Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until 

8:30 a.m. (EDT) Wednesday, September 15, 2010 

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

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

USDL-10-1279

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

U.S. import prices increased 0.6 percent in August, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, after 

rising 0.1 percent the previous month. Higher fuel and nonfuel prices contributed to the overall advance. 

Export prices rose 0.8 percent in August after declining 0.2 percent in July and 0.7 percent in June. 

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

 Percent change 

1.5

0.2

0.8

1.5

0.2

1.2

-0.1

0.4

1.1

-0.6

-1.3

0.1

0.6

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

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

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

 Percent change

-15.3

-12.0

-5.6

3.4

8.6

11.4 11.3 11.2 11.2

8.6

4.4 5.1 4.1

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

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

All Imports: Import prices increased for the second consecutive month in August, rising 0.6 percent 

following a comparatively modest 0.1 percent advance in July. The price index for overall imports rose 4.1 

percent for the year ended in August, the smallest 12-month advance since a 3.4 percent rise for the 

November 2008-09 period. 

Fuel Imports: Approximately 58 percent of the overall increase in import prices in August was attributable 

to a 1.7 percent advance in fuel prices. The August increase in fuel prices followed a 1.0 percent rise the 

previous month and was led by a 2.1 percent increase in petroleum prices which more than offset a 3.5 

percent decline in natural gas prices. Prices for fuel rose 9.1 percent over the past 12 months; an 8.5 percent 

increase in petroleum prices and a 25.0 percent jump in natural gas prices each contributed to the overall 

advance. 

All Imports Excluding Fuel: The price index for nonfuel prices also rose in August, increasing 0.3 percent 

following decreases of 0.2 percent in July and 0.5 percent in June. The August increase was primarily driven 

by higher prices for finished goods and food, feeds, and beverages. Nonfuel prices advanced 2.9 percent 

over the past year. In contrast to the August increase, the annual advance was led by rising nonfuel 

industrial supplies and materials prices, up 13.0 percent for the August 2009-10 period. 

Table A. Percent changes 

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

 Percent change 

0.6

-0.2

0.0

0.8

0.7

0.8

-0.3

0.7

1.1

0.5

-0.7

-0.2

0.8

-1

0

1

2

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

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

 Percent change 

-6.2 -5.6

-3.6

0.4

3.4 3.5 3.4

4.9 5.5 5.6

3.7 3.9 4.1

-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

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

All Exports: Export prices resumed an upward trend in August, increasing 0.8 percent after declining the 

two previous months. The August increase was the largest monthly advance since a 1.1 percent rise in April 

and higher prices for both nonagricultural exports and agricultural exports each contributed to the rise in 

overall export prices. The price index for overall exports increased 4.1 percent over the past 12 months. 

Agricultural Exports: Agricultural prices rose 4.2 percent in August, the largest monthly increase since a 

similar 4.2 percent advance in June 2009. The August increase was driven by a 31.1 percent surge in wheat 

prices and a 9.8 percent advance in the price index for soybeans and soybean by-products. The increase in 

agricultural prices in August led the 6.4 percent advance for the index over the past year. 

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: The price index for nonagricultural exports rose 0.5 percent in August 

following declines of 0.2 percent in July and 0.8 percent in June. The increase was led by a 1.6 percent 

advance in the price index for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials. Nonagricultural prices 

increased 3.9 percent for the year ended in August. 

 

3
4

SELECTED AUGUST HIGHLIGHTS 

Import Prices 

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonfuel industrial supplies and materials prices ticked up 0.1 

percent in August after falling 1.1 percent in July. An increase in chemicals prices more than offset a decline 

in building materials prices. The price index for unfinished metals, which rose 25.2 percent over the past 

year, was unchanged in August. 

Finished Goods: Prices for each of the major finished goods categories rose in August. The price indexes 

for consumer goods and capital goods rose 0.2 percent while automotive vehicle prices increased 0.3 

percent. The increase in capital goods prices was led by a 0.4 percent rise in prices for capital goods 

excluding computers which more than offset a 0.2 percent drop in computer prices. 

 

Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Foods, feeds, and beverages prices rose 2.2 percent in August, the largest 

one-month advance for the index since a 2.9 percent increase in March 2008. Increasing prices for 

vegetables, meat, and food oils, up 5.2 percent, 4.5 percent, and 6.8 percent, respectively, all contributed to 

the overall August advance. 

Imports by Locality of Origin: The price indexes for import prices from Canada and from Mexico each 

advanced 0.7 percent in August while prices for imports from the European Union rose 0.3 percent. Higher 

petroleum prices contributed to the increases. Import prices from Japan rose 0.2 percent in August after 

recording no change in July. The price index for imports from China remained unchanged in August 

following a 0.1 percent uptick the previous month. 

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares fell for the second consecutive month in August, 

falling 4.1 percent after a 1.3 percent decline in July. A 5.9 percent decrease in European fares and a 4.5 

percent drop in Asian fares each contributed to the overall decline. In contrast, import air freight prices rose 

1.3 percent following decreases of 1.1 percent in July and 0.9 percent in June.

Export Prices 

 

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

materials rose 1.6 percent in August after falling 0.6 percent the previous month. The increase was led by a 

5.6 percent advance in fuel prices, while higher prices for metals and chemicals also contributed to the 

increase. The price index for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials increased 12.1 percent over 

the past year. 

 

Finished Goods: Finished goods prices were mixed overall in August. Consumer goods prices fell 0.3 

percent following a 0.3 percent increase in July. Automotive vehicles prices edged up 0.1 percent in August 

while the price index for capital goods was unchanged in August. 

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares increased 0.6 percent in August, driven by a 20.3 

percent jump in Asian fares which more than offset a 6.8 percent drop in European fares and a 3.9 percent 

decline in Latin American/Caribbean fares. The price index for export air freight prices also rose 0.6 percent 

in August after declining 1.3 percent in July. 

 

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

October 13, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).
Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: August 2009 to

August 2010

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

July

20101

Index Percent change

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Annual Monthly

Aug.

2009 to

Aug.

2010

Apr. 2010

to May

2010

May

2010 to

June

2010

June

2010 to

July 2010

July 2010

to Aug.

2010

All commodities..................................... 100.000 125.4 126.1 4.1 -0.6 -1.3 0.1 0.6

All imports excluding petroleum................ 81.151 110.7 110.9 3.1 0.5 -0.4 -0.2 0.2

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)... 79.646 114.3 114.6 2.9 0.6 -0.5 -0.2 0.3

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 4.816 148.8 152.0 8.6 1.4 -1.7 0.1 2.2

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 3.719 165.7 169.7 9.0 1.4 -2.2 -0.2 2.4

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 1.097 110.6 112.0 7.2 1.3 0.6 1.2 1.3

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 34.746 199.7 201.8 10.6 -2.4 -3.0 0.1 1.1

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

petroleum..................................... 15.896 150.5 150.1 13.2 1.2 -1.6 -0.7 -0.3

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

fuels (Dec. 2001=100)....................... 14.391 167.0 167.2 13.0 1.6 -1.7 -1.1 0.1

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 9.027 160.6 160.4 13.8 2.0 -2.1 -1.9 -0.1

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable

excluding petroleum......................... 5.364 138.6 138.1 12.6 0.1 -0.7 0.8 -0.4

Fuels & lubricants............................... 10 20.354 248.2 252.4 9.1 -5.1 -3.9 1.0 1.7

Petroleum & petroleum products........... 100 18.850 269.6 275.2 8.5 -5.3 -4.2 0.9 2.1

Crude.......................................... 10000 13.910 275.2 280.1 8.1 -6.6 -3.4 1.0 1.8

Fuels, n.e.s.-coals & gas.................... 101 1.263 130.3 124.8 19.4 -2.6 -0.2 4.2 -4.2

Gas-natural................................... 10110 0.939 115.5 111.5 25.0 -3.6 -0.2 5.6 -3.5

Paper & paper base stocks................... 11 0.746 116.2 116.0 17.9 2.9 2.5 0.6 -0.2

Materials associated with nondurable

supplies & materials......................... 12 4.695 146.3 147.2 10.4 0.4 -1.4 0.0 0.6

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.353 125.7 124.0 4.0 2.8 -1.3 -4.7 -1.4

Unfinished metals related to durable

goods.......................................... 14 4.180 238.7 238.6 25.2 3.0 -3.6 -2.4 0.0

Finished metals related to durable goods. .. 15 1.849 145.9 146.4 8.5 1.1 -0.9 -0.4 0.3

Nonmetals related to durable goods......... 16 1.568 107.6 107.7 4.1 0.1 -0.2 0.3 0.1

Capital goods..................................... 2 23.341 91.4 91.6 -0.3 0.1 -0.1 -0.1 0.2

Electric generating equipment................ 20 2.963 111.5 111.7 1.3 -0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 18.364 85.9 86.1 -0.5 0.2 -0.1 -0.1 0.2

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 2.013 121.5 121.5 -1.4 0.0 -0.2 0.2 0.0

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 12.316 109.9 110.2 1.7 1.1 -0.1 0.3 0.3

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 24.782 104.2 104.4 0.3 0.1 -0.2 -0.2 0.2

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 11.644 109.7 109.8 1.9 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.1

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 11.922 99.1 99.2 -1.4 0.1 -0.5 -0.7 0.1

Nonmanufactured consumer goods.......... 42 1.217 101.9 103.1 2.3 1.0 -0.6 -0.5 1.2

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

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

August 2010

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

July

20101

Index Percent change

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Annual Monthly

Aug.

2009 to

Aug.

2010

Apr. 2010

to May

2010

May

2010 to

June

2010

June

2010 to

July 2010

July 2010

to Aug.

2010

All commodities..................................... 100.000 122.0 123.0 4.1 0.5 -0.7 -0.2 0.8

Agricultural commodities......................... 8.843 165.0 171.9 6.4 1.6 0.0 -0.2 4.2

Nonagricultural commodities.................... 91.158 118.9 119.5 3.9 0.3 -0.8 -0.2 0.5

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 7.959 164.0 171.1 4.0 1.5 -0.4 -0.3 4.3

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 7.374 166.1 173.8 3.9 1.7 -0.4 -0.4 4.6

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 0.585 147.8 148.5 5.5 -0.3 -0.1 0.4 0.5

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 31.481 158.9 161.6 12.5 1.4 -1.5 -0.6 1.7

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 12.357 164.8 165.7 12.0 1.3 -1.3 -0.4 0.5

Industrial supplies & materials,

nondurable.................................... 19.123 156.2 159.9 12.9 1.4 -1.5 -0.6 2.4

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials... 10 1.469 163.9 166.8 20.9 1.3 2.1 0.9 1.8

Nonagricultural industrial supplies &

materials........................................ 30.012 159.0 161.6 12.1 1.4 -1.6 -0.6 1.6

Fuels & lubricants............................... 11 5.822 204.4 215.9 18.9 2.9 -3.3 -1.7 5.6

Nonagricultural supplies & materials

excluding fuels & building materials. . . . . .. 12 23.162 155.3 156.5 10.9 1.0 -1.3 -0.3 0.8

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.028 118.0 117.4 3.3 0.3 0.5 -0.7 -0.5

Capital goods..................................... 2 38.425 103.4 103.4 0.0 -0.1 -0.3 -0.1 0.0

Electrical generating equipment.............. 20 3.573 108.9 108.5 1.1 0.3 0.3 -0.5 -0.4

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 28.028 94.2 94.2 -0.5 -0.3 -0.4 -0.1 0.0

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 6.823 139.9 140.1 1.9 0.1 -0.1 0.3 0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 9.187 108.4 108.5 0.6 0.0 0.0 -0.1 0.1

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 12.949 110.5 110.2 1.0 -0.1 -0.5 0.3 -0.3

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 5.893 111.1 111.7 2.5 -0.1 -0.9 -0.1 0.5

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 5.736 109.1 107.9 -1.6 -0.1 0.2 0.8 -1.1

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

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

August 2010

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

July

20101

Index Percent change

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Annual Monthly

Aug.

2009 to

Aug.

2010

Apr. 2010

to May

2010

May

2010 to

June

2010

June

2010 to

July 2010

July 2010

to Aug.

2010

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 17.726 124.2 126.3 11.1 -4.8 -3.5 1.0 1.7

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 1.800 146.7 152.7 16.4 3.3 -4.0 -1.2 4.1

Crop production................................. 111 1.270 151.6 159.1 15.3 4.3 -4.8 -1.2 4.9

Mining.............................................. 21 15.926 121.7 123.5 10.6 -5.6 -3.5 1.2 1.5

Mining (except oil and gas) (Dec.

2006=100)..................................... 212 0.559 141.0 139.7 8.5 1.3 4.0 1.3 -0.9

Manufactured articles.............................. 81.750 110.0 110.3 2.6 0.4 -0.6 -0.2 0.3

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 10.300 109.9 110.5 3.4 0.5 0.1 0.6 0.5

Food manufacturing............................ 311 2.665 129.2 131.4 12.0 1.8 0.5 1.4 1.7

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.918 108.3 108.8 1.4 -0.2 -0.7 0.1 0.5

Textile product mills............................ 314 0.798 103.4 103.4 4.0 0.9 0.4 1.3 0.0

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 3.980 101.4 101.5 -0.5 -0.3 0.0 0.2 0.1

Leather and allied product manufacturing. .. 316 1.535 107.7 107.8 0.6 0.1 0.3 0.7 0.1

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 18.083 121.6 122.4 5.9 -0.2 -1.4 -0.2 0.7

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.804 101.5 99.7 5.2 4.4 -2.4 -8.6 -1.8

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.271 109.5 109.3 11.2 1.9 1.8 0.6 -0.2

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 4.013 123.7 126.9 5.8 -3.2 -4.5 0.6 2.6

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 9.047 125.7 126.1 6.2 0.2 -0.7 -0.3 0.3

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 1.831 116.0 116.0 3.5 1.1 0.2 0.5 0.0

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 1.008 121.8 121.6 1.7 0.1 0.2 0.7 -0.2

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 53.367 106.4 106.6 1.5 0.6 -0.5 -0.4 0.2

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 4.874 157.6 157.9 23.4 2.8 -3.4 -2.2 0.2

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.746 118.7 119.0 2.8 0.5 0.1 0.3 0.3

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 6.813 113.1 113.5 1.2 0.0 -0.3 0.2 0.4

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 15.017 86.5 86.5 -2.8 0.1 -0.5 -0.9 0.0

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.844 112.6 112.7 0.2 -0.1 0.1 0.3 0.1

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 13.558 106.8 107.1 1.1 0.9 -0.2 0.2 0.3

Furniture and related product

manufacturing................................ 337 1.334 106.0 106.1 -2.5 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 5.180 112.4 112.5 0.6 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.1

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

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

August 2010

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

July

20101

Index Percent change

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Annual Monthly

Aug.

2009 to

Aug.

2010

Apr. 2010

to May

2010

May

2010 to

June

2010

June

2010 to

July 2010

July 2010

to Aug.

2010

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 6.773 132.0 140.2 15.8 5.3 -0.4 -1.6 6.2

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 4.570 140.7 151.3 7.7 1.8 -1.0 -0.7 7.5

Crop production................................. 111 4.258 143.9 155.5 7.5 1.8 -1.2 -0.7 8.1

Mining.............................................. 21 2.203 106.8 110.5 41.1 13.3 0.6 -3.3 3.5

Mining (except oil and gas).................... 212 1.772 125.8 130.6 47.4 17.2 0.7 -1.5 3.8

Manufactured articles.............................. 90.547 112.0 112.5 3.3 0.2 -0.6 0.1 0.4

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 6.764 127.3 128.0 6.3 0.9 0.5 0.4 0.5

Food manufacturing............................ 311 4.583 142.7 143.7 6.4 0.9 0.4 0.4 0.7

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.541 109.8 110.2 3.0 2.2 1.9 1.9 0.4

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 0.381 104.7 104.7 2.0 0.0 2.4 0.0 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 23.662 117.8 120.1 7.5 0.1 -1.7 -0.2 2.0

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.461 115.7 115.0 8.2 1.0 0.0 -0.3 -0.6

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 2.065 122.7 123.5 13.0 2.7 2.2 1.4 0.7

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 3.443 115.0 125.5 14.3 -2.0 -6.8 -1.6 9.1

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 14.793 120.4 121.6 6.9 0.2 -1.3 -0.1 1.0

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 2.064 107.0 107.5 -0.3 1.0 -0.4 0.4 0.5

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 0.836 112.6 112.7 1.3 -0.6 -0.5 0.0 0.1

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 60.122 108.3 108.1 1.3 0.1 -0.2 0.1 -0.2

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 5.065 147.7 146.3 20.1 2.7 0.4 0.3 -0.9

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.776 121.5 121.4 -0.1 0.1 -0.3 0.3 -0.1

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 12.680 114.8 114.8 2.0 0.0 -0.1 0.1 0.0

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 15.495 91.6 91.3 -2.6 -0.4 -0.9 -0.1 -0.3

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.426 108.1 107.8 0.5 0.0 0.2 0.0 -0.3

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 15.262 111.2 111.3 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 5.064 110.8 110.1 -0.5 -0.1 -0.3 0.6 -0.6

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

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

August 2010

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

July

20101

Index Percent change

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Annual Monthly

Aug.

2009 to

Aug.

2010

Apr. 2010

to May

2010

May

2010 to

June

2010

June

2010 to

July 2010

July 2010

to Aug.

2010

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.128 143.1 145.7 11.7 2.7 -1.0 0.1 1.8

Meat and edible meat offal....................... 02 0.257 180.0 183.1 17.3 3.5 -2.0 -1.7 1.7

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.592 109.1 110.7 11.0 2.7 0.5 1.8 1.5

Vegetable products................................ II 1.487 168.3 175.6 12.2 2.7 -4.4 -0.5 4.3

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers............ 07 0.391 300.6 322.3 15.4 4.9 -5.4 -7.8 7.2

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.402 105.5 108.4 9.9 2.7 -7.5 -1.0 2.7

Coffee, tea, mate and spices.................... 09 0.312 182.8 189.6 16.9 -1.9 1.5 7.0 3.7

Animal or vegetable fats and oils (Dec.

2009=100).......................................... III 0.213 103.6 110.2 – -0.7 -1.9 1.9 6.4

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.332 142.8 143.7 5.8 0.8 0.0 1.1 0.6

Cocoa and cocoa preparations (Dec.

2009=100)....................................... 18 0.204 97.5 96.5 – 4.3 -6.7 0.0 -1.0

Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk;

bakers’ wares (Dec. 2007=100).............. 19 0.265 125.0 124.6 11.4 1.9 1.9 7.0 -0.3

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts, or other

parts of plants................................... 20 0.287 129.1 129.8 3.3 0.7 -0.5 -0.6 0.5

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar.................. 22 0.904 117.7 118.3 1.6 -0.1 -1.0 0.3 0.5

Mineral products.................................... V 20.401 251.0 254.8 9.3 -5.1 -3.5 1.1 1.5

Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plaster

materials, lime & cement (Dec.

2009=100)....................................... 25 0.191 102.4 102.4 – 0.2 -0.4 0.4 0.0

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 19.958 247.4 251.2 9.2 -5.2 -3.7 1.1 1.5

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 8.300 138.6 139.1 6.7 0.4 -1.1 -0.5 0.4

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 0.969 276.9 275.3 40.7 3.4 -3.9 -0.3 -0.6

Organic chemicals................................. 29 2.770 133.3 134.1 5.2 0.2 -0.9 -0.4 0.6

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 2.851 118.0 118.2 3.6 -0.1 -0.1 0.1 0.2

Fertilizers (Dec. 2009=100)...................... 31 0.309 99.8 100.1 – -2.2 -3.0 -1.3 0.3

Tanning & dyeing extracts; dye & pigments;

varnish & paints; putty......................... 32 0.162 105.3 106.2 1.6 -1.4 -2.3 -1.5 0.9

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec.

2001=100)....................................... 33 0.395 114.9 117.4 -2.6 -0.3 -2.0 -1.7 2.2

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 0.498 93.0 92.9 3.6 -0.7 -1.4 0.4 -0.1

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 3.037 137.2 137.7 8.9 0.6 -0.4 0.4 0.4

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 1.897 131.7 132.0 6.6 0.0 -0.5 0.5 0.2

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 1.140 147.8 148.6 12.9 1.4 -0.2 0.2 0.5

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.597 114.7 114.7 1.1 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.0

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

various materials................................ 42 0.541 114.8 114.8 0.3 -0.1 0.1 -0.1 0.0

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.837 124.4 121.9 5.6 4.2 -2.0 -7.4 -2.0

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 1.413 113.1 112.9 8.3 1.7 1.5 0.5 -0.2

Pulp wood, waste paper, and paperboard

(Dec. 2009=100)................................ 47 0.233 130.7 127.4 – 5.6 6.2 1.2 -2.5

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 0.909 105.1 105.4 3.7 1.1 0.8 0.6 0.3

Printed matter...................................... 49 0.271 121.5 121.7 1.3 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.2

See footnotes at end of table.

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

August 2010 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

July

20101

Index Percent change

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Annual Monthly

Aug.

2009 to

Aug.

2010

Apr. 2010

to May

2010

May

2010 to

June

2010

June

2010 to

July 2010

July 2010

to Aug.

2010

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 5.014 103.4 103.5 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.1

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

knitted or crocheted............................ 61 1.928 98.9 98.9 -0.8 -0.5 0.3 0.6 0.0

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

not knitted or crocheted........................ 62 1.872 102.6 102.6 -0.4 -0.2 -0.2 -0.2 0.0

Made-up or worn textile articles................. 63 0.546 95.5 95.5 5.3 1.4 0.2 1.7 0.0

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.. .. XII 1.229 107.7 107.8 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.7 0.1

Footwear and parts of such articles............ 64 1.048 107.1 107.2 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.9 0.1

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc........................................... XIII 0.887 123.9 124.0 -0.4 0.0 -0.2 0.1 0.1

Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, or

mica (Dec. 2001=100)......................... 68 0.316 117.9 117.9 0.3 0.0 -0.1 0.4 0.0

Ceramic products.................................. 69 0.277 138.5 137.9 -1.1 -0.1 -0.5 -0.4 -0.4

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.294 115.1 115.6 -0.9 0.1 -0.3 0.3 0.4

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 2.820 160.8 159.8 14.0 2.4 -0.2 -0.4 -0.6

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 6.061 177.8 179.0 14.7 1.6 -2.7 -1.4 0.7

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.432 233.4 228.2 23.5 2.1 0.2 -2.3 -2.2

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.890 151.2 152.3 12.2 1.8 0.8 0.7 0.7

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.642 307.8 316.4 20.4 -0.6 -9.2 -1.9 2.8

Nickel and articles thereof (Dec. 2009=100). .. 75 0.180 116.8 118.4 – 13.9 -12.2 -10.4 1.4

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.797 129.7 133.2 15.8 1.6 -6.3 -2.3 2.7

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.366 117.8 118.8 1.4 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 0.8

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.414 127.1 127.1 -1.2 -0.2 -0.2 0.4 0.0

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 25.492 86.1 86.2 -1.1 0.1 -0.3 -0.5 0.1

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 12.856 87.8 88.0 -0.5 0.0 -0.1 -0.1 0.2

Electrical machinery and equip, sound and TV

recorders & reproducers, parts............... 85 12.636 84.6 84.5 -1.7 0.0 -0.4 -0.7 -0.1

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 11.523 111.3 111.6 1.5 1.1 -0.1 0.3 0.3

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 10.420 110.5 110.8 1.7 1.3 -0.2 0.4 0.3

Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof (Dec.

2002=100)....................................... 88 1.007 113.8 113.8 -1.6 0.0 -0.3 0.0 0.0

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 3.284 101.1 101.4 -0.9 0.0 -0.3 0.3 0.3

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical

instruments...................................... 90 2.976 98.8 99.0 -1.0 -0.1 -0.2 0.2 0.2

Clocks and watches and parts thereof. . . . . . . .. 91 0.229 121.6 125.7 1.5 0.0 -0.7 0.0 3.4

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 3.882 106.5 106.6 -1.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1

Furniture & stuffed furnishings; lamps &

lighting fittings, nesoi; prefab bldgs........... 94 1.975 109.4 109.6 -2.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.2

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 1.703 101.0 101.0 -0.7 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0

Miscellaneous manufactured articles........... 96 0.204 119.8 119.8 3.3 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

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

August 2010

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

July

20101

Index Percent change

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Annual Monthly

Aug.

2009 to

Aug.

2010

Apr. 2010

to May

2010

May

2010 to

June

2010

June

2010 to

July 2010

July 2010

to Aug.

2010

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.780 173.2 173.6 11.4 1.7 0.5 0.6 0.2

Meat & edible meat offal (Dec. 2006=100). . .. 02 1.041 146.4 145.3 14.8 3.9 -1.1 2.1 -0.8

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.325 153.8 154.5 11.4 -0.7 0.3 1.0 0.5

Vegetable products................................ II 4.136 176.9 190.4 1.4 2.1 -1.9 -0.3 7.6

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.732 120.7 119.4 12.6 -3.6 1.9 -7.9 -1.1

Cereals.............................................. 10 1.593 174.5 197.1 7.3 6.1 -5.5 1.8 13.0

Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds, fruits,

plants, straw and fodder....................... 12 1.323 199.2 215.2 -5.9 2.0 -0.4 1.5 8.0

Animal or vegetable fats and oils (Dec.

2009=100).......................................... III 0.309 107.9 108.3 – 4.5 -2.0 -1.4 0.4

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.479 140.3 141.9 1.4 0.4 1.0 0.8 1.1

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other

parts of plants (Dec. 2009=100).............. 20 0.351 106.0 106.2 – 1.3 0.0 0.3 0.2

Miscellaneous edible preparations.............. 21 0.408 117.5 117.4 -0.3 0.2 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar (Dec.

2008=100)....................................... 22 0.328 101.8 102.5 0.6 0.1 -0.6 -0.5 0.7

Residues and waste from the food industries;

prepared animal feed........................... 23 0.581 187.4 193.8 -6.0 0.6 4.7 4.1 3.4

Mineral products.................................... V 5.742 242.3 257.4 23.2 3.8 -3.6 -2.3 6.2

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 5.048 233.8 248.5 22.2 2.6 -3.9 -2.3 6.3

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 12.042 143.9 144.6 5.9 0.3 -1.0 -0.2 0.5

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 1.101 188.7 188.4 -0.4 4.9 1.6 1.8 -0.2

Organic chemicals................................. 29 3.022 149.7 151.6 8.0 -0.6 -2.2 -1.8 1.3

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 2.958 122.1 122.8 5.8 -0.4 -1.5 0.9 0.6

Tanning or dyeing extracts, dyes, paints,

varnish, putty, & inks........................... 32 0.545 116.4 116.5 2.0 0.0 -2.1 2.3 0.1

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery

cosmetic or toilet preparations................ 33 0.711 122.5 124.1 -1.4 0.6 -1.0 -1.0 1.3

Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or scouring

products; candles, pastes..................... 34 0.436 118.2 119.2 3.4 1.0 -0.4 0.4 0.8

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 2.127 144.5 143.6 8.8 0.6 0.6 1.4 -0.6

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 5.076 136.9 137.8 3.1 0.5 -1.3 0.1 0.7

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 4.112 130.4 131.4 2.1 0.5 -1.7 0.0 0.8

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 0.964 166.1 166.3 7.2 0.7 -0.1 0.4 0.1

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.379 120.7 122.6 31.0 1.3 -0.7 -0.3 1.6

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.567 110.8 110.2 7.5 0.6 0.4 -0.4 -0.5

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 2.568 119.8 120.7 12.4 1.8 0.1 1.9 0.8

Woodpulp and recovered paper................. 47 0.721 133.9 134.6 39.0 5.5 -1.3 2.8 0.5

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 1.345 116.5 117.8 6.9 0.7 1.0 2.2 1.1

Printed material.................................... 49 0.502 116.0 116.0 -1.0 0.1 -0.3 -0.3 0.0

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 2.035 115.8 117.4 14.1 0.3 1.3 0.1 1.4

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics

thereof............................................ 52 0.685 132.4 137.9 45.3 0.9 2.7 0.2 4.2

See footnotes at end of table.

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

August 2010 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

July

20101

Index Percent change

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Annual Monthly

Aug.

2009 to

Aug.

2010

Apr. 2010

to May

2010

May

2010 to

June

2010

June

2010 to

July 2010

July 2010

to Aug.

2010

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc. (Dec. 2008=100)..................... XIII 0.791 115.5 115.5 1.0 -0.5 -0.3 -0.3 0.0

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.418 97.1 97.1 -0.5 -0.9 -0.5 -0.2 0.0

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 5.073 212.5 209.0 20.2 1.9 1.2 0.8 -1.6

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 5.827 159.6 161.9 8.0 -0.3 -3.7 -0.6 1.4

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.737 190.9 193.0 14.3 0.0 -5.7 -1.7 1.1

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.526 159.0 158.7 -0.9 0.3 -0.3 0.4 -0.2

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.556 216.1 233.6 25.1 -5.8 -4.4 -0.4 8.1

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.851 117.5 120.4 11.2 0.2 -8.8 -0.3 2.5

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.413 124.1 124.1 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.318 125.3 124.7 2.5 0.0 0.5 0.2 -0.5

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 30.217 95.4 95.2 -0.3 -0.2 -0.3 -0.1 -0.2

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 17.771 106.7 106.7 1.1 -0.2 -0.5 -0.1 0.0

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts

and accessories thereof....................... 85 12.446 83.0 82.8 -2.2 -0.4 -0.1 -0.2 -0.2

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 13.332 121.5 121.6 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 8.568 108.4 108.5 0.8 0.0 0.0 -0.1 0.1

Ships, boats and floating structures (Dec.

2009=100)....................................... 89 0.293 100.1 100.7 – 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.6

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 5.973 106.6 106.5 -1.8 0.0 -0.3 0.4 -0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 1.525 108.0 107.6 0.0 0.2 0.0 -0.1 -0.4

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and

lighting fittings nesoi;........................... 94 0.761 118.7 118.5 1.0 0.3 0.2 -0.2 -0.2

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 0.650 92.9 92.3 -1.1 0.0 -0.3 0.0 -0.6

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

12
Table 7. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes by locality of origin: August 2009 to August 2010

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Percent of

U.S.

imports1

Index Percent change

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Annual Monthly

Aug. 2009

to Aug.

2010

Apr. 2010

to May

2010

May 2010

to June

2010

June 2010

to July

2010

July 2010

to Aug.

2010

Industrialized Countries2

..................... 41.082 124.5 125.0 4.3 -0.5 -1.3 0.4 0.4

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 5.687 193.7 194.8 14.6 -7.0 -2.7 3.0 0.6

Manufactured articles......................... 34.943 118.8 119.3 3.2 0.3 -1.1 0.1 0.4

Other Countries3

............................... 58.918 123.3 124.0 3.2 -1.0 -1.1 0.0 0.6

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 15.714 249.9 255.0 9.5 -4.2 -3.8 0.3 2.0

Manufactured articles......................... 43.010 105.4 105.6 1.2 0.1 -0.4 0.0 0.2

Canada............................................ 15.923 139.3 140.3 8.2 -1.5 -2.1 0.1 0.7

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 5.257 187.4 188.3 15.7 -7.7 -2.7 3.4 0.5

Manufactured articles......................... 10.335 130.5 131.4 6.0 0.9 -1.9 -1.0 0.7

European Union4

............................... 16.799 127.4 127.8 2.3 0.0 -0.9 -0.2 0.3

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 0.211 250.0 252.1 5.0 -4.7 0.8 -0.2 0.8

Manufactured articles......................... 16.491 124.9 125.3 2.3 0.1 -0.9 -0.2 0.3

France (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 1.948 121.1 121.3 -0.6 0.0 -0.4 0.0 0.2

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)..................... 4.572 110.8 111.3 1.5 -0.3 -1.2 -0.4 0.5

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)........... 2.566 125.0 125.6 3.3 0.1 -0.6 -0.2 0.5

Latin America5

.................................. 17.999 154.6 156.1 5.3 -2.2 -1.3 0.1 1.0

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 6.186 274.9 281.4 8.6 -6.1 -2.2 1.9 2.4

Manufactured articles......................... 11.730 129.4 129.8 3.1 -0.3 -1.0 -0.7 0.3

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 10.275 136.0 137.0 2.9 -1.4 -0.7 -0.7 0.7

Nonmanufactured articles (Dec.

2008=100)................................... 2.141 146.1 150.2 10.6 -5.7 -4.3 0.9 2.8

Manufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100). . .. 8.085 96.1 96.3 0.6 0.0 0.3 -1.1 0.2

Pacific Rim (Dec. 2003=100)6

................ 31.500 101.6 101.6 1.8 0.9 0.0 0.1 0.0

China (Dec. 2003=100)......................... 16.449 100.5 100.5 -0.1 0.3 -0.2 0.1 0.0

Japan.............................................. 6.678 98.6 98.8 1.8 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.2

Asian NICs7

..................................... 5.003 89.3 89.2 3.8 1.8 0.1 0.4 -0.1

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)8

..................... 5.274 96.3 96.7 -0.5 -0.3 -0.1 0.4 0.4

Asia Near East (Dec. 2003=100)9........... 5.380 201.2 204.5 6.2 -2.1 -2.2 -1.8 1.6

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

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

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

4 Includes European Union countries.

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

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

Countries.

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

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

Vietnam.

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

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

Regions are not mutually exclusive.

Dash = Not available

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

2009 to August 2010

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Relative

importance

July

20101

Index Percent change

July

2010

Aug.

2010

Annual Monthly

Aug. 2009

to Aug.

2010

Apr. 2010

to May

2010

May 2010

to June

2010

June 2010

to July

2010

July 2010

to Aug.

2010

Air Freight

Import Air Freight..................................... 100.000 160.7 162.8 21.9 2.2 -0.9 -1.1 1.3

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 19.688 124.8 130.3 -1.1 0.8 -5.5 -1.3 4.4

Asia.................................................... 72.292 150.7 151.6 31.8 1.5 0.3 -0.3 0.6

Export Air Freight..................................... 100.000 124.6 125.3 4.4 0.6 1.5 -1.3 0.6

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)............................ 38.516 114.8 114.9 6.1 -0.5 3.0 -1.7 0.1

Inbound Air Freight................................... 100.000 145.0 146.7 16.5 1.6 -0.1 -1.4 1.2

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 21.588 118.2 122.7 -0.6 0.9 -3.9 -1.3 3.8

Asia.................................................... 68.104 136.2 137.0 26.0 1.6 0.5 -0.6 0.6

Outbound Air Freight................................. 100.000 121.6 121.7 9.6 1.4 1.2 -0.7 0.1

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 41.371 141.4 141.6 10.6 0.4 1.9 -0.6 0.1

Asia.................................................... 41.808 110.1 110.2 7.8 1.9 0.8 -0.7 0.1

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 173.1 166.0 19.0 2.9 9.2 -1.3 -4.1

Europe................................................. 43.728 193.9 182.4 27.6 3.7 13.7 -3.9 -5.9

Asia.................................................... 29.299 156.8 149.7 15.2 6.6 11.5 0.8 -4.5

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 12.062 145.4 146.9 14.5 -4.9 1.6 3.5 1.0

Export Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 185.8 187.0 20.3 0.6 7.8 5.4 0.6

Europe................................................. 35.852 248.3 231.5 24.7 0.6 16.5 3.1 -6.8

Asia.................................................... 29.602 163.7 197.0 42.9 6.1 2.4 5.5 20.3

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 19.707 173.0 166.3 6.9 -3.9 5.6 2.1 -3.9

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

14
TECHNICAL NOTE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Index) to produce the NAICS primary products indexes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Agriculture. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Publications."

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

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

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

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

NAICS 31-33. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

(mxpinfo@bls.gov). 

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

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

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