 40 1.204 135.3 135.1 -4.7 0.1 -0.6 0.0 -0.1

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc....................................... VIII 0.734 128.0 128.0 0.1 0.1 -0.1 0.0 0.0

Articles of leather; travel goods, bags, etc.

of various materials........................... 42 0.693 130.7 130.7 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................. IX 0.744 137.3 134.3 -9.2 1.1 1.2 -2.1 -2.2

Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal

(Dec. 2014=100).............................. 44 0.706 94.2 92.0 – 1.2 1.3 -2.2 -2.3

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products......................................... X 1.165 110.8 110.8 -2.2 -0.1 -0.4 -0.6 0.0

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper

pulp, paper or paperboard................... 48 0.778 105.2 104.8 -2.1 -0.2 -0.5 -0.3 -0.4

Textile and textile articles....................... XI 5.560 114.2 114.1 -0.8 -0.1 -0.2 -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: September 2014 to

September 2015 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Aug.

20151

Index Percent change

Aug.

2015

Sept.

2015

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2014 to

Sept.

2015

May

2015 to

June

2015

June

2015 to

July

2015

July

2015 to

Aug.

2015

Aug.

2015 to

Sept.

2015

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

knitted or crocheted.......................... 61 2.232 104.1 104.0 0.1 -0.1 -0.1 0.0 -0.1

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

not knitted or crocheted...................... 62 1.994 119.7 119.6 -0.6 -0.2 -0.3 0.0 -0.1

Made-up or worn textile articles............... 63 0.644 105.6 106.0 -1.7 0.0 -0.8 -0.2 0.4

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc... XII 1.528 123.4 123.8 1.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.3

Footwear and parts of such articles........... 64 1.329 122.6 123.0 1.1 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.3

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos,

ceramics, glass etc............................ XIII 0.916 132.2 131.8 -1.0 0.2 -0.2 -0.3 -0.3

Ceramic products................................ 69 0.273 137.8 137.8 -2.7 0.1 -0.5 -0.3 0.0

Glass and glassware............................ 70 0.321 129.7 129.8 0.2 0.0 -0.1 0.1 0.1

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins.............................. XIV 2.951 162.8 163.9 -9.9 -0.2 -1.8 -2.9 0.7

Base metals and articles of base metals. . .. XV 5.228 163.0 160.7 -12.9 -0.9 -1.5 -1.5 -1.4

Iron and steel.................................... 72 1.070 176.0 173.2 -22.7 -0.5 -1.8 -1.3 -1.6

Articles of iron or steel.......................... 73 1.687 146.7 145.4 -6.3 -0.7 -0.5 -0.5 -0.9

Copper and articles thereof.................... 74 0.438 268.9 255.3 -22.1 2.4 -5.7 -4.9 -5.1

Aluminum and articles thereof................. 76 0.723 126.7 125.1 -13.6 -3.5 -1.4 -2.3 -1.3

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and

forks, of base metal; parts thereof.......... 82 0.452 128.0 127.6 -1.1 0.2 -0.4 -0.4 -0.3

Miscellaneous articles of base metal. . . . . . . .. 83 0.529 138.2 138.1 -0.2 0.1 0.0 -0.1 -0.1

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............. XVI 30.022 82.1 82.1 -2.5 -0.1 -0.2 -0.2 0.0

Machinery and mechanical appliances;

parts thereof................................... 84 15.245 87.2 87.4 -2.1 -0.1 -0.3 -0.2 0.2

Electrical machinery and equip, sound and

TV recorders & reproducers, parts......... 85 14.777 77.3 77.1 -2.9 -0.1 -0.3 -0.1 -0.3

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment........................... XVII 14.006 114.6 114.6 -0.7 0.0 0.2 -0.2 0.0

Motor vehicles and their parts................. 87 12.653 113.2 113.3 -0.7 0.0 0.2 -0.2 0.1

Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof (Dec.

2002=100)..................................... 88 1.258 119.9 119.7 -0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.2

Optical, photo, measuring, medical &

musical instruments; & timepieces. . . . . . .. XVIII 3.947 103.3 103.3 -1.1 0.0 0.0 -0.4 0.0

Optical, photographic, measuring and

medical instruments.......................... 90 3.618 100.1 100.1 -1.2 0.1 -0.2 -0.3 0.0

Clocks and watches and parts thereof. . . . . .. 91 0.265 142.1 142.0 -0.8 0.1 0.6 -0.5 -0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles......... XX 4.093 112.8 112.7 -1.1 -0.2 0.1 -0.1 -0.1

Furniture & stuffed furnishings; lamps &

lighting fittings, nesoi; prefab bldgs......... 94 2.463 117.2 117.2 -1.0 -0.3 0.0 -0.1 0.0

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts

and accessories thereof...................... 95 1.368 104.8 104.7 -0.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . . . .. 96 0.262 134.2 134.3 -0.4 -0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2013 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

10
Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: September 2014 to

September 2015

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Aug.

20151

Index Percent change

Aug.

2015

Sept.

2015

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2014 to

Sept.

2015

May

2015 to

June

2015

June

2015 to

July

2015

July

2015 to

Aug.

2015

Aug.

2015 to

Sept.

2015

Live animals; animal products................. I 1.798 186.4 187.6 -24.4 -3.7 -2.2 -1.5 0.6

Meat & edible meat offal (Dec. 2006=100)... 02 1.050 144.2 145.8 -25.5 -2.8 -2.9 -1.6 1.1

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates......................... 03 0.388 198.6 198.6 -6.7 -7.5 1.3 -3.9 0.0

Vegetable products............................... II 3.911 202.9 198.1 -12.4 -2.0 3.4 -4.8 -2.4

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons.......................................... 08 1.126 172.7 171.3 -0.9 -3.3 -2.3 1.0 -0.8

Cereals............................................ 10 0.945 184.0 181.6 -17.3 0.9 8.4 -12.7 -1.3

Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds, fruits,

plants, straw and fodder..................... 12 1.426 208.8 193.8 -21.1 -3.5 6.4 -4.1 -7.2

Animal or vegetable fats and oils (Dec.

2009=100)........................................ III 0.200 93.6 92.5 -13.8 3.8 0.2 -5.4 -1.2

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and

tobacco........................................... IV 2.964 153.1 152.1 -6.9 -1.3 -0.2 0.1 -0.7

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or

other parts of plants (Dec. 2009=100). . . .. 20 0.409 118.2 118.3 0.5 -0.3 0.2 -0.1 0.1

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar (Dec.

2008=100)..................................... 22 0.522 110.4 108.5 -2.0 1.4 -3.3 1.8 -1.7

Residues and waste from the food

industries; prepared animal feed............ 23 0.740 218.6 210.8 -13.0 -3.8 1.7 0.2 -3.6

Mineral products.................................. V 7.289 190.0 181.1 -37.1 -1.3 -2.3 -8.0 -4.7

Ores, slag and ash (Dec. 2012=100)......... 26 0.445 78.2 77.6 -20.7 -7.4 -4.3 -2.7 -0.8

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............. 27 6.658 183.4 174.1 -38.7 -0.9 -2.2 -8.5 -5.1

Products of the chemical or allied

industries........................................ VI 10.930 141.6 140.1 -6.5 -0.1 -0.5 -1.1 -1.1

Inorganic chemicals............................. 28 0.913 185.1 184.9 8.2 -0.6 0.2 0.1 -0.1

Organic chemicals............................... 29 2.934 143.0 136.6 -18.2 0.1 -1.5 -1.5 -4.5

Pharmaceutical products....................... 30 2.609 110.8 110.3 -4.4 0.5 -0.2 -0.5 -0.5

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery

cosmetic or toilet preparations.............. 33 0.803 136.3 135.6 1.8 -0.1 -0.3 -0.1 -0.5

Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or

scouring products; candles, pastes......... 34 0.482 112.7 113.0 -4.1 -0.2 0.9 -2.2 0.3

Miscellaneous chemical products............. 38 1.868 147.3 150.8 -1.4 -1.0 -0.5 -2.6 2.4

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof.................................. VII 5.187 141.2 141.0 -6.6 -0.5 -0.6 -0.7 -0.1

Plastics and articles thereof.................... 39 4.234 136.9 137.0 -6.2 -0.6 -0.4 -0.8 0.1

Rubber and articles thereof.................... 40 0.953 159.0 157.4 -8.2 0.2 -1.5 -0.3 -1.0

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc........................................ VIII 0.389 127.7 128.6 -20.3 -1.3 -8.1 -0.7 0.7

Raw hides and skins other than furskins

and leather (Dec.2014=100)................. 41 0.220 75.4 76.8 – -2.4 -13.1 -1.2 1.9

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw, baskets

and wickerwork (Dec. 2014=100)............ IX 0.611 94.8 93.8 – -0.6 -1.0 -1.3 -1.1

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products......................................... X 2.268 123.1 123.2 -1.7 0.2 1.1 -1.6 0.1

Woodpulp and recovered paper............... 47 0.627 122.9 123.4 -4.9 2.3 2.3 -4.9 0.4

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper

pulp, paper or paperboard................... 48 1.217 122.5 122.3 -1.3 -0.6 -0.1 -0.2 -0.2

Printed material (Dec. 2014=100)............. 49 0.424 101.6 101.6 – -0.1 2.9 -0.3 0.0

Textile and textile articles....................... XI 1.813 122.3 121.9 -5.4 0.2 -0.1 0.2 -0.3

See footnotes at end of table.

11
Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: September 2014 to

September 2015 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Aug.

20151

Index Percent change

Aug.

2015

Sept.

2015

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2014 to

Sept.

2015

May

2015 to

June

2015

June

2015 to

July

2015

July

2015 to

Aug.

2015

Aug.

2015 to

Sept.

2015

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics

thereof.......................................... 52 0.527 120.7 120.4 -8.4 1.1 1.8 -0.2 -0.2

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos,

ceramics, glass etc............................ XIII 0.833 122.2 122.1 1.7 0.2 -0.2 0.0 -0.1

Glass and glassware............................ 70 0.429 98.9 98.8 0.2 0.0 -0.1 0.0 -0.1

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins.............................. XIV 4.610 223.1 226.0 -8.9 -0.4 -1.3 -3.3 1.3

Base metals and articles of base metals. . .. XV 5.122 148.1 146.2 -10.6 0.4 -1.9 -1.4 -1.3

Iron and steel.................................... 72 1.152 152.4 148.1 -19.9 5.5 -4.6 -3.5 -2.8

Copper and articles thereof.................... 74 0.466 168.9 167.6 -25.5 -4.0 -5.0 -7.1 -0.8

Aluminum and articles thereof................. 76 0.848 110.3 106.6 -15.4 -2.4 -2.5 -2.0 -3.4

Miscellaneous articles of base metal. . . . . . . .. 83 0.339 148.5 148.6 1.0 0.0 0.5 0.1 0.1

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............. XVI 29.333 96.8 96.7 -0.6 0.0 -0.2 -0.1 -0.1

Machinery and mechanical appliances;

parts thereof................................... 84 17.661 113.2 113.2 0.3 -0.1 -0.2 -0.1 0.0

Electrical machinery and equipment and

parts and accessories thereof............... 85 11.672 79.0 78.7 -2.1 0.0 -0.1 -0.3 -0.4

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment........................... XVII 14.803 130.9 131.0 0.8 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1

Motor vehicles and their parts................. 87 9.198 115.1 115.0 -0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 -0.1

Optical, photo, measuring, medical &

musical instruments; & timepieces. . . . . . .. XVIII 6.305 107.5 107.5 -0.5 0.9 -0.1 -0.2 0.0

Miscellaneous manufactured articles......... XX 1.501 110.6 111.1 0.5 -0.3 0.2 -0.8 0.5

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and

lighting fittings nesoi;......................... 94 0.859 123.5 123.8 1.4 -0.6 0.2 -0.3 0.2

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts

and accessories thereof...................... 95 0.487 89.6 89.6 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2013 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

12
Table 7. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes by locality of origin: September 2014 to September

2015

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Relative

importance

Aug.

20151

Index Percent change

Aug.

2015

Sept.

2015

Annual Monthly

Sept. 2014

to Sept.

2015

May 2015

to June

2015

June 2015

to July

2015

July 2015

to Aug.

2015

Aug. 2015

to Sept.

2015

Industrialized Countries2

.................... 100.000 119.8 119.1 -9.2 0.3 -1.0 -1.2 -0.6

Nonmanufactured articles................... 8.107 138.8 143.6 -37.3 5.3 -7.8 -7.0 3.5

Manufactured articles........................ 91.478 117.9 116.8 -5.2 -0.1 -0.3 -0.8 -0.9

Other Countries3

.............................. 100.000 121.5 121.5 -10.9 0.0 -1.0 -1.5 0.0

Nonmanufactured articles................... 10.855 195.8 202.6 -38.3 0.4 -5.3 -7.8 3.5

Manufactured articles........................ 88.932 104.7 104.3 -4.7 0.0 -0.4 -0.6 -0.4

Canada.......................................... 100.000 124.4 123.9 -17.6 1.4 -2.3 -2.7 -0.4

Nonmanufactured articles................... 22.651 132.9 137.8 -37.8 5.3 -8.0 -7.2 3.7

Manufactured articles........................ 76.682 126.4 124.4 -8.1 0.2 -0.3 -1.3 -1.6

European Union4

.............................. 100.000 134.5 133.1 -3.1 0.2 0.0 -0.3 -1.0

Manufactured articles........................ 99.374 130.9 129.6 -3.0 0.3 -0.1 -0.3 -1.0

France (Dec. 2003=100)...................... 100.000 121.7 121.7 -1.1 0.3 -0.1 -0.1 0.0

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)................... 100.000 116.6 116.7 -1.4 0.4 0.0 -0.3 0.1

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100).......... 100.000 121.4 121.6 -7.7 0.1 -0.1 -0.2 0.2

Latin America5

................................. 100.000 144.6 144.6 -14.2 -0.3 -1.5 -2.4 0.0

Nonmanufactured articles................... 17.607 209.0 216.9 -36.7 -1.2 -5.6 -9.5 3.8

Manufactured articles........................ 82.017 123.2 122.1 -5.9 -0.1 -0.4 -0.8 -0.9

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)...................... 100.000 128.8 128.7 -8.3 0.1 -0.8 -1.5 -0.1

Nonmanufactured articles (Dec.

2008=100).................................. 9.555 114.5 116.7 -37.3 1.2 -4.6 -12.1 1.9

Manufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100). .. 90.132 90.2 90.0 -3.0 0.0 -0.4 -0.2 -0.2

Pacific Rim (Dec. 2003=100)6

............... 100.000 99.9 99.8 -2.3 -0.2 -0.2 -0.2 -0.1

China (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 100.000 102.6 102.4 -1.3 -0.1 -0.2 -0.1 -0.2

Japan............................................ 100.000 95.3 95.3 -3.2 -0.5 -0.3 -0.3 0.0

Asian NICs7

..................................... 100.000 86.0 86.3 -2.9 -0.8 -0.3 0.1 0.3

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)8

.................... 100.000 98.9 98.5 -3.4 -0.4 -0.2 0.6 -0.4

Asia Near East (Dec. 2003=100)9........... 100.000 165.9 170.1 -34.7 1.4 -4.2 -6.1 2.5

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2013 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 three months after original publication.

Regions are not mutually exclusive.

Dash = Not available

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

2014 to September 2015

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Relative

importance

Aug.

20151

Index Percent change

Aug.

2015

Sept.

2015

Annual Monthly

Sept.

2014 to

Sept.

2015

May 2015

to June

2015

June

2015 to

July 2015

July 2015

to Aug.

2015

Aug.

2015 to

Sept.

2015

Air Freight

Import Air Freight.................................... 100.000 159.8 156.6 -10.4 -0.8 -4.2 -2.0 -2.0

Europe (Dec. 2003=100).......................... 23.824 146.1 145.3 -17.6 3.0 -0.8 -1.7 -0.5

Asia.................................................. 64.419 142.3 138.0 -9.0 -2.1 -6.0 -2.3 -3.0

Export Air Freight................................... 100.000 157.3 156.1 -2.1 0.3 0.4 -0.8 -0.8

Europe (Dec. 2006=100).......................... 36.699 150.2 149.1 4.3 0.3 0.5 -0.9 -0.7

Inbound Air Freight................................. 100.000 150.5 149.3 -9.2 -0.3 -2.8 -2.2 -0.8

Europe (Dec. 2003=100).......................... 26.354 138.3 137.7 -12.6 2.3 0.1 -1.6 -0.4

Asia.................................................. 59.839 134.9 132.2 -10.2 -1.4 -4.5 -2.9 -2.0

Outbound Air Freight............................... 100.000 149.4 148.7 -2.8 -0.3 1.5 -1.0 -0.5

Europe (Dec. 2003=100).......................... 30.954 158.1 158.1 -8.0 0.0 0.3 -0.3 0.0

Asia.................................................. 44.838 143.6 142.9 -1.4 0.1 3.1 -1.9 -0.5

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares....................... 100.000 187.7 179.3 -7.2 8.9 -4.1 -5.1 -4.5

Europe............................................... 41.063 205.1 213.1 -1.1 6.4 -6.9 -8.9 3.9

Asia.................................................. 23.687 146.6 135.3 -8.3 9.1 -3.2 -4.6 -7.7

Latin America/Caribbean.......................... 9.410 164.0 148.9 -9.1 0.3 3.1 -0.4 -9.2

Export Air Passenger Fares....................... 100.000 177.2 158.1 -16.3 3.4 3.6 1.5 -10.8

Europe............................................... 28.628 214.3 213.7 -8.6 9.2 4.0 -10.1 -0.3

Asia.................................................. 31.408 173.4 133.2 -14.8 0.8 0.4 20.6 -23.2

Latin America/Caribbean.......................... 21.560 172.1 155.7 -15.3 3.7 2.1 -1.8 -9.5

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2013 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the three 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 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."
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 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). 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.