Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

Technical information: USDL-09-0509 

 (202) 691-7101 Transmission of this 

Media contact: material is embargoed 

 (202) 691-5902 until 8:30 A.M. EDT 

Internet address: http://www.bls.gov/mxp Wednesday, May 13, 2009 

U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES 

- APRIL 2009 - 

The U.S. Import Price Index rose 1.6 percent in April, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. 

Department of Labor reported today. A 15.4 percent increase in import petroleum prices more than 

offset a 0.4 percent decline in the price index for nonpetroleum imports. Export prices also rose in 

April, increasing 0.5 percent. 

Percent changes in import and export price indexes 

by End Use category 

- not seasonally adjusted - 

News United States 

 Department 

of Labor
Import Goods

Import prices increased 1.6 percent in April after rising 0.2 percent in March. The April advance 

was led by a 15.4 percent rise in petroleum prices, which increased for the third consecutive month after 

declining in each of the previous six months. In contrast, nonpetroleum prices decreased for the ninth 

consecutive month, falling 0.4 percent in April. For the year ended in April, petroleum prices fell 49.8 

percent and prices for nonpetroleum imports declined 5.6 percent. Overall import prices declined 16.3 

percent over the past year, the largest annual decline since the index was first published in September 

1982. 

 

The continued decline in nonpetroleum prices was led by a 2.3 percent drop in nonpetroleum 

industrial supplies and materials prices. That decrease was driven by a sharp fall in natural gas prices, 

although lower prices for chemicals and some metals also contributed to the decline. The price index 

for nonpetroleum industrial supplies and materials fell 21.0 percent over the past 12 months, the largest 

annual decrease since the index was first published in September 1982. 

Prices for the major finished goods categories were mixed in April. Import automotive vehicle 

prices edged down 0.1 percent in April after decreasing 0.2 percent in March. In contrast, prices for 

consumer goods and capital goods increased in April, rising 0.2 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively. 

Prices for foods, feeds, and beverages decreased 0.1 percent in April as lower fruit prices more 

than offset higher coffee prices. The April drop followed a 0.7 percent decline in March. 

Export Goods 

Export prices increased 0.5 percent in April because of higher prices for both agricultural and 

nonagricultural exports. The price index for all exports decreased 6.8 percent for the year ended in 

April, matching the annual decrease in March as the largest 12-month decline since the index was first 

published in September 1983. Agricultural prices rose 3.6 percent in April, led by increases for 

soybeans, corn, and wheat. The April increase notwithstanding, agricultural export prices decreased 

17.6 percent over the past year. Nonagricultural prices edged up 0.3 percent in April but fell 5.4 percent 

over the past 12 months. 

The rise in nonagricultural prices was led by a 0.3 percent increase in the index for 

nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials. Higher prices for fuels more than offset lower prices 

for chemicals. Despite the April increase, nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials decreased 

18.4 percent for the April 2008-2009 period, the largest annual decrease since the index was first 

published in September 1989. 

Prices for capital goods and consumer goods also contributed to the increase in nonagricultural 

prices. The price index for capital goods rose 0.4 percent, driven by higher prices for aircraft parts and 

semiconductors. Consumer goods prices advanced 0.1 percent. For the year ended in April, prices for 

capital goods and consumer goods increased 1.1 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively. 

The price index for automotive vehicles was unchanged in April after rising 0.1 percent in 

March. Automotive vehicle prices advanced 0.7 percent over the past year. 

2
Imports by Locality of Origin 

 

Prices for imports from China fell for the eighth consecutive month, decreasing 0.5 percent in 

April. Import prices from China fell 1.1 percent for the year ended in April. 

 

Import prices from the European Union and from Japan also declined in April, falling 0.2 percent 

and 0.1 percent, respectively. Prices for imports from the European Union declined for the third 

consecutive month and decreased 6.4 percent over the past year, the largest annual drop since the index 

was first published in December 1990. The price index for imports from Japan increased 1.4 percent for 

the April 2008-2009 period despite declines in March and April. 

In contrast, led by rising petroleum prices, prices for imports from Mexico and from Canada 

increased in April, advancing 1.0 percent and 0.2 percent for the month. Over the past 12 months, 

however, import prices from Mexico fell 13.6 percent while import prices from Canada fell 22.3 

percent, the largest annual decline since the index was first published in December 1990. 

Import and Export Services

 Import air passenger fares decreased 1.3 percent in April following a 4.7 percent drop the 

previous month. The April decrease was again led by lower European fares, which fell 1.3 percent after 

decreasing 7.8 percent in March. The index for import air passenger fares fell 7.1 percent for the year 

ended in April, the largest annual decrease since the index was first published in March 1988. Export 

air passenger fares also decreased in April, falling 4.0 percent as lower fares from Asia more than offset 

higher prices from the Latin America/Caribbean region and Europe. Fares for export air passengers 

decreased 11.1 percent over the past 12 months, the largest annual decrease since the index was first 

published in September 1986. 

 

Import air freight prices fell 1.6 percent in April, as both European and Asian air freight prices 

declined. The price index for import air freight decreased 13.3 percent over the past year, the largest 

annual decline since the index was first published in September 1990. Prices for export air freight 

declined 3.5 percent in April and 11.0 percent for the April 2008-2009 period, the largest monthly and 

annual declines since the index was first published in December 1996. 

CONTENTS OF RELEASE 

This news release includes the following tables: 

Table 1 U.S. Import Price Indexes, by End Use.....page 4 

Table 2 U.S. Export Price Indexes, by End Use.....page 5 

Table 3 U.S. Import Price Indexes, by NAICS.....page 6 

Table 4 U.S. Export Price Indexes, by NAICS.....page 7 

Table 5 U.S. Import Price Indexes, by Harmonized System.....pages 8-9 

Table 6 U.S. Export Price Indexes, by Harmonized System.....pages 10-11 

Table 7 U.S. Import Price Indexes, by Locality of Origin.....page 12 

Table 8 U.S. International Price Indexes for Selected Transportation Services.....page 13 

------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Import and Export Price Index data for May 2009 are scheduled for release on June 12, 2009 at 

8:30 A.M. (EDT). 

3
Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2008 to April

2009

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Mar.

20091

Index Percent change

Mar.

2009

Apr.

2009

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2008

to Apr.

2009

Dec.

2008 to

Jan.

2009

Jan.

2009 to

Feb.

2009

Feb.

2009 to

Mar.

2009

Mar.

2009 to

Apr. 2009

All commodities..................................... 100.000 113.1 114.9 -16.3 -1.3 -0.1 0.2 1.6

All imports excluding petroleum................ 87.679 107.2 106.8 -5.6 -0.8 -0.7 -0.9 -0.4

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)... 85.989 110.6 110.5 -4.1 -0.7 -0.5 -0.6 -0.1

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 4.889 136.8 136.6 -4.9 0.0 -3.2 -0.7 -0.1

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 3.757 151.1 150.5 -5.8 -0.3 -3.8 -1.2 -0.4

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 1.132 104.6 105.1 -2.0 0.7 -1.1 1.2 0.5

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 28.431 147.3 155.3 -37.6 -4.5 0.7 1.8 5.4

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

petroleum..................................... 16.110 133.1 130.1 -21.0 -4.3 -2.3 -2.5 -2.3

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

fuels (Dec. 2001=100)....................... 14.420 145.6 144.0 -16.3 -4.1 -0.9 -1.2 -1.1

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 8.876 134.5 133.5 -19.6 -2.8 -0.7 -1.8 -0.7

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable

excluding petroleum......................... 5.544 131.2 126.0 -22.3 -6.0 -4.1 -3.5 -4.0

Fuels & lubricants............................... 10 14.011 157.8 177.0 -50.1 -4.7 2.5 5.0 12.2

Petroleum & petroleum products........... 100 12.320 163.4 188.5 -49.8 -4.6 5.3 7.9 15.4

Crude.......................................... 10000 8.781 164.5 188.5 -52.3 -5.3 3.3 9.2 14.6

Fuels, n.e.s.-coals & gas.................... 101 1.485 128.2 112.9 -50.4 -5.2 -12.2 -13.8 -11.9

Gas-natural................................... 10110 1.270 114.2 98.2 -56.5 -7.4 -13.7 -15.8 -14.0

Paper & paper base stocks................... 11 0.766 105.8 104.1 -10.4 -2.6 -1.7 -2.4 -1.6

Materials associated with nondurable

supplies & materials......................... 12 4.876 137.4 134.8 -9.3 -6.5 -1.2 0.2 -1.9

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.739 116.4 115.5 1.0 -0.8 -0.5 -0.2 -0.8

Unfinished metals related to durable

goods.......................................... 14 3.440 171.2 170.2 -34.3 -5.0 -0.4 -2.6 -0.6

Finished metals related to durable goods. .. 15 1.934 132.3 131.4 -13.0 -2.2 -1.4 -2.6 -0.7

Nonmetals related to durable goods......... 16 1.665 105.1 104.7 -1.4 -1.7 -0.8 -1.0 -0.4

Capital goods..................................... 2 25.016 91.6 91.7 -1.4 0.0 -0.5 -0.7 0.1

Electric generating equipment................ 20 3.220 109.7 109.6 -1.7 -0.3 -0.8 -0.5 -0.1

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 19.589 86.3 86.4 -1.8 0.0 -0.5 -0.9 0.1

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 2.207 120.7 121.0 3.0 0.4 -0.1 0.1 0.2

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 14.799 107.7 107.6 -0.2 0.2 -0.1 -0.2 -0.1

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 26.865 103.9 104.1 -0.5 0.0 0.0 -0.5 0.2

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 12.470 108.4 108.5 0.6 0.6 0.0 -0.5 0.1

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 13.109 99.7 100.0 -1.1 -0.6 -0.2 -0.2 0.3

Nonmanufactured consumer goods.......... 42 1.287 101.1 102.6 -2.8 -0.9 1.7 -3.2 1.5

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2007 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

4
Table 2. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2008 to April

2009

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Mar.

20091

Index Percent change

Mar.

2009

Apr.

2009

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2008

to Apr.

2009

Dec.

2008 to

Jan.

2009

Jan.

2009 to

Feb.

2009

Feb.

2009 to

Mar.

2009

Mar.

2009 to

Apr. 2009

All commodities..................................... 100.000 115.4 116.0 -6.8 0.7 -0.3 -0.7 0.5

Agricultural commodities......................... 8.438 151.5 157.0 -17.6 5.9 -1.8 -3.4 3.6

Nonagricultural commodities.................... 91.562 112.8 113.1 -5.4 0.3 -0.2 -0.4 0.3

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 7.921 156.5 162.6 -15.7 6.6 -2.0 -3.5 3.9

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 7.244 158.1 164.8 -16.9 7.0 -2.1 -3.7 4.2

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 0.677 144.1 145.2 -0.8 3.1 -1.5 -1.1 0.8

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 26.781 136.4 136.7 -18.6 -0.4 -0.9 -1.0 0.2

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 10.632 143.1 141.8 -18.7 0.4 0.5 0.3 -0.9

Industrial supplies & materials,

nondurable.................................... 16.150 133.0 134.4 -18.4 -0.9 -1.8 -1.8 1.1

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials... 10 1.194 123.3 123.6 -21.7 -0.4 0.2 -2.1 0.2

Nonagricultural industrial supplies &

materials........................................ 25.588 137.3 137.7 -18.4 -0.4 -0.9 -0.9 0.3

Fuels & lubricants............................... 11 3.311 146.6 158.2 -39.0 -0.6 -5.8 -6.1 7.9

Nonagricultural supplies & materials

excluding fuels & building materials. . . . . .. 12 21.220 137.9 136.7 -14.6 -0.4 -0.1 -0.1 -0.9

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.057 114.5 114.0 -0.1 0.3 0.2 -1.0 -0.4

Capital goods..................................... 2 41.664 102.2 102.6 1.1 0.6 0.2 -0.1 0.4

Electrical generating equipment.............. 20 3.786 106.8 106.8 -1.7 -1.6 -0.7 0.2 0.0

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 28.882 93.7 94.0 0.1 0.4 0.3 -0.3 0.3

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 8.996 135.0 136.3 5.7 1.8 0.5 0.3 1.0

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 10.569 108.2 108.2 0.7 0.4 -0.3 0.1 0.0

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 13.064 108.2 108.3 0.2 0.2 0.0 -0.9 0.1

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 5.742 106.9 107.2 -2.4 1.5 0.3 -2.0 0.3

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 6.206 109.8 109.7 4.4 0.0 0.1 0.0 -0.1

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2007 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

5
Table 3. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2008 to April

2009

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Mar.

20091

Index Percent change

Mar.

2009

Apr.

2009

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2008

to Apr.

2009

Dec.

2008 to

Jan.

2009

Jan.

2009 to

Feb.

2009

Feb.

2009 to

Mar.

2009

Mar.

2009 to

Apr. 2009

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 12.512 81.8 89.6 -48.6 -5.1 0.3 3.4 9.5

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 1.775 128.5 130.5 -2.5 -0.8 -5.8 -1.7 1.6

Crop production................................. 111 1.283 136.4 136.1 -1.2 -0.6 -7.4 -3.7 -0.2

Mining.............................................. 21 10.737 77.0 85.3 -52.2 -5.7 1.4 4.3 10.8

Mining (except oil and gas) (Dec.

2006=100)..................................... 212 0.477 129.2 129.5 5.2 2.0 0.4 -1.4 0.2

Manufactured articles.............................. 86.972 104.9 105.4 -6.5 -0.7 -0.2 -0.3 0.5

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 11.088 106.9 106.5 -1.8 0.1 -0.3 -0.2 -0.4

Food manufacturing............................ 311 2.560 115.4 114.7 -8.2 -0.7 -1.5 -0.7 -0.6

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.996 106.9 107.0 1.7 0.4 -0.1 0.3 0.1

Textile mills...................................... 313 0.481 113.1 111.4 -0.3 1.6 0.7 -0.2 -1.5

Textile product mills............................ 314 0.866 100.7 98.8 -3.4 -0.8 -0.1 -0.2 -1.9

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 4.507 102.6 102.6 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0

Leather and allied product manufacturing. .. 316 1.678 107.7 107.5 2.6 1.0 0.1 0.0 -0.2

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 17.800 106.9 109.4 -13.2 -1.9 0.6 0.8 2.3

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 1.031 90.4 89.8 -1.3 -1.5 -0.9 -0.2 -0.7

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.358 104.4 102.7 -7.2 -1.6 -1.4 -2.1 -1.6

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 3.002 79.6 93.1 -42.1 -1.4 7.1 7.3 17.0

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 9.082 119.2 118.4 -3.9 -3.0 -0.4 -0.5 -0.7

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 1.987 112.8 112.7 2.8 0.4 -0.5 -0.2 -0.1

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 1.226 118.4 118.1 6.5 0.8 0.1 -0.2 -0.3

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 58.084 103.9 103.8 -5.0 -0.6 -0.3 -0.6 -0.1

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 4.128 120.1 119.1 -32.6 -4.5 -0.9 -2.6 -0.8

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 3.008 116.7 115.9 -0.7 -0.3 -0.8 -1.0 -0.7

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 7.309 110.9 110.6 0.3 0.8 -0.1 -0.4 -0.3

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 16.127 88.7 88.7 -5.2 -1.0 -0.4 -0.8 0.0

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 4.294 112.5 112.4 0.5 -0.5 -0.5 -0.3 -0.1

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 15.995 104.7 104.8 0.1 0.2 -0.1 -0.2 0.1

Furniture and related product

manufacturing................................ 337 1.701 110.5 110.3 1.5 -0.1 0.1 0.2 -0.2

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 5.522 110.0 110.7 0.3 0.2 -0.6 -0.2 0.6

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2007 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

6
Table 4. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2008 to April

2009

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Mar.

20091

Index Percent change

Mar.

2009

Apr.

2009

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2008

to Apr.

2009

Dec.

2008 to

Jan.

2009

Jan.

2009 to

Feb.

2009

Feb.

2009 to

Mar.

2009

Mar.

2009 to

Apr. 2009

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 5.758 111.1 118.0 -25.1 7.2 -3.1 -6.2 6.2

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 4.558 129.0 138.4 -22.8 11.1 -3.5 -6.6 7.3

Crop production................................. 111 4.194 131.8 142.3 -23.9 11.8 -3.8 -7.0 8.0

Mining.............................................. 21 1.200 71.6 73.3 -32.7 -6.3 -1.6 -4.8 2.4

Mining (except oil and gas).................... 212 0.936 83.8 86.2 -13.5 -6.8 -0.4 -0.6 2.9

Manufactured articles.............................. 92.589 106.9 107.2 -3.9 0.3 -0.3 -0.4 0.3

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 6.548 116.9 116.4 -4.4 0.0 0.2 -0.3 -0.4

Food manufacturing............................ 311 4.343 129.4 129.2 -5.3 0.4 0.2 -0.3 -0.2

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.522 105.5 105.4 -1.0 0.1 0.6 1.3 -0.1

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 0.397 102.2 102.5 1.5 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 21.539 106.5 107.2 -12.3 -0.2 -1.4 -1.5 0.7

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.474 107.8 106.9 -4.3 -1.4 -0.1 -0.9 -0.8

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.956 111.9 111.3 -3.3 -1.4 -0.2 -0.5 -0.5

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 1.833 80.9 90.2 -47.0 -1.5 -7.8 -8.5 11.5

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 14.181 110.1 109.6 -7.9 0.0 -0.6 -1.0 -0.5

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 2.216 107.9 108.3 0.4 0.5 -1.3 -0.6 0.4

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 0.878 112.6 113.1 4.3 0.8 -0.6 0.2 0.4

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 64.502 105.8 106.0 -0.7 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.2

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 4.320 121.7 120.1 -20.9 0.2 -0.5 2.1 -1.3

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.879 120.4 120.6 4.8 2.3 0.2 -1.1 0.2

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 12.942 111.6 111.7 2.4 0.4 -0.1 -0.1 0.1

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 16.747 92.9 93.2 -2.5 -0.1 0.5 -0.4 0.3

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.653 106.1 106.6 -0.1 -0.3 -0.5 0.1 0.5

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 18.539 109.3 109.8 3.1 0.9 0.2 0.2 0.5

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 5.071 110.6 110.7 4.2 -0.4 -0.5 0.0 0.1

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2007 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

7
Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2008 to April

2009

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Mar.

20091

Index Percent change

Mar.

2009

Apr.

2009

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2008

to Apr.

2009

Dec.

2008 to

Jan.

2009

Jan.

2009 to

Feb.

2009

Feb.

2009 to

Mar.

2009

Mar.

2009 to

Apr. 2009

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.169 125.4 125.8 -7.2 -0.1 -1.8 1.9 0.3

Meat and edible meat offal....................... 02 0.255 143.2 143.6 -6.3 -0.9 -1.0 -1.5 0.3

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.600 100.5 100.9 -4.5 0.7 -1.7 2.1 0.4

Vegetable products................................ II 1.484 153.5 153.7 -1.5 -1.7 -6.8 -4.1 0.1

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers............ 07 0.423 271.6 258.2 15.0 -2.3 -25.6 5.4 -4.9

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.465 104.0 101.2 -4.3 -1.3 -2.3 -5.0 -2.7

Coffee, tea, mate and spices.................... 09 0.248 139.1 146.6 -12.3 3.5 -1.0 -6.3 5.4

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.417 133.8 133.4 -2.0 0.3 -0.4 -0.4 -0.3

Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk;

bakers’ wares (Dec. 2007=100).............. 19 0.253 106.3 105.9 -1.0 0.1 -1.0 0.4 -0.4

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts, or other

parts of plants................................... 20 0.304 128.1 123.8 -12.5 -0.8 -0.5 -2.4 -3.4

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar.................. 22 0.998 115.6 115.7 -1.3 0.3 0.0 0.4 0.1

Mineral products.................................... V 14.309 161.4 180.1 -48.6 -4.6 2.5 4.8 11.6

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 13.899 157.8 176.7 -49.8 -4.6 2.5 5.0 12.0

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 8.207 130.0 129.8 -5.3 -3.7 -0.3 -0.8 -0.2

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 0.730 191.1 197.1 -23.4 -25.3 -2.1 1.3 3.1

Organic chemicals................................. 29 2.536 121.3 123.2 -6.1 -1.2 0.5 0.3 1.6

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 2.893 113.1 113.1 -0.2 1.6 0.3 -2.0 0.0

Tanning & dyeing extracts; dye & pigments;

varnish & paints; putty......................... 32 0.182 104.1 103.8 0.0 -0.1 -0.1 -1.0 -0.3

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec.

2001=100)....................................... 33 0.450 119.2 118.0 -4.8 1.2 -0.9 -1.4 -1.0

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 0.465 92.4 90.6 -8.9 -1.7 -2.2 -0.9 -1.9

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 3.119 127.5 127.0 -2.8 -1.2 -1.3 0.3 -0.4

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 2.030 125.0 125.2 -2.5 -1.7 -1.5 0.6 0.2

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 1.089 132.3 130.6 -3.5 0.1 -1.0 -0.4 -1.3

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.669 113.9 113.3 1.0 0.0 0.0 -0.1 -0.5

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

various materials................................ 42 0.621 114.8 114.1 1.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.6

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 1.062 110.5 109.9 -1.5 -1.6 -0.8 -0.3 -0.5

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 1.553 109.6 108.3 -5.7 -0.8 -1.2 -1.7 -1.2

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 1.099 110.6 109.5 -1.0 0.2 -1.1 -1.9 -1.0

Printed matter...................................... 49 0.304 119.8 119.7 1.0 0.4 0.0 0.0 -0.1

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 5.648 103.2 102.8 -1.0 -0.3 0.1 0.0 -0.4

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

knitted or crocheted............................ 61 2.130 99.9 99.7 -0.7 0.2 0.0 -0.1 -0.2

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

not knitted or crocheted........................ 62 2.174 104.0 104.0 0.8 -0.1 0.3 0.2 0.0

Made-up or worn textile articles................. 63 0.579 90.9 90.8 -5.4 -3.4 -0.1 -1.0 -0.1

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.. .. XII 1.367 108.0 108.1 2.5 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.1

Footwear and parts of such articles............ 64 1.155 107.3 107.4 3.0 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.1

See footnotes at end of table.

8
Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2008 to April

2009 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Mar.

20091

Index Percent change

Mar.

2009

Apr.

2009

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2008

to Apr.

2009

Dec.

2008 to

Jan.

2009

Jan.

2009 to

Feb.

2009

Feb.

2009 to

Mar.

2009

Mar.

2009 to

Apr. 2009

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc........................................... XIII 1.092 123.2 123.0 6.7 1.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.2

Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, or

mica (Dec. 2001=100)......................... 68 0.416 119.1 118.0 10.3 0.4 -0.2 0.0 -0.9

Ceramic products.................................. 69 0.332 132.3 131.8 5.5 0.4 0.1 -0.2 -0.4

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.345 116.8 117.9 4.0 2.5 0.0 -0.1 0.9

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 2.689 134.5 135.8 -14.3 1.0 0.2 1.7 1.0

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 5.791 150.9 149.5 -23.3 -3.7 -1.5 -2.9 -0.9

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.354 191.2 181.0 -32.3 -4.4 -2.9 -6.1 -5.3

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.995 146.9 145.7 -2.3 -2.2 -1.6 -2.7 -0.8

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.460 181.9 198.7 -38.7 -7.5 3.0 1.6 9.2

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.699 100.7 99.3 -37.2 -8.4 -4.8 -2.4 -1.4

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.423 118.3 117.9 3.2 2.1 -0.3 -0.3 -0.3

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.504 129.3 128.6 0.9 0.3 -1.8 -0.1 -0.5

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 27.549 86.4 86.4 -2.8 -0.5 -0.5 -0.6 0.0

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 13.826 87.1 87.1 -2.7 0.1 -0.2 -0.9 0.0

Electrical machinery and equip, sound and TV

recorders & reproducers, parts............... 85 13.723 85.7 85.7 -3.1 -1.1 -0.6 -0.3 0.0

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 13.662 109.1 109.3 0.0 0.3 0.0 -0.3 0.2

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 12.396 108.0 108.2 -0.3 0.3 0.0 -0.3 0.2

Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof (Dec.

2002=100)....................................... 88 1.154 115.6 115.9 3.9 0.3 -0.3 0.1 0.3

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 3.415 101.5 101.6 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.1

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical

instruments...................................... 90 3.067 99.3 99.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 -0.1 0.1

Clocks and watches and parts thereof. . . . . . . .. 91 0.266 123.1 123.2 1.8 0.9 0.2 0.6 0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 4.550 107.9 107.9 2.2 0.6 0.0 0.1 0.0

Furniture & stuffed furnishings; lamps &

lighting fittings, nesoi; prefab bldgs........... 94 2.498 113.2 112.9 1.8 0.2 0.1 0.2 -0.3

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 1.833 100.7 100.6 2.3 0.9 0.0 0.1 -0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles........... 96 0.219 111.1 115.2 4.1 0.3 -0.2 -1.2 3.7

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2007 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

9
Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2008 to April

2009

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Mar.

20091

Index Percent change

Mar.

2009

Apr.

2009

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2008

to Apr.

2009

Dec.

2008 to

Jan.

2009

Jan.

2009 to

Feb.

2009

Feb.

2009 to

Mar.

2009

Mar.

2009 to

Apr. 2009

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.531 155.3 156.4 -6.0 1.2 -0.9 -0.2 0.7

Meat & edible meat offal (Dec. 2006=100). . .. 02 0.782 122.8 122.8 -10.6 1.7 -0.2 1.5 0.0

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.404 144.8 149.6 -0.7 1.1 -2.3 -2.4 3.3

Vegetable products................................ II 4.404 174.5 186.2 -20.6 11.4 -3.6 -5.3 6.7

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.576 100.0 101.2 -17.3 -1.8 -1.5 -3.7 1.2

Cereals.............................................. 10 1.891 186.7 202.2 -33.6 18.7 -6.6 -5.2 8.3

Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds, fruits,

plants, straw and fodder....................... 12 1.299 183.7 200.7 -14.1 13.1 -1.6 -7.5 9.3

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.465 134.6 135.6 0.4 1.7 1.0 -1.0 0.7

Miscellaneous edible preparations.............. 21 0.379 119.6 118.6 -1.2 -1.9 0.1 0.0 -0.8

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar

(Dec.2008=100)................................. 22 0.286 100.4 99.8 – 0.7 -0.1 -0.2 -0.6

Residues and waste from the food industries;

prepared animal feed........................... 23 0.485 176.4 184.6 -6.4 7.6 4.1 -6.9 4.6

Mineral products.................................... V 3.164 166.6 178.3 -43.5 -4.3 -6.8 -7.6 7.0

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 2.694 159.4 171.6 -44.9 -1.9 -7.6 -8.7 7.7

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 11.873 134.8 134.7 -4.9 0.4 -0.2 -0.5 -0.1

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 1.371 202.8 197.5 6.2 1.7 -0.8 -0.6 -2.6

Organic chemicals................................. 29 3.195 131.9 132.8 -16.6 -1.7 0.1 1.5 0.7

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 2.693 114.1 114.5 -4.3 2.1 1.5 -3.3 0.4

Tanning or dyeing extracts, dyes, paints,

varnish, putty, & inks........................... 32 0.549 113.3 110.8 -4.8 -1.0 0.2 0.1 -2.2

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery

cosmetic or toilet preparations................ 33 0.732 121.6 121.8 0.0 3.0 -5.1 -0.3 0.2

Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or scouring

products; candles, pastes..................... 34 0.421 115.4 113.4 -2.3 -3.0 -1.4 -0.9 -1.7

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 1.814 129.6 129.8 4.3 2.2 -1.7 -0.4 0.2

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 5.333 130.1 128.5 -7.2 -1.3 -1.0 -2.0 -1.2

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 4.279 123.7 123.3 -8.2 -1.1 -0.8 -2.1 -0.3

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 1.054 159.5 150.9 -3.7 -1.7 -1.8 -0.9 -5.4

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.278 81.2 77.6 -33.8 -11.2 -0.4 -2.9 -4.4

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.592 105.0 104.4 -6.1 -2.2 0.4 -1.8 -0.6

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 2.401 106.3 106.2 -9.9 -1.3 0.8 -0.4 -0.1

Woodpulp and recovered paper................. 47 0.496 88.6 89.5 -31.1 -5.1 1.7 0.9 1.0

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 1.370 113.0 112.3 -0.2 -0.5 0.6 -0.5 -0.6

Printed material.................................... 49 0.535 114.3 114.6 -5.5 0.1 0.1 -1.1 0.3

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 1.988 101.3 101.0 -6.7 0.0 -1.4 -1.1 -0.3

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics

thereof............................................ 52 0.517 86.1 89.1 -19.9 0.2 -1.5 -5.5 3.5

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc. (Dec.2008=100)...................... XIII 0.861 116.2 115.6 4.1 1.3 0.3 0.0 -0.5

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.457 100.5 100.3 0.7 0.9 0.0 -0.1 -0.2

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 3.940 173.5 172.3 -9.5 1.9 2.1 3.6 -0.7

See footnotes at end of table.

10
Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2008 to April

2009 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Mar.

20091

Index Percent change

Mar.

2009

Apr.

2009

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2008

to Apr.

2009

Dec.

2008 to

Jan.

2009

Jan.

2009 to

Feb.

2009

Feb.

2009 to

Mar.

2009

Mar.

2009 to

Apr. 2009

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 5.067 142.0 141.0 -21.3 -0.3 -0.5 -1.5 -0.7

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.339 165.0 156.0 -32.9 1.1 -0.5 -3.2 -5.5

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.542 164.2 164.0 8.7 3.3 -0.7 -0.1 -0.1

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.335 120.4 140.4 -48.3 -8.3 2.3 0.5 16.6

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.672 95.7 93.9 -39.6 -4.8 -0.8 -0.4 -1.9

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.410 121.8 121.8 2.4 -0.2 0.1 0.0 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.332 116.8 116.8 -9.0 0.3 -0.6 -8.5 0.0

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 31.766 94.8 95.1 -0.2 0.3 0.1 -0.2 0.3

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 18.322 104.8 105.0 1.1 0.6 0.0 -0.1 0.2

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts

and accessories thereof....................... 85 13.444 84.0 84.4 -1.7 -0.1 0.4 -0.4 0.5

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 16.016 119.2 119.9 3.4 0.7 0.1 0.3 0.6

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 9.267 107.5 107.4 0.8 0.2 -0.2 0.0 -0.1

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 6.351 106.8 106.7 0.0 0.8 0.0 -0.2 -0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 1.599 106.8 106.9 -1.4 -0.2 0.0 0.5 0.1

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and

lighting fittings nesoi;........................... 94 0.782 116.5 116.7 0.1 0.1 -0.1 0.9 0.2

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 0.694 93.1 92.7 -2.1 -0.3 0.0 0.1 -0.4

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2007 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

11
Table 7. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes by locality of origin: April 2008 to April 2009

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Percent of

U.S.

imports1

Index Percent change

Mar.

2009

Apr.

2009

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2008

to Apr.

2009

Dec. 2008

to Jan.

2009

Jan. 2009

to Feb.

2009

Feb. 2009

to Mar.

2009

Mar. 2009

to Apr.

2009

Industrialized Countries2

..................... 42.434 117.4 117.7 -12.6 -0.6 -0.6 -0.3 0.3

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 4.390 141.2 147.8 -50.6 -5.3 -3.7 0.2 4.7

Manufactured articles......................... 37.621 114.9 114.8 -6.1 -0.2 -0.3 -0.3 -0.1

Other Countries3

............................... 57.566 109.3 111.6 -18.7 -1.9 -0.2 0.4 2.1

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 12.442 159.8 177.2 -47.7 -4.2 0.5 3.6 10.9

Manufactured articles......................... 44.910 101.3 101.7 -6.7 -1.5 -0.3 -0.3 0.4

Canada............................................ 15.963 124.0 124.3 -22.3 -1.8 -2.2 -0.6 0.2

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 3.979 136.3 140.6 -52.7 -4.9 -4.7 -0.3 3.2

Manufactured articles......................... 11.678 122.9 122.4 -8.4 -0.8 -1.6 -0.7 -0.4

European Union4

............................... 17.447 123.6 123.4 -6.4 0.1 -0.2 -0.4 -0.2

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 0.222 187.4 204.3 -40.9 -3.8 -15.5 -0.1 9.0

Manufactured articles......................... 17.133 121.6 121.3 -5.5 0.2 -0.1 -0.2 -0.2

France (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 1.954 119.3 119.5 0.9 1.6 -0.8 0.3 0.2

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)..................... 4.735 108.4 108.0 -4.3 1.0 0.0 -0.8 -0.4

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)........... 2.660 118.1 118.5 -13.9 -0.1 -0.5 0.3 0.3

Latin America5

.................................. 17.808 131.4 134.9 -24.6 -1.0 -1.4 -0.5 2.7

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 5.160 184.4 200.9 -41.7 2.0 -2.9 2.6 8.9

Manufactured articles......................... 12.547 121.8 122.4 -14.1 -2.2 -0.9 -1.6 0.5

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 10.785 124.5 125.8 -13.6 -1.5 -1.8 -0.7 1.0

Nonmanufactured articles (Dec.

2008=100)................................... 1.947 97.5 103.3 – -1.6 -6.9 6.4 5.9

Manufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100). . .. 8.788 95.5 95.8 – -1.7 -0.7 -2.2 0.3

Pacific Rim (Dec. 2003=100)6

................ 33.590 99.3 99.1 -2.6 -0.6 -0.4 -0.5 -0.2

China (Dec. 2003=100)......................... 16.852 100.9 100.4 -1.1 -0.4 -0.5 -0.6 -0.5

Japan.............................................. 7.488 96.3 96.2 1.4 0.2 0.2 -0.1 -0.1

Asian NICs7

..................................... 5.647 85.5 84.8 -6.3 -2.7 -0.3 -1.2 -0.8

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)8

..................... 5.729 95.2 95.6 -5.3 -1.3 -0.6 -0.2 0.4

Asia Near East (Dec. 2003=100)9........... 3.992 140.0 152.2 -44.6 -7.6 1.0 6.1 8.7

1 Percentage of trade figures are based on 2007 trade values.

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

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

4 Includes European Union countries.

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

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

Countries.

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

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

Vietnam.

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

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

Regions are not mutually exclusive.

Dash = Not available

12
Table 8. U.S. international price indexes and percent changes for selected transportation services: April 2008

to April 2009

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Relative

importance

Mar.

20091

Index Percent change

Mar.

2009

Apr.

2009

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2008

to Apr.

2009

Dec. 2008

to Jan.

2009

Jan. 2009

to Feb.

2009

Feb. 2009

to Mar.

2009

Mar. 2009

to Apr.

2009

Air Freight

Import Air Freight..................................... 100.000 132.8 130.7 -13.3 -0.9 -1.1 -2.2 -1.6

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 22.089 124.4 121.1 -27.0 0.2 -2.3 -3.6 -2.7

Asia.................................................... 69.275 118.4 116.8 -7.7 -0.8 -0.1 -1.7 -1.4

Export Air Freight..................................... 100.000 124.1 119.8 -11.0 -3.0 -3.0 -2.3 -3.5

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)............................ 37.497 115.2 107.8 -14.9 -0.5 -4.5 -2.9 -6.4

Inbound Air Freight................................... 100.000 127.6 125.3 -14.1 -2.0 -2.0 -2.8 -1.8

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 24.375 121.3 117.7 -25.4 -1.5 -2.3 -4.4 -3.0

Asia.................................................... 64.027 112.4 110.6 -8.4 -1.6 -2.1 -1.9 -1.6

Outbound Air Freight................................. 100.000 119.0 115.1 -12.9 -4.0 -2.6 -2.5 -3.3

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 40.778 139.8 133.2 -12.0 -3.3 -3.0 -2.0 -4.7

Asia.................................................... 39.904 105.1 103.7 -11.6 -5.0 -0.4 -2.5 -1.3

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 134.9 133.1 -7.1 -5.6 -4.6 -4.7 -1.3

Europe................................................. 41.741 134.6 132.9 -9.0 5.3 -5.7 -7.8 -1.3

Asia.................................................... 28.444 123.1 122.8 1.9 -11.7 -4.6 -4.1 -0.2

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 11.926 118.2 120.6 -11.1 -19.7 -3.9 -3.0 2.0

Export Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 141.7 136.0 -11.1 0.2 -10.6 -3.9 -4.0

Europe................................................. 28.514 153.7 154.3 -17.4 -1.7 -9.9 -7.1 0.4

Asia.................................................... 36.027 128.3 122.7 -5.3 2.4 -13.9 0.2 -4.4

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 21.172 149.7 151.1 -1.8 0.9 -10.2 -7.6 0.9

1 Relative importance figures for Air Passenger Fares Indexes are based on 2007 trade values, while the relative importance figures for the Air Freight

Indexes are based on 2006 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

13
TECHNICAL NOTE

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

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

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

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

calling (202) 691-7101. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Index) to produce the NAICS primary products indexes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Agriculture. 

Services Price Indexes -- 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 excluded from both indexes. The Air Freight Indexes are 

calculated from data collected directly from airlines. These data exclude mail and passenger baggage. 

The scope of the service being priced is the movement of freight from airport to airport only, and does 

not include any ground transportation or port service. The Air Freight Indexes are presented using two 

definitions: Balance of Payments (which represent transactions between U.S. and foreign residents) and 

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

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

"MXP Publications".

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

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

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

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

NAICS 31-33. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

15