Technical Information
    Jim Thomas      (202) 606-7155             USDL-97-441
    Bill Alterman   (202) 606-7108             For release: 10:00 A.M. E.S.T.
  Media contact:                               Thursday, December 11, 1997
    Kathryn Hoyle   (202) 606-5902
  Internet Address: http://stats.bls.gov/ipphome.htm
                                  
                     U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES
                              -NOVEMBER 1997-
                                  
     The U.S. Import Price Index fell 0.3 percent in November, the Bureau
of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  The
decrease was attributable to a turnaround in petroleum prices as well as
the continuing decline in nonpetroleum import prices.  The Export Price
Index was unchanged in November after decreasing in each of the previous
two months.
                                  
               Percent changes in import and export price indexes
                              by End Use category
                          - not seasonally adjusted -
                                  
                          IMPORTS                          EXPORTS          
                                                                 
   Month          
                                       Non-                Agri-     Nonagri-  
                  All    Petroleum   petroleum     All    cultural   cultural 
                Imports   Imports     Imports    Exports  Exports    Exports     
                                                                 
                                                                 
1996                                                             
November         -0.2       -0.8       -0.1       -0.4       -2.3        0.0 
December          0.3        2.0        0.1        0.0       -0.9        0.1 
1997                                                             
January          -0.3        0.6       -0.4        0.1        0.1        0.0 
February         -0.9       -8.1       -0.1        0.2        2.1        0.0 
March            -1.3       -8.7       -0.4        0.1        1.5       -0.1 
April            -1.1       -7.3       -0.5        0.0       -0.4        0.0 
May               0.0        1.1       -0.1       -0.3       -1.2        0.0 
June             -0.1       -2.0        0.1       -0.1       -2.0        0.1 
July             -0.2       -1.3       -0.2        0.0       -1.1        0.0 
August           -0.1        2.3       -0.3        0.0        0.1        0.0 
September        -0.1        0.1 r     -0.1       -0.3 r     -0.1       -0.3 
October           0.1        4.0 r     -0.3       -0.4 r     -1.8 r     -0.2 
November         -0.3       -1.5       -0.1        0.0        0.8       -0.1 
                                                                
November 1995-96  1.6       37.2       -1.8       -1.3       -5.3       -0.6 
November 1996-97 -3.9      -18.2       -2.3       -0.7       -2.9       -0.5 

r = revised to reflect late reports and corrections by respondents.
                                  
                            Import Goods
                                  
      The November import price decrease marked the fifth decline in the last
six months.  For the year ended in November, the index was down 3.9 percent.
Nonpetroleum import prices fell 0.1 percent in November and the index has
decreased in each of the past five months; the index was down 2.3 percent for
the year ended in November. Petroleum prices also contributed to the
downturn in import prices last month, falling 1.5 percent after increasing
in the three previous months.  The price index for petroleum imports dropped
18.2 percent over the past year.
                                  
      The index for foods, feeds, and beverages fell 0.9 percent in November,
following a decrease of 0.8 percent in the preceding month. The decline was
led by falling coffee prices.  All of the major finished goods indexes either
decreased or were unchanged in November.  Capital goods prices continued
a two-year slide, declining 0.3 percent last month; the index has increased
only twice on a monthly basis since November 1995 and has declined 10.5
percent over the period.  Import prices for consumer goods fell 0.2 percent
in November, while the index for automotive vehicles, parts, and engines was
unchanged.  Both indexes had posted 0.2 percent gains the previous month.
                                  
         In contrast, industrial supplies and materials excluding petroleum
edged up 0.1 percent last month after a 0.5 percent decline in October.
For the year ended in November, however, the index was unchanged.
                                  
                            Export Goods
                                  
      The price index of all exports was unchanged last month, as an increase
in the agricultural export index countered a dip for nonagricultural exports.
Export prices, which fell 0.4 percent in October and 0.3 percent in
September, were down 0.7 percent for the year ended in November.
Agricultural export prices rose 0.8 percent in November after falling 1.8
percent in the preceding month.  The November upturn was led by an increase
in soybean and soybean oil prices.  Nonagricultural export prices fell for
the third consecutive month, dipping 0.1 percent in November, and were down
0.5 percent in the year ended in November.
                                  
      The drop in nonagricultural prices was led by declining prices for
industrial supplies and materials.  Nonagricultural industrial supplies and
materials fell 0.3 percent in November, following average declines of 0.4
percent in the previous three months.
                                  
       All of the major finished goods indexes were unchanged from October.
Export prices for autos and consumer goods were up 0.8 percent and 1.1
percent, respectively, for the year ended in November.  In contrast, the
index for capital goods was down over the November 1996-97 period.
                                  
                    Imports by Locality of Origin
                                  
     Import prices from Japan fell for the fourth consecutive month, dropping
0.3 percent in November. (See table 7.)  Over the November 1996-97 period,
the index was down 5.0 percent.
                                  
     Prices for imports from the Asian Newly Industrialized Countries
declined 1.2 percent in November, after falling in the previous two months.
The recent decline has paralleled the relative strengthening of the U.S.
dollar versus these Asian currencies.  For the year ended in November, the
index dropped 4.7 percent.
                                  
    The price index for imports from Canada also fell last month, decreasing
0.2 percent in November after a slight 0.1 percent decrease in October.
Over the November 1996-97 period, the index was down 1.3 percent.
                                  
     In contrast, the price index for imports from the European Union rose
0.2 percent on average for the second consecutive month.  Despite the recent
gains, the index decreased 2.2 percent for the November 1996-97 period.
                                  
                                  
                         CONTENTS OF RELEASE
                                  
This news release includes the following tables:

Table 1   Import Price Indexes, by End Use.....page  4
Table 2   Export Price Indexes, by End Use.....page  5
Table 3   Import Price Indexes, by SITC.....pages 6-7
Table 4   Export Price Indexes, by SITC.....pages  8-9
Table 5   Import Price Indexes, by Harmonized System.....pages 10-11
Table 6   Export Price Indexes, by Harmonized System.....pages 12-13
Table 7   Import Price Indexes, by Locality of Origin.....page  14
Table 8   U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes for Services.....page 15
Table 9   U.S. International Price Indexes for Services.....page  16
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Import and Export Price Index data for December 1997 are scheduled for
release on January 14, 1998 at 10:00 a.m. (EST).

                             
The import and export news release contains monthly price indexes at the
two-digit level of detail.  If you would like to be added to the mailing
list for more detailed tables, please fill out the form below and mail or
fax it to the following address:
                                  
                                  
                            Division of International Prices
                            Bureau of Labor Statistics
                            PSB Building, Rm. 3955
                            2 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E.
                            Washington, DC 20212


Phone Number: (202) 606-7155                      Fax Number: (202) 606-7179
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2. Harmonized System Indexes                                ______

3. SITC Indexes                                             ______

4. BEA End-Use Indexes                                      ______

5. Locality Of Origin Indexes                               ______

6. Services Indexes                                         ______

                                
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Table 1      U.S. Import Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, November 1996-November 1997                           
                 1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                            
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
                                                         ance                           Nov.    July      Aug.      Sept.     Oct. 
END       Description                                                                   1996    1997      1997      1997      1997 
USE                                                     October    October     November to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1997       1997        1997     Nov.    Aug.      Sept.     Oct.      Nov. 
                                                        1/         2/                   1997    1997      1997      1997      1997 
                                                                                                                                   
          ALL COMMODITIES                               100.000     97.9        97.6     -3.9    -0.1      -0.1       0.1      -0.3
          ALL IMPORTS EXCLUDING PETROLEUM                91.238     96.4        96.3     -2.3    -0.3      -0.1      -0.3      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
0          FOODS, FEEDS, & BEVERAGES                      4.729     98.8        97.9      0.0    -0.2       0.4      -0.8      -0.9
                                                                                                                                   
00          Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,                                                                                 
                excluding distilled beverages             3.359     96.3        95.0     -2.7    -0.2       0.6      -1.6      -1.3
                                                                                                                                   
01          Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled                                                                                 
                beverages)                                1.370    105.2       105.2      6.7    -0.1       0.0       1.1       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
1          INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS               27.337    102.0       101.5     -6.7     0.7       0.3       0.9      -0.5
             INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS                                                                                       
                 EXCLUDING PETROLEUM                     18.575     97.9        98.0      0.0    -0.1       0.4      -0.5       0.1
             INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS,                                                                                      
                 DURABLE                                  9.786     98.7        98.3      0.5    -0.4       0.4      -1.2      -0.4
             INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS,                                                                                      
                 NONDURABLE EXCLUDING PETROLEUM           8.789     96.9        97.5     -0.7     0.2       0.3       0.3       0.6
                                                                                                                                   
10          Fuels & lubricants                           10.011    111.6       110.7    -15.9     1.9       0.4       4.3      -0.8
                                                                                                                                   
100          Petroleum & petroleum products               8.762    109.8       108.1    -18.2     2.3       0.1       4.0      -1.5
                                                                                                                                   
10000          Crude                                      6.965    109.9       108.1    -18.8     2.4      -0.2       4.5      -1.6
                                                                                                                                   
11          Paper & paper base stocks                     1.820     83.8        84.4      2.4     0.7       0.8       0.5       0.7
                                                                                                                                   
12          Materials associated with nondurable                                                                                   
                supplies & materials                      5.925     94.6        94.3     -3.4     0.1      -0.2      -0.8      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
13          Selected building materials                   2.099    107.6       108.5     -3.2    -1.0      -0.1      -3.6       0.8
                                                                                                                                   
14          Unfinished metals associated with                                                                                      
                durable goods                             4.573     97.4        96.4      5.0    -0.1       1.2      -1.1      -1.0
                                                                                                                                   
15          Finished metals associated with durable                                                                                
                goods                                     1.449     96.9        96.3     -2.6    -0.3       0.0       0.6      -0.6
                                                                                                                                   
16          Nonmetals associated with durable goods       1.459     94.1        94.1     -3.8    -0.5      -1.1       0.0       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
2          CAPITAL GOODS                                 28.131     89.8        89.5     -7.1    -0.8      -0.5      -0.8      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
20          Electric & electrical generating                                                                                       
                equipment                                 3.329     96.6        96.5     -2.5     0.2      -0.3      -0.2      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
21          Nonelectrical machinery                      23.115     87.4        87.0     -8.2    -0.9      -0.7      -1.0      -0.5
                                                                                                                                   
3          AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES, PARTS & ENGINES          17.777    101.3       101.3      0.7     0.1       0.1       0.2       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
4          CONSUMER GOODS, EXCLUDING AUTOMOTIVES         22.026     99.4        99.2     -0.9    -0.2      -0.2       0.2      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
40          Nondurables, manufactured                    10.884    101.1       100.9      0.2    -0.1       0.0       0.3      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
41          Durables, manufactured                       10.042     97.4        97.3     -2.3    -0.3      -0.4       0.0      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
42          Nonmanufactured consumer goods                1.100    101.4       100.7      1.3     0.0       0.1       1.5      -0.7
                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                       n.a.      Not available         
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for August, September and October 1997                                                                                    
            have been revised to reflect the availability                                                                                 
            of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                                                               
            All data are subject to revision in each of                                                                                   
            the three months after original publication.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                          
        NOTE:  Published categories may include price data not shown separately                                                           
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
Table 2      U.S. Export Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, November 1996-November 1997                           
                 1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                            
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
                                                         ance                           Nov.    July      Aug.      Sept.     Oct. 
END       Description                                                                   1996    1997      1997      1997      1997 
USE                                                     October    October     November to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1997       1997        1997     Nov.    Aug.      Sept.     Oct.      Nov. 
                                                        1/         2/                   1997    1997      1997      1997      1997 
                                                                                                                                   
          ALL COMMODITIES                               100.000     98.6        98.6     -0.7     0.0      -0.3      -0.4       0.0
          AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES                       10.378     98.4        99.2     -2.9     0.1      -0.1      -1.8       0.8
          NONAGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES                    89.622     98.6        98.5     -0.5     0.0      -0.3      -0.2      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
0          FOODS, FEEDS, & BEVERAGES                      9.369     99.8       100.2     -3.6     0.6       0.0      -2.0       0.4
                                                                                                                                   
00          Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,                                                                                 
                excluding distilled beverages             8.593    100.1       100.8     -3.7     0.1      -0.3      -2.1       0.7
                                                                                                                                   
01          Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled                                                                                 
                beverages)                                0.776     98.0        95.9     -1.6     8.1       2.4      -0.5      -2.1
                                                                                                                                   
1          INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS               25.327     94.7        94.5     -0.3    -0.4      -0.3      -0.4      -0.2
             INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS,                                                                                      
                 DURABLE                                  9.773     94.8        94.4     -1.0    -0.5      -0.5      -1.0      -0.4
             INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS,                                                                                      
                 NONDURABLE                              15.554     94.6        94.5      0.1    -0.2      -0.2      -0.1      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
10          Agricultural industrial supplies &                                                                                     
                materials                                 1.785     93.0        94.0      0.8     0.1       0.8       0.0       1.1
                                                                                                                                   
            NONAGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES &                                                                                  
              MATERIALS                                  23.542     94.8        94.5     -0.4    -0.4      -0.4      -0.5      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
11          Fuels & lubricants                            2.455    111.0       110.4     -3.3     0.3       0.5       0.1      -0.5
                                                                                                                                   
12          Nonagricultural supplies & materials                                                                                   
                excluding fuels & building materials     19.573     92.4        92.2      0.7    -0.4      -0.4      -0.4      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
13          Selected building materials                   1.514     91.2        89.8     -8.1    -1.0      -1.1      -1.7      -1.5
                                                                                                                                   
2          CAPITAL GOODS                                 43.773     99.3        99.3     -1.2     0.1      -0.6      -0.2       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
20          Electric & electrical generating                                                                                       
                Equipment                                 4.424    101.9       102.2      1.7     1.0      -0.4       0.1       0.3
                                                                                                                                   
21          Nonelectrical machinery                      33.983     96.5        96.4     -2.3     0.0      -0.8      -0.2      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
3          AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES, PARTS & ENGINES           9.671    102.3       102.3      0.8     0.0      -0.1       0.1       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
4          CONSUMER GOODS, EXCLUDING AUTOMOTIVES         11.860    102.7       102.7      1.1     0.0       0.4       0.1       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
40          Nondurables, manufactured                     6.241    102.2       102.1      0.7     0.0       0.6      -0.1      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
41          Durables, manufactured                        5.054    102.2       102.2      0.9     0.1      -0.2       0.3       0.0
                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                       n.a.      Not available         
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for August, September and October 1997                                                                                    
            have been revised to reflect the availability                                                                                 
            of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                                                               
            All data are subject to revision in each of the                                                                               
            three months after original publication.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                          
        NOTE:  Published categories may include price data not shown separately                                                           
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
Table 3       U.S. Import Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, November 1996-November 1997                           
                  1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                            
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
                                                         ance                           Nov.    July      Aug.      Sept.     Oct. 
SITC      Description                                                                   1996    1997      1997      1997      1997 
Rev. 3                                                  October    October     November to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1997       1997        1997     Nov.    Aug.      Sept.     Oct.      Nov. 
                                                        1/         2/                   1997    1997      1997      1997      1997 
                                                                                                                                   
          ALL COMMODITIES                               100.000     97.9        97.6     -3.9    -0.1      -0.1       0.1      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
0          FOOD AND LIVE ANIMALS                          4.075    100.5        99.6      3.2     0.4       0.4      -0.8      -0.9
01          Meat and meat preparations                    0.352    102.7       102.7      0.4     2.3      -0.3      -1.2       0.0
03          Fish, crustaceans, aquatic invertebrates                                                                               
               and preparations thereof                   1.057    107.4       107.4     10.6     0.2      -0.1       2.8       0.0
05          Vegetables and fruit, prepared                                                                                         
               fresh or dried                             1.084    103.2       104.6     -2.1     2.0       0.2      -0.2       1.4
07          Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and                                                                                         
               manufactures thereof                       0.643     92.1        86.2     11.7    -2.1       2.6      -7.9      -6.4
       3/ Other food and live animals (9612=100)          0.939     99.9        99.1     n.a.     0.3      -0.3      -0.1      -0.8
                                                                                                                                   
1          BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO                          0.843    107.9       107.8      2.7     0.0       0.1       0.1      -0.1
11          Beverages                                     0.709    104.4       104.4      1.8     0.0       0.1       0.1       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
2          CRUDE MATERIALS, INEDIBLE, EXCEPT FUELS        2.926     94.8        94.3     -2.2    -0.5      -0.2      -1.9      -0.5
23          Crude rubber (including synthetic and                                                                                  
               reclaimed)                                 0.240     72.4        70.1    -18.0    -0.6      -3.5      -2.8      -3.2
24          Cork and wood                                 1.031    113.1       114.1     -9.2    -1.9       0.2      -6.7       0.9
25          Pulp and waste paper                          0.383     69.0        69.2      2.1     2.1       0.4       1.2       0.3
28          Metalliferous ores and metal scrap            0.634    103.7       102.7      7.1     0.1      -0.2      -0.8      -1.0
29          Crude animal and vegetable materials,                                                                                  
               n.e.s. (9612=100)                          0.292    113.2       109.1     n.a.    -0.3       1.3       9.8      -3.6
       3/ Other crude materials, inedible, except                                                                                  
             fuels (9612=100)                             0.346     96.6        96.2     n.a.     0.2      -1.0      -0.2      -0.4
                                                                                                                                   
3          MINERAL FUELS, LUBRICANTS AND RELATED                                                                                   
              MATERIALS                                   9.682    111.5       111.0    -15.8     1.7       0.6       4.4      -0.4
33          Petroleum, petroleum products and                                                                                      
               related materials                          8.340    109.6       108.3    -17.7     2.0       0.2       4.1      -1.2
34          Gas, natural and manufactured                 1.218    132.0       138.1      1.2    -0.1       3.3       6.7       4.6
                                                                                                                                   
5          CHEMICALS AND RELATED PRODUCTS, N.E.S.         5.530     95.6        95.2     -3.9     0.2      -0.2      -0.6      -0.4
51          Organic chemicals                             1.576     95.4        95.4     -4.0     1.2      -0.3      -1.8       0.0
52          Inorganic chemicals                           0.680     99.7        99.0     -3.0     0.7       1.1       0.0      -0.7
53          Dyeing, tanning and coloring materials        0.279     94.2        95.3     -5.3    -2.4      -1.5       0.2       1.2
54          Medicinal and pharmaceutical products         0.906     96.2        96.3     -3.6    -0.1      -0.4       0.4       0.1
55          Essential oils; polishing and cleansing                                                                                
               preps                                      0.320     97.3        96.6     -4.1     0.9      -0.9       0.4      -0.7
57          Plastics in primary forms                     0.367     92.2        91.6     -4.3     0.2       0.8      -0.4      -0.7
58          Plastics in nonprimary forms                  0.544     85.9        83.5     -2.9    -1.5      -0.6      -1.2      -2.8
59          Chemical materials and products, n.e.s.       0.652    102.8       102.8     -4.2     0.1      -0.1      -0.4       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
6          MANUFACTURED GOODS CLASSIFIED CHIEFLY                                                                                   
              BY MATERIAL                                12.576     96.7        96.6      1.3    -0.1       0.3      -0.1      -0.1
62          Rubber manufactures, n.e.s.                   0.716     95.3        95.3     -3.3    -0.9      -0.7       0.2       0.0
63          Cork and wood manufactures other than                                                                                  
               furniture                                  0.562     99.9       100.8     n.a.     0.7      -0.5       0.5       0.9
64          Paper, paperboard, and articles of                                                                                     
               paper pulp, paper or paper board           1.611     88.9        89.7      2.5     0.5       0.9       0.1       0.9
65          Textile yarn, fabrics, made-up                                                                                         
               articles, n.e.s., and related product      1.414    100.1       100.3      0.1    -0.3       0.2       0.1       0.2
66          Nonmetallic mineral manufactures,                                                                                      
               n.e.s.                                     2.130    102.2       102.2     -0.5    -0.5      -0.4       0.1       0.0
67          Iron and steel                                2.038     96.4        96.2     -1.1    -0.1       0.0       0.1      -0.2
68          Nonferrous metals                             1.968     95.3        93.5     11.6     0.6       2.4      -1.7      -1.9
69          Manufactures of metals, n.e.s.                1.971     98.5        98.3     -2.5    -0.5      -0.2       0.4      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
7          MACHINERY AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT             46.509     94.5        94.3     -3.9    -0.4      -0.3      -0.2      -0.2
71          Power generating machinery and                                                                                         
               equipment (9612=100)                       2.968     98.8        98.9     n.a.    -0.3      -0.2       0.0       0.1
72          Machinery specialized for particular                                                                                   
               industries                                 2.670     98.6        99.0     -2.0    -0.7      -0.1       0.1       0.4
73          Metalworking machinery                        0.819     97.8        98.0     -3.2    -0.1      -0.6       0.5       0.2
74          General industrial machinery and equip-                                                                                
               ment, n.e.s. and machine parts, n.e.s      3.405     97.4        97.5     -3.2    -0.6      -0.3       0.1       0.1
75          Computer equipment and office machines        6.920     76.9        76.5    -13.8    -1.6      -1.0      -1.5      -0.5
76          Telecommunications & sound recording                                                                                   
               & reproducing apparatus & equipment        4.520     92.2        91.9     -4.3    -0.4      -0.3      -0.4      -0.3
77          Electrical machinery and equipment            9.538     88.8        88.1     -5.6    -0.1      -0.4      -0.4      -0.8
78          Road vehicles                                14.631    101.4       101.4      0.7     0.2       0.1       0.2       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
8          MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES           17.418    100.0        99.9     -0.6    -0.1      -0.2       0.1      -0.1
81          Prefabricated buildings; plumbing, heat                                                                                
               & lighting fixtures, n.e.s.                0.382     95.9        96.1     -2.9    -0.6      -0.3       0.7       0.2
82          Furniture and parts thereof                   1.262    103.0       103.1      1.4    -0.1      -0.5       0.6       0.1
83          Travel goods, handbags and similar                                                                                     
               containers                                 0.502    100.9       100.6     -0.2    -0.1      -0.2      -0.1      -0.3
84          Articles of apparel and clothing                                                                                       
               accessories                                5.847    103.2       102.9      1.5     0.0       0.4       0.3      -0.3
85          Footwear                                      1.766    101.0       101.0      0.3    -0.1      -0.4       0.3       0.0
87          Professional, scientific and controlling                                                                               
               instruments and apparatus, n.e.s.          1.586     96.8        97.0     -2.6    -0.1      -0.3      -0.1       0.2
88          Photographic apparatus, equipment and                                                                                  
               supplies and optical goods, n.e.s.;        1.332     93.4        93.4     -3.8    -0.7      -0.8      -0.2       0.0
89          Miscellaneous manufactured articles,                                                                                   
               n.e.s.                                     4.740     98.5        98.5     -2.0    -0.2      -0.5      -0.2       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                       n.a.      Not available.        
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for August, September and October 1997                                                                                    
            have been revised to reflect the availability                                                                                 
            of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                                                               
            All data are subject to revision in each of the                                                                               
            three months after original publication.                                                                                      
        3  Product categories included in this group                                                                                      
            have been modified due to concordance                                                                                         
            or coverage limitations.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                          
        NOTE:   Published categories may include price data not shown separately                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
Table 4       U.S. Export Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, November 1996-November 1997                           
                  1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                            
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
                                                         ance                           Nov.    July      Aug.      Sept.     Oct. 
SITC      Description                                                                   1996    1997      1997      1997      1997 
Rev. 3                                                  October    October     November to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1997       1997        1997     Nov.    Aug.      Sept.     Oct.      Nov. 
                                                        1/         2/                   1997    1997      1997      1997      1997 
                                                                                                                                   
          ALL COMMODITIES                               100.000     98.6        98.6     -0.7     0.0      -0.3      -0.4       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
0          FOOD AND LIVE ANIMALS                          7.640     98.3        97.6     -5.4     1.9      -0.2      -1.2      -0.7
01          Meat and meat preparations                    1.135     95.1        96.0     -2.3     0.5      -1.0      -0.1       0.9
03          Fish, crustaceans, aquatic invertebrates                                                                               
               and preparations                           0.599     98.6        95.5     -1.3    10.9       3.2      -0.5      -3.1
04          Cereals and cereal preparations               2.766     93.5        94.9     -6.5     3.7       1.9      -1.6       1.5
05          Vegetables, fruit and nuts,                                                                                            
               fresh or dried                             1.394     98.2        94.0    -11.5    -1.0      -5.5       0.6      -4.3
08          Feeding stuff for animals (not                                                                                         
               including unmilled cereals)                0.815    116.4       113.9     -3.3    -0.3       0.8      -3.6      -2.1
09          Miscellaneous edible products and                                                                                      
               preparations                               0.386    104.0       104.7     n.a.     0.0       1.4      -1.0       0.7
       3/ Other food and live animals (9612=100)          0.546    102.8        99.1     n.a.     0.9      -1.3      -2.3      -3.6
                                                                                                                                   
1          BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO                          1.501    100.8       100.9      0.6    -0.4       0.2      -0.2       0.1
12          Tobacco and tobacco manufactures              1.238    100.8       100.8     n.a.    -0.5       0.2      -0.2       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
2          CRUDE MATERIALS, INEDIBLE, EXCEPT FUELS        5.742     88.8        89.0      0.3    -1.0      -1.2      -3.1       0.2
21          Hides, skins and furskins, raw                0.331    101.6       103.6    -11.0     2.4       1.8       1.5       2.0
22          Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits               1.177    108.3       118.2      2.2    -6.3      -0.2      -9.9       9.1
24          Cork and wood                                 0.921     88.6        86.5    -10.9    -0.4      -1.6      -2.5      -2.4
25          Pulp and waste paper                          0.799     69.4        67.5     16.4     3.3      -4.5       1.8      -2.7
26          Textile fibers and their waste                0.827     83.4        81.5     -1.3     0.2      -0.6      -0.6      -2.3
27          Crude fertilizers and crude minerals          0.334     97.9        97.8      0.6     0.0       0.0       0.0      -0.1
28          Metalliferous ores and metal scrap            0.930     90.1        86.0      2.4     0.6      -2.0      -4.6      -4.6
       3/ Other crude materials, inedible, except                                                                                  
             fuels (9612=100)                             0.423    100.5       101.9     n.a.    -1.5       1.0      -0.1       1.4
                                                                                                                                   
3          MINERAL FUELS, LUBRICANTS AND RELATED                                                                                   
              MATERIALS                                   2.165    112.2       111.6     -3.5     0.3       0.5       0.4      -0.5
32          Coal, coke and briquettes                     0.694    102.2       101.8      0.1     0.0       0.3       0.3      -0.4
33          Petroleum, petroleum products and                                                                                      
               related materials                          1.321    121.3       120.1     -5.1     0.3       0.4      -0.4      -1.0
                                                                                                                                   
4          ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE OILS, FATS AND                                                                                     
              WAXES                                       0.459     97.9       106.7     18.6     0.0       1.7       3.2       9.0
                                                                                                                                   
5          CHEMICALS AND RELATED PRODUCTS, N.E.S.        10.771     95.4        95.1     -0.8    -0.9       0.0      -0.1      -0.3
51          Organic chemicals                             2.526     83.7        83.6     -1.9    -0.8      -0.6       0.0      -0.1
52          Inorganic chemicals                           0.825     98.5        98.6     -2.8    -2.3       0.8      -0.2       0.1
53          Dyeing, tanning and coloring materials        0.495    102.7       102.7      0.7    -0.3       0.9       0.0       0.0
54          Medicinal and pharmaceutical products         1.224    101.5       101.4     -0.4     0.0       0.1       0.3      -0.1
55          Essential oils; polishing and cleansing                                                                                
               preps                                      0.756    103.3       101.8      0.3    -0.5       1.1      -0.4      -1.5
56          Fertilizers (9612=100)                        0.555     94.7        93.8     n.a.    -2.3       0.4      -0.3      -1.0
57          Plastics in primary forms                     1.824     93.7        93.4      0.3    -2.0      -0.4       0.1      -0.3
58          Plastics in nonprimary forms                  0.821     98.7        98.5      1.2     0.0      -0.1      -0.2      -0.2
59          Chemical materials and products, n.e.s.       1.745    103.4       103.0     -0.1     0.1      -0.4      -0.2      -0.4
                                                                                                                                   
6          MANUFACTURED GOODS CLASSIFIED CHIEFLY                                                                                   
              BY MATERIAL                                 9.707     98.6        98.9      2.4     0.1       0.1      -0.1       0.3
62          Rubber manufactures, n.e.s.                   0.664    102.2       102.2     -0.7    -0.9      -0.3       0.3       0.0
63          Cork and wood manufactures other than                                                                                  
               furniture                                  0.290     91.5        91.1      0.4    -0.8       0.6       0.2      -0.4
64          Paper, paperboard, and articles of                                                                                     
               paper pulp, paper or paperboard            1.533     85.3        85.4     -0.2     1.1      -0.4       0.4       0.1
65          Textile yarn, fabrics, made-up                                                                                         
               articles, n.e.s., and related product      1.405    103.2       102.9     n.a.     0.6       0.1      -0.1      -0.3
66          Nonmetallic mineral manufactures,                                                                                      
               n.e.s.                                     1.315    106.3       106.4      2.1     0.1       1.6       0.0       0.1
67          Iron and steel                                1.103    103.2       103.7     n.a.     0.1      -0.1       0.3       0.5
68          Nonferrous metals                             1.276     92.1        93.9     10.2     0.8       0.0      -1.3       2.0
69          Manufactures of metals, n.e.s.                1.962    104.2       104.2      2.9    -0.6      -0.5      -0.1       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
7          MACHINERY AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT             50.065    100.0       100.1     -0.4     0.1      -0.5      -0.1       0.1
71          Power generating machinery and                                                                                         
               equipment                                  4.236    106.2       106.3      2.0     0.3       0.0       0.0       0.1
72          Machinery specialized for particular                                                                                   
               industries                                 4.642    104.5       104.5      1.7     0.3       0.1       0.0       0.0
73          Metalworking machinery                        0.949    104.5       104.5      2.3    -0.1       0.1       0.1       0.0
74          General industrial machinery and equip-                                                                                
               ment, n.e.s. and machine parts, n.e.s      4.985    105.5       105.5      2.1     0.3      -0.1       0.3       0.0
75          Computer equipment and office machines        6.498     83.0        82.8     -7.2     0.0      -0.4      -0.8      -0.2
76          Telecommunications & sound recording                                                                                   
               & reproducing apparatus & equipment        3.776     99.5        99.4     -1.0     0.0      -0.5       0.3      -0.1
77          Electrical machinery and equipment           11.588     94.7        94.8     -2.7     0.2      -1.7      -0.4       0.1
78          Road vehicles                                 9.016    101.9       102.0      0.6    -0.1      -0.1       0.1       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
8          MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES           11.163    101.8       101.9      0.9     0.0       0.0       0.0       0.1
82          Furniture and parts thereof                   0.630    103.8       103.8      1.8     0.1      -0.1       0.3       0.0
84          Articles of apparel and clothing                                                                                       
               accessories                                1.267    103.3       103.3     n.a.    -0.2       1.9      -0.2       0.0
87          Professional, scientific and controlling                                                                               
               instruments and apparatus, n.e.s.          3.674    103.4       103.4      1.2     0.0      -0.1       0.0       0.0
88          Photographic apparatus, equipment and                                                                                  
               supplies and optical goods, n.e.s.         0.934     98.2        98.2     n.a.    -0.6      -0.4      -0.4       0.0
89          Miscellaneous manufactured articles,                                                                                   
               n.e.s.                                     4.205    100.4       100.5      0.0     0.1      -0.2       0.0       0.1
       3/ Other miscellaneous manufactured                                                                                         
             articles (9612=100)                          0.453    101.1       101.3     n.a.     0.1       0.1       0.0       0.2
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                     n.a.      Not available.          
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for August, September and October 1997                                                                                    
            have been revised to reflect the availability                                                                                 
            of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                                                               
            All data are subject to revision in each of the                                                                               
            three months after original publication.                                                                                      
        3  Product categories included in this group                                                                                      
            have been modified due to concordance                                                                                         
            or coverage limitations.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                          
        NOTE:  Published categories may include price data not shown separately                                                           
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
Table 5       U.S. Import Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, November 1996-November 1997                           
                 1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                             
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
Harmo-                                                   ance                           Nov.    July      Aug.      Sept.     Oct. 
nized     Description                                                                   1996    1997      1997      1997      1997 
System                                                  October    October     November to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1997       1997        1997     Nov.    Aug.      Sept.     Oct.      Nov. 
                                                        1/         2/                   1997    1997      1997      1997      1997 
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
I          LIVE ANIMALS; ANIMAL PRODUCTS                  1.599    104.5       104.5      8.1     0.7       0.1       1.5       0.0
02          Meat and edible meat offal                    0.278    100.2       100.4      5.2     2.5       1.4      -1.2       0.2
03          Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and                                                                                     
               other aquatic invertebrates                0.925    107.8       108.4     12.0     0.6      -0.4       3.1       0.6
       3/ Other live animals and animal                                                                                            
             products (9612=100)                          0.395    102.7       101.1     n.a.    -0.4       0.3      -0.3      -1.6
                                                                                                                                   
II         VEGETABLE PRODUCTS                             1.597     93.3        93.3      5.7     2.4       0.3      -1.6       0.0
07          Edible vegetables and certain roots and                                                                                
               tubers                                     0.326    121.5       129.2     25.8    n.a.      n.a.      n.a.       6.3
08          Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus                                                                                  
               fruit or melons                            0.433     96.9        96.9    -14.7    -2.8      -0.4      -0.6       0.0
09          Coffee, tea, mate and spices                  0.417     86.5        84.1     18.5     0.0       2.0      -7.2      -2.8
       3/   Other vegetable products                      0.420     97.5        95.4      8.7     3.1      -0.8       1.8      -2.2
                                                                                                                                   
IV         PREPARED FOODSTUFFS, BEVERAGES, AND                                                                                     
              TOBACCO                                     2.065    101.9       101.7     -1.0    -0.2      -0.3       0.2      -0.2
20          Preparations of vegetables, fruit,                                                                                     
               nuts, or other parts of plants             0.267     89.5        88.6    -13.4    -1.0      -0.5      -1.2      -1.0
22          Beverages, spirits, and vinegar               0.733    102.9       103.2      0.0     0.4      -0.4      -0.3       0.3
       3/   Other prepared foodstuffs (9612=100)          1.065    102.3       101.9     n.a.    -0.4      -0.2       1.0      -0.4
                                                                                                                                   
V          MINERAL PRODUCTS                              10.294    111.0       110.6    -15.2     1.6       0.5       4.3      -0.4
26          Ores, slag and ash                            0.293    102.4       102.4      2.9    -0.4      -0.1       0.0       0.0
27          Mineral fuels, oils and residuals,                                                                                     
               bituminous substances and mineral wax      9.772    111.3       111.0    -16.0     1.6       0.6       4.5      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
VI         PRODUCTS OF THE CHEMICAL OR ALLIED                                                                                      
              INDUSTRIES                                  5.190     98.6        98.5     -2.9     0.2      -0.4      -0.4      -0.1
28          Inorganic chemicals                           0.861    104.5       103.6      1.6     0.7       1.5      -0.4      -0.9
29          Organic chemicals                             1.992     95.8        95.6     -4.5     0.8      -0.5      -0.7      -0.2
30          Pharmaceutical products                       0.552    102.2       102.4     -1.8    -0.2      -0.5      -0.1       0.2
32          Tanning & dyeing extracts; dye &                                                                                       
               pigments; varnish & paints; putty          0.280     93.7        94.4     -5.9    -1.6      -2.1       0.2       0.7
37          Photographic or cinematographic goods         0.353     98.2        98.2     -0.8    -1.0      -0.1      -0.2       0.0
38          Miscellaneaous chemical products                                                                                       
               (9612=100)                                 0.412     97.8        97.8     n.a.     0.0      -1.0       0.4       0.0
       3/   Other products of the chemical or                                                                                      
             allied industries (9612=100)                 0.740     95.2        95.2     n.a.     0.2      -1.2      -0.5       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
VII        PLASTICS AND ARTICLES THEREOF; RUBBER                                                                                   
              AND ARTICLES THEREOF                        2.764     91.4        90.9     -3.4    -0.6      -0.5      -0.3      -0.5
39          Plastics and articles thereof                 1.726     94.5        94.3     -0.6    -0.5      -0.2      -0.4      -0.2
40          Rubber and articles thereof                   1.038     86.7        85.9     -7.7    -1.0      -1.0      -0.2      -0.9
                                                                                                                                   
VIII       RAW HIDES, SKINS, LEATHER, FURSKINS,                                                                                    
              TRAVEL GOODS, ETC                           1.001    103.3       103.1     -0.7     0.1      -0.6       0.1      -0.2
42          Articles of leather; travel goods, bags,                                                                               
               etc. of various materials                  0.805    101.4       101.0      0.1    -0.1      -0.4       0.0      -0.4
                                                                                                                                   
IX         WOOD, WOOD CHARCOAL, CORK, STRAW, BASKET                                                                                
              AND WICKER                                  1.629    106.2       107.3     -5.0    -1.1       0.2      -4.6       1.0
                                                                                                                                   
X          WOOD PULP, WASTE AND SCRAP PAPER, PAPER                                                                                 
              AND ARTICLES THEREOF                        2.358     85.5        86.0      1.4     0.4       0.5       0.4       0.6
47          Pulp wood or other fibrous cellulosic                                                                                  
               material; waste paper/paperboard           0.383     69.8        69.9      1.6     2.2       0.3       1.2       0.1
48          Paper and paperboard; articles of paper                                                                                
               pulp, paper or paperboard                  1.624     89.6        90.4      2.0     0.5       0.7       0.1       0.9
49          Printed matter                                0.351     99.8       100.1     -0.3    -1.6      -0.9       0.5       0.3
                                                                                                                                   
XI         TEXTILE AND TEXTILE ARTICLES                   6.905    102.1       101.9      1.4     0.0       0.5       0.2      -0.2
61          Articles of apparel and clothing                                                                                       
               accessories, knitted or crocheted          2.032    101.7       101.7      0.1     0.2       0.1       0.7       0.0
62          Articles of apparel and clothing                                                                                       
               accessories, not knitted or crocheted      3.326    104.2       103.8      2.6    -0.1       0.6       0.0      -0.4
63          Made-up or worn textile articles and                                                                                   
               clothing; needlecraft sets; rags           0.344     98.5        98.5     -1.2    -0.4       1.5      -0.1       0.0
       3/   Other textile & textile                                                                                                
             articles (9612=100)                          1.203    100.7       100.8     n.a.    -0.3       0.6       0.1       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
XII        FOOTWEAR, HEADGEAR, UMBRELLAS, WHIPS,                                                                                   
              ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS, ETC.                    2.064    101.2       101.3      0.4     0.0      -0.5       0.3       0.1
64          Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts                                                                                  
               of such articles                           1.776    100.8       100.8      0.1    -0.2      -0.4       0.3       0.0
       3/ Other footwear, headgear, umbrellas,                                                                                     
             whips, art. flowers, etc. (9612=100)         0.288    102.0       102.2     n.a.     0.8      -0.6       0.3       0.2
                                                                                                                                   
XIII       STONE, PLASTER, CEMENT, ASBESTOS,CERAMIC                                                                                
              GLASS ETC.                                  1.136    102.1       102.3     -0.4    -0.5      -0.6       0.3       0.2
69          Ceramic products                              0.431     99.3        99.5     n.a.    -0.8       0.4       0.1       0.2
70          Glass and glassware                           0.440    102.0       102.2     -1.4    -0.2      -1.6       0.5       0.2
                                                                                                                                   
XIV        PEARLS, STONES, PRECIOUS METALS,                                                                                        
              IMITATION JEWELRY, AND COINS                2.176     98.0        98.1     -0.3    -0.6       0.1      -0.2       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
XV         BASE METALS AND ARTICLES OF BASE METAL         5.875     95.4        94.3      0.9    -0.1       0.5      -0.3      -1.2
72          Iron and steel                                1.747     95.3        95.3     -0.6    -0.1       0.0      -0.1       0.0
73          Articles of iron or steel                     1.282     97.1        96.7     -3.6    -0.3      -0.1       0.3      -0.4
74          Copper and articles thereof                   0.430     79.9        79.3      2.6    -3.4      -1.5      -4.1      -0.8
76          Aluminum and articles thereof                 0.973     93.4        93.5      8.7     0.4       2.8      -1.5       0.1
83          Miscellaneous articles of base metal          0.412    102.0       101.8     -0.9    -0.2      -0.3       0.2      -0.2
       3/   Miscellaneous nonferrous metals and                                                                                    
             articles, including scrap (9612=100)         0.587    117.7       105.5     n.a.     3.4       2.2       1.1     -10.4
                                                                                                                                   
XVI        MACHINERY, ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, TV                                                                                     
              IMAGE & SOUND RECORDERS, PARTS, ETC.       30.048     89.4        89.1     -7.1    -0.7      -0.7      -1.0      -0.3
84          Specialized machinery & computer                                                                                       
               equipment                                 15.628     89.7        89.6     -7.8    -1.0      -0.8      -1.5      -0.1
85          Electrical machinery and equip, sound                                                                                  
               and TV recorders & reproducers, parts     14.420     89.1        88.4     -6.4    -0.1      -0.6      -0.4      -0.8
                                                                                                                                   
XVII       VEHICLES, AIRCRAFT, VESSELS AND                                                                                         
              ASSOCIATED TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT             15.823    101.5       101.5      0.6     0.1       0.1       0.2       0.0
87          Motor vehicles and their parts               14.953    101.3       101.3      0.6     0.2       0.0       0.3       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
XVIII      OPTICAL, PHOTO, MEASURING, MEDICAL &                                                                                    
              MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; CLOCKS & WATCHES       3.530     94.0        94.0     -3.7    -0.2      -0.5       0.4       0.0
90          Optical, photographic, measuring and                                                                                   
               medical instruments                        3.014     93.8        93.8     -3.8    -0.3      -0.4       0.3       0.0
91          Clocks and watches and parts thereof          0.375     94.5        94.7     -4.3    -0.6      -0.6       0.4       0.2
                                                                                                                                   
XX         MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES            3.696     99.8        99.8     -0.6    -0.2      -0.3       0.2       0.0
94          Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps                                                                                  
               and lighting fittings nes;                 1.592    100.2       100.3      0.4    -0.2      -0.5       0.5       0.1
95          Toys, games and sports equipment; parts                                                                                
               and accessories thereof                    1.819    100.3       100.3     -1.3    -0.1      -0.1      -0.3       0.0
96          Miscellaneous manufactured articles           0.284     94.0        93.7     -2.5    -1.2      -0.7       1.3      -0.3
                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                       n.a.      Not available         
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for August, September and October 1997                                                                                    
            have been revised to reflect the availability                                                                                 
            of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                                                               
            All data are subject to revision in each of                                                                                   
            the three months after original publication.                                                                                  
        3  Product categories included in this group                                                                                      
            have been modified due to concordance                                                                                         
            or coverage limitations.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                          
        NOTE:  Published categories may include price data not shown separately                                                           
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
Table 6       U.S. Export Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, November 1996-November 1997                           
                  1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                            
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
Harmo-                                                   ance                           Nov.    July      Aug.      Sept.     Oct. 
nized     Description                                                                   1996    1997      1997      1997      1997 
System                                                  October    October     November to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1997       1997        1997     Nov.    Aug.      Sept.     Oct.      Nov. 
                                                        1/         2/                   1997    1997      1997      1997      1997 
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
I          LIVE ANIMALS; ANIMAL PRODUCTS                  1.925     96.5        96.0     -4.1     2.7       0.1      -1.0      -0.5
02          Meat & edible meat offal                      1.053     92.9        93.4     -3.0     0.5      -0.9      -0.3       0.5
03          Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and                                                                                     
               other aquatic invertebrates                0.527     95.3        93.2     -4.1     9.4       3.0      -0.8      -2.2
       3/ Other live animals and animal                                                                                            
             products (9612=100)                          0.345     94.8        93.6     n.a.     0.4      -1.1      -3.5      -1.3
                                                                                                                                   
II         VEGETABLE PRODUCTS                             5.238     98.1        99.9     -4.2    -0.4       0.0      -2.6       1.8
07          Edible vegetables and certain roots and                                                                                
               tubers                                     0.299     94.9       104.6      0.2     2.5      -1.9      -3.3      10.2
08          Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus                                                                                  
               fruit or melons                            0.742    101.4        90.1    -14.9    -4.0      -6.7       5.0     -11.1
10          Cereals                                       2.541     92.5        94.0     -6.9     4.0       2.2      -1.7       1.6
12          Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds,                                                                                      
               fruits, plants, straw and fodder           1.376    110.2       119.6      4.3    -6.1       0.8      -8.2       8.5
                                                                                                                                   
III        ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE FATS AND OILS              0.496     98.5       107.4     18.2    -0.2       2.4       3.0       9.0
                                                                                                                                   
IV         PREPARED FOODSTUFFS, BEVERAGES, AND                                                                                     
              TOBACCO                                     3.496    102.3       101.6     -2.3    -0.7      -0.6      -0.7      -0.7
20          Preparations of vegetables, fruit,                                                                                     
               nuts, or other parts of plants             0.326     91.6        89.4    -14.6    -5.4      -9.1       2.6      -2.4
21          Miscellaneous edible preparations             0.363    106.3       105.8      2.1     1.0       1.2      -0.8      -0.5
22          Beverages, spirits, and vinegar               0.330     99.6        99.8     n.a.     0.2       0.4      -0.2       0.2
23          Residues and waste from the food                                                                                       
               industries; prepared animal feed           0.727    112.2       109.9     -6.6    -0.7       0.0      -3.5      -2.0
24          Tobacco and manufactured tobacco                                                                                       
               substitutes                                1.245    100.8       100.8     n.a.    -0.5       0.2      -0.2       0.0
       3/   Other prepared foods                          0.506    102.0       101.6     n.a.     0.3       0.9       0.0      -0.4
                                                                                                                                   
V          MINERAL PRODUCTS                               2.800    110.4       108.4     -2.5     0.6       0.1      -1.3      -1.8
27          Mineral fuels, oils and residuals,                                                                                     
               bituminous substances and mineral wax      2.227    113.7       112.8     -3.7     0.2       0.4       0.4      -0.8
                                                                                                                                   
VI         PRODUCTS OF THE CHEMICAL OR ALLIED                                                                                      
              INDUSTRIES                                  8.769     96.4        96.2     -1.1    -0.7       0.0      -0.3      -0.2
28          Inorganic chemicals                           0.922    101.4       101.5     -0.8    -1.9       1.0      -0.2       0.1
29          Organic chemicals                             2.829     86.9        86.9     -1.9    -0.7      -0.6      -0.7       0.0
30          Pharmaceutical products                       0.885    101.2       101.2      0.1     0.0       0.2       0.6       0.0
31          Fertilizers (9612=100)                        0.617     94.7        93.8     n.a.    -2.3       0.4      -0.3      -1.0
32          Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes and                                                                                   
               pigments; paints & varnish; putty;ink      0.504    102.4       102.4      0.6    -0.4       0.9       0.1       0.0
33          Essential oils and resinoids;                                                                                          
               perfumery, cosmetic or toilet              0.530    103.5       102.7      1.5    -0.5       0.9      -0.8      -0.8
34          Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or                                                                                  
               scouring products; candles, pastes         0.313    103.0       103.2      2.1     0.0       1.5       0.0       0.2
37          Photographic or cinematographic goods         0.426     95.1        95.2     -2.1    -0.3      -0.8      -1.0       0.1
38          Miscellaneous chemical products               1.523    103.0       102.6     -0.7     0.0      -0.4      -0.2      -0.4
                                                                                                                                   
VII        PLASTICS AND ARTICLES THEREOF; RUBBER                                                                                   
              AND ARTICLES THEREOF                        4.300     96.5        96.3     -0.2    -0.9      -0.6       0.1      -0.2
39          Plastics and articles thereof                 3.409     95.9        95.8      0.2    -0.9      -0.6       0.0      -0.1
40          Rubber and articles thereof                   0.891     98.7        98.4     -1.2    -0.9      -0.3       0.2      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
VIII       RAW HIDES, SKINS, LEATHER, FURSKINS,                                                                                    
              TRAVEL GOODS, ETC.                          0.565     97.2        98.3     -8.4     1.0       1.4       1.4       1.1
41          Raw hides and skins (other than                                                                                        
               furskins) and leather                      0.415     95.9        97.5     -5.9     0.9       1.9       1.8       1.7
                                                                                                                                   
IX         WOOD, WOOD CHARCOAL, CORK, STRAW, BASKET                                                                                
              AND WICKER                                  1.235     89.8        88.2     -8.3    -0.5      -1.2      -1.9      -1.8
                                                                                                                                   
X          WOOD PULP, WASTE AND SCRAP PAPER, PAPER                                                                                 
              AND ARTICLES THEREOF                        3.024     80.0        79.8      2.7     0.9      -0.8       1.0      -0.3
47          Pulp wood or other fibrous cellulosic                                                                                  
               material; waste paper/paperboard           0.741     66.9        66.0     11.5     1.8      -2.5       2.9      -1.3
48          Paper and paperboard; articles of paper                                                                                
               pulp, paper or paperboard                  1.493     85.5        85.8      0.1     0.9      -0.4       0.5       0.4
49          Printed material                              0.790    106.7       106.7      1.3     0.0       0.1       0.1       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
XI         TEXTILE AND TEXTILE ARTICLES                   3.251     94.1        93.5      0.9     0.3       0.4      -0.2      -0.6
52          Cotton, including yarns and woven                                                                                      
               fabrics thereof                            0.713     83.3        81.1     -1.6     0.4      -0.6      -0.6      -2.6
                                                                                                                                   
XIII       STONE, PLASTER, CEMENT, ASBESTOS,                                                                                       
              CERAMIC, GLASS ETC.                         0.842    102.9       102.7     n.a.    -0.8       0.0       0.1      -0.2
70          Glass and glassware                           0.485    101.4       101.2     n.a.     0.1       0.1       0.0      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
XIV        PEARLS, STONES, PRECIOUS METALS,                                                                                        
              IMITATION JEWELRY, AND COINS                1.885     97.7        98.0     -3.3    -1.2      -0.3       0.7       0.3
                                                                                                                                   
XV         BASE METALS AND ARTICLES OF BASE METALS        4.583     95.8        96.1      4.0    -0.2      -0.4      -0.8       0.3
72          Iron and steel                                0.963     93.1        93.1      1.0     0.1      -1.2      -0.9       0.0
73          Articles of iron or steel                     1.247    107.5       107.4      4.9    -0.9       0.2       0.1      -0.1
74          Copper and articles thereof                   0.409     78.8        78.9     -0.4    -2.7      -3.3      -3.4       0.1
76          Aluminum and articles thereof                 0.877     88.9        90.6     10.1     0.5       0.9      -1.2       1.9
82          Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and                                                                                 
               forks, of base metal; parts thereof        0.410    103.3       103.2     n.a.     0.0       0.0       0.0      -0.1
83          Miscellaneous articles of base metal          0.375    101.3       101.5      2.3     0.0       0.0       0.0       0.2
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
XVI        MACHINERY, ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, TV                                                                                     
              IMAGE AND SOUND RECORDERS, PARTS, ETC      36.650     96.5        96.5     -2.0     0.2      -0.7      -0.3       0.0
84          Specialized machinery & computer                                                                                       
               equipment                                 20.369     97.3        97.3     -1.4     0.2      -0.1      -0.3       0.0
85          Electrical machinery and equip, sound                                                                                  
               & tv recorders & reproducers, parts       16.281     95.5        95.6     -2.6     0.0      -1.4      -0.3       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
XVII       VEHICLES, AIRCRAFT, VESSELS AND                                                                                         
              ASSOCIATED TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT             13.612    104.8       104.9      1.6     0.0       0.0       0.1       0.1
87          Motor vehicles and their parts                9.433    102.0       102.1      0.6    -0.1      -0.1       0.1       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
XVIII      OPTICAL, PHOTO, MEASURING, MEDICAL &                                                                                    
              MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; CLOCKS & WATCHES       5.348    102.1       102.2      0.8    -0.1       0.2      -0.2       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
XX         MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES            1.764    102.2       102.4      1.1     0.0      -0.2       0.0       0.2
94          Furniture; stuffed furnishings;                                                                                        
               lamps and lighting fittings nesoi;         0.864    103.6       103.9      1.6     0.2      -0.6       0.3       0.3
95          Toys, games and sports equipment; parts                                                                                
               and accessories thereof                    0.728    100.9       101.0      0.8     0.0       0.1      -0.2       0.1
                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                       n.a.      Not available         
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for August, September and October 1997                                                                                    
            have been revised to reflect the availability                                                                                 
            of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                                                               
            All data are subject to revision in each of                                                                                   
            the three months after original publication.                                                                                  
        3  Product categories included in this group                                                                                      
            have been modified due to concordance                                                                                         
            or coverage limitations.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                          
        NOTE:  Published categories may include price data not shown separately                                                           
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
   Table  7    U.S. Import Price Indexes and Percent Changes by Locality of Origin,  November 1996-November 1997                           
          1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                           
                                                                  Index                    Percent Change                    
                                                   Percentage                                                                                          
                                                      of                            Annual                  Monthly                                     
                                                    US Imports                    Nov.    July         Aug.        Sept.    Oct.   
    Description 1/                                                                1996    1997         1997        1997     1997   
                                                    1995       Oct.      Nov.     to      to           to          to       to     
                                                               1997      1997     Nov.    Aug.         Sept.       Oct.     Nov.   
                                                               2/                 1997    1997         1997        1997     1997   
                                                                                                                                   
3/  Developed Countries                                55.6     97.2      97.3     -2.7     0.3         -0.3        -0.1      0.1  
      Manufactured Goods                               52.2     96.8      96.9     -2.0     0.3         -0.4        -0.2      0.1  
      Nonmanufactured Goods                             3.1    107.6     107.0    -12.2     1.5          0.8         1.9     -0.6  
                                                                                                                                   
3/  Developing Countries                               42.7    101.8     100.9     -4.1     0.4         -0.5         0.7     -0.9  
      Manufactured Goods                               35.4     98.7      98.1     -2.5    -0.2         -0.3        -0.2     -0.6  
      Nonmanufactured Goods                             7.1    111.7     109.2    -11.4     2.9         -1.2         4.9     -2.2  
                                                                                                                                   
    Canada                                             18.9     99.6      99.4     -1.3     0.3          0.4        -0.1     -0.2  
      Manufactured Goods                               16.5     98.5      98.3      0.2     0.1          0.3        -0.6     -0.2  
      Nonmanufactured Goods                             2.2    111.7     112.0     -9.8     1.4          1.5         3.3      0.3  
                                                                                                                                   
4/  European Union                                     17.0    100.4     100.6     -2.2     0.2         -0.6         0.2      0.2  
      Manufactured Goods                               16.4    100.4     100.7     -1.5     0.0         -0.4         0.3      0.3  
      Nonmanufactured Goods                             0.5    101.4      98.9    -23.2     3.5         -3.5        -4.3     -2.5  
                                                                                                                                   
    Japan                                              16.6     91.8      91.5     -5.0    -0.3         -0.2        -0.8     -0.3  
                                                                                                                                   
5/  Asian Newly Industrialized Countries               10.9     93.8      92.7     -4.7     0.0         -0.8        -0.1     -1.2  
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
1    Regions are not mutually exclusive.                                              
                                                                                      
2    Data for  August, September and October 1997                                     
     have been revised to reflect the availability                                    
     of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                  
                                                                                      
3    Defined according to the Standard Census Definition.                             
                                                                                      
4    Includes EU  15 countries                                                        
                                                                                      
5    Includes Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan.                          
                                                                                      
   Table  9    U.S. International Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Services.                                   
        September 1996-September 1997    1995 = 100                                                                                                                  
                                                                 Index                             Percent Change                    
                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                  Annual          Quarterly                                   
                                                    Trade                         Sept.   Sept.    Dec.        March    June   
    Description                                     (Mil.                         1996    1996     1996        1997     1997   
                                                    of         June      Sept.    to      to       to          to       to     
                                                    Dollars)   1997      1997     Sept.   Dec.     March       June     Sept.  
                                                                                  1997    1996     1997        1997     1997   
                                                                                                                               
     Air Freight (Inbound)                          5495        89.9      88.5     -7.4    -0.6     -5.8         0.4     -1.6  
      Atlantic                                      1880        88.9      85.6     -9.8     1.8     -7.1        -0.9     -3.7  
      Pacific                                       3151        91.1      91.0     -4.8    -1.7     -4.5         1.4     -0.1  
                                                                                                                               
     Air Freight (Outbound)                         5835        99.2      98.8     -0.1     0.3      0.6        -0.6     -0.4  
      Atlantic                                      2080        99.4      99.0      0.3     0.3      0.9        -0.5     -0.4  
      Pacific                                       3222       100.0      99.7     -0.1     0.4      0.1        -0.3     -0.3  
                                                                                                                               
     Air Passenger Fares (U.S. Carrier)             30673      112.1     109.2      1.8    -5.3     -4.4        15.4     -2.6  
1/    Atlantic                                      8811       118.3     119.0      3.4   -13.5     -2.1        21.3      0.6  
1/    Pacific                                       15900      102.1      95.9     -2.7    -3.7     -9.1        18.2     -6.1  
1/    Latin American / Caribbean                    4542       109.6     110.5      7.4     0.0      3.8         2.6      0.8  
      Canadian                                      1367       161.2     162.2     31.2    24.3      1.4         3.5      0.6  
                                                                                                                               
     Air Passenger Fares (Foreign Carrier)          31694      106.1     104.2     -1.2    -4.5     -2.2         7.7     -1.8  
1/    Atlantic                                      13572      110.2     110.8      0.6    -8.9     -3.2        13.5      0.5  
1/    Pacific                                       12570       96.4      91.0     -3.6    -0.2     -2.0         4.4     -5.6  
1/    Latin American / Caribbean                    4224       104.8     104.4      1.0     0.2      0.9         0.3     -0.4  
                                                                                                                               
1/   Crude Oil Tanker Freight (Inbound)             1949       108.2      n.a.     n.a.     8.1      7.2         0.8     n.a.  
                                                                                                                               
     Ocean Liner Freight (Inbound)                  12253       96.8      94.9     -3.2     0.4     -0.8        -0.8     -2.0  
      U.S. East Coast                               5410        99.6      97.0     -3.7     1.0     -1.9        -0.2     -2.6  
       from Atlantic                                2647        98.7      96.0     -5.0     0.3     -2.0        -0.7     -2.7  
       from Pacific                                 1874        98.9      95.2     -3.3     0.1     -0.1         0.5     -3.7  
      U.S. West Coast                               6844        94.1      92.8     -2.7     0.0      0.0        -1.4     -1.4  
       from Pacific                                 6347        93.9      92.7     -2.4    -0.2      0.3        -1.3     -1.3  
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
    1     Detailed data available upon request.                          n.a.    N                                             
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
   Table  8     U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Services.                              
        September 1996-September 1997  1995 = 100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                            
                                                                 Index                             Percent Change                    
                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                  Annual          Quarterly                                   
                                                    Trade                         Sept.   Sept.    Dec.        March    June   
    Description                                     (Mil.                         1996    1996     1996        1997     1997   
                                                    of         June      Sept.    to      to       to          to       to     
                                                    Dollars)   1997      1997     Sept.   Dec.     March       June     Sept.  
                                                                                  1997    1996     1997        1997     1997   
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
    IMPORT                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                               
    Air Freight                                     3188        90.4      88.6     -8.5    -1.2     -5.8         0.3     -2.0  
      Atlantic                                      1278        90.3      86.4    -12.2    -0.2     -7.1        -1.0     -4.3  
      Pacific                                       1674        91.8      91.5     -5.4    -2.0     -4.5         1.4     -0.3  
                                                                                                                               
     Air Passenger Fares                            11127      113.2     111.1      7.9    -2.9      0.5        12.6     -1.9  
1/    Atlantic                                      4922       121.2     121.2     14.6    -7.0      1.9        20.8      0.0  
1/    Pacific                                       2340       111.4     100.5      9.1     7.5     -0.9        13.6     -9.8  
1/    Latin American / Caribbean                    3021       106.1     105.9      1.8     0.1      1.0         1.0     -0.2  
                                                                                                                               
1/   Crude Oil Tanker Freight                       1346       101.9      n.a.     n.a.     6.3      5.8         2.2     n.a.  
                                                                                                                               
     Ocean Liner Freight                            9868        97.1      95.3     -3.6    -0.3     -0.6        -0.9     -1.9  
      U.S. East Coast                               4271       100.6      98.3     -3.2     0.1     -1.2         0.1     -2.3  
       from Atlantic                                1952        99.9      98.3     -4.6    -0.1     -2.4        -0.5     -1.6  
       from Pacific                                 1774       100.8      97.0     -3.2     0.2     -0.2         0.6     -3.8  
      U.S. West Coast                               5596        93.9      92.4     -4.0    -0.6     -0.3        -1.6     -1.6  
       from Pacific                                 5126        93.5      92.2     -3.7    -0.8      0.1        -1.6     -1.4  
                                                                                                                               
    EXPORT                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                               
     Air Freight (9612 = 100)                       2562        97.8      96.6     n.a.    n.a.     -1.5        -0.7     -1.2  
                                                                                                                               
     Air Passenger Fares                            17272      103.0     100.0     -2.8    -3.1     -9.9        14.7     -2.9  
1/    Atlantic                                      4120       109.7     109.5     -3.6    -7.8     -5.8        11.3     -0.2  
1/    Pacific                                       10700       91.1      86.4     -8.0    -4.6    -15.7        20.7     -5.2  
      Latin American / Caribbean                    1392       106.9     107.5      6.6     0.8      0.2         5.0      0.6  
      Canadian                                      1006       157.0     157.5     36.5    26.3      6.3         1.3      0.3  
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
    1     Detailed data available upon request.                          n.a.    N                                             
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
                                                                     
                           TECHNICAL NOTE
   
Import and Export Merchandise and Services Price Indexes -- All indexes use 
a modified Laspeyres formula and are weighted with 1995 trade weights.  The 
merchandise price indexes are published using three classifications:  the 
Harmonized System (HS), the Bureau of Economic Analysis End Use System,
and the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) system, Rev. 3.  
Price indexes for internationally traded services are presented using two 
definitions: Balance of Payments (which represents transactions between U.S. 
and foreign residents) and International (which represents all transactions
with U.S. importers or exporters, regardless of nationality).  Published
series use a base year of 1995=100 where possible.  Net transaction price
data are collected every month for over 20,000 products from over 6,000
companies and secondary sources.  Indexes are not seasonally adjusted.  More
detailed index series and additional information may be obtained from the
Division of International Prices, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2 Massachusetts
Avenue N.E., PSB 3955, Washington, DC 20212 or (202) 606-7155.

Import Price Indexes -- Products have been classified by the 1995 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 1995 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.

Import Indexes by Locality of Origin -- Prices used in these indexes are a
subset of the data collected for the Import Price Indexes.  Prior to
January 1993, nonmanufactured goods were defined as SITC 0-4 and manufactured
goods were defined as SITC 5-8.  Beginning with January 1993, the indexes are
defined by locality of origin using a nomenclature based upon the Standard
Industrial Classification (SIC-based).  Nonmanufactured goods are defined as
SIC 0-1, and manufactured goods are defined as SIC 2-3.  The indexes use 1995
weights and a base of 1995=100.

Import, Export, and International Services Indexes -- Indexes are calculated
on a quarterly basis.  The figures for services indexes will not sum up to
the aggregate dollar value because not all categories are shown in the tables.
Revenue figures for air passenger indexes exclude frequent flyer tickets and
those sold by consolidators.  Indexes for crude oil tanker freight are
calculated from data collected by the U. S. Department of Energy and the 
publication of these indexes is lagged one quarter.  

Revision policy -- Data are revised for the previous three months to reflect
the availability of late reports and corrections by respondents.

Uses of the Data -- The primary use of the indexes is to deflate trade
statistics.  For merchandise trade, the End Use classification system is the
structure used by the U.S. Department of Commerce in the construction of the
foreign trade sector of the National Income and Product Accounts.  Indexes
published using the Harmonized System and the Standard International Trade
Classification, Rev. 3, both international structures, are useful for general
market analysis.  For trade in international services, Balance of Payments
indexes are used for deflating National Accounts data, while International
indexes are more appropriate for market analysis. Merchandise and services
indexes also can be used to study U.S. competitiveness and price elasticities,
and the merchandise import indexes by country or region of origin are useful
for terms of trade analysis.



The import and export news release contains monthly price indexes at the
two-digit level of detail.  If you would like to be added to the mailing list
for more detailed index and percent change tables, please fill out the form
below and mail or fax it to the following address:


                       Division of International Prices
                       Bureau of Labor Statistics
                       PSB Building, Rm. 3955                                                                      
                       2 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E.
                       Washington, DC 20212


     Phone Number: (202) 606-7155           Fax Number: (202) 606-7179

         
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