U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES – MARCH 2018 

U.S. import prices recorded no change in March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, 

following a 0.3-percent rise in February. Higher nonfuel prices offset declining prices for imported fuel in 

March. Prices for U.S. exports advanced 0.3 percent in March, after rising 0.2 percent the previous month.

Chart 1. One-month percent change in the Import Price Index: March 2017 – March 2018 

 Percent change 

Chart 2. 12-month percent change in the Import Price Index: March 2017 – March 2018 

 Percent change 

-0.2

0.2

-0.1

-0.2 -0.2

0.6

0.8

0.2

1.0

0.2

0.8

0.3

0.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

Mar'17 Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar'18

4.1

3.6

2.3

1.4 1.2

2.0

2.7 2.4

3.5

3.2 3.4 3.4 3.6

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

Mar'17 Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar'18

Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until 

8:30 a.m. (EDT) Thursday, April 12, 2018 

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

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

USDL-18-0544
2

All Imports: Import prices recorded no change in March following rises of 0.3 percent in February and 0.8 

percent in January. The index has not declined on a monthly basis since decreasing 0.2 percent in July 2017. 

Prices for U.S. imports rose 3.6 percent between March 2017 and March 2018. The last 12-month decline in 

import prices was a 0.2-percent drop for the period ended October 2016. 

Fuel Imports: Fuel prices fell for the second consecutive month, declining 1.6 percent in March following a 

1.0-percent drop in February. The March decrease was the largest monthly decline since the index dropped 

3.6 percent in June 2017. Lower prices for both petroleum and natural gas drove the decline in fuel prices. 

Prices for imported petroleum declined 1.3 percent and natural gas fell 9.5 percent. Despite the decrease in 

March, fuel import prices advanced 18.7 percent between March 2017 and March 2018. The price index for 

petroleum imports rose 19.4 percent over the past 12 months. Prices for imported natural gas increased 20.0 

percent over the same period.

All Imports Excluding Fuel: Prices for nonfuel imports rose 0.2 percent in March, following increases of 

0.5 percent in February and January. Contributing to the March advance were higher import prices for 

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

offset declining prices for automotive vehicles and consumer goods. Nonfuel import prices advanced 2.1 

percent on a 12-month basis for the second consecutive month, the largest over-the-year increases since a 

2.4-percent advance in February 2012. An 8.0-percent rise in nonfuel industrial supplies and materials 

prices drove the 12-month advance in March. 

Table A. Percent change in Import and Export Price Indexes, selected categories 
3

Chart 3. One-month percent change in the Export Price Index: March 2017 – March 2018 

 Percent change 

Chart 4. 12-month percent change in the Export Price Index: March 2017 – March 2018 

 Percent change

All Exports: Prices for U.S. exports rose for the ninth consecutive month in March, advancing 0.3 percent. 

Increasing prices for agricultural exports drove the monthly advance, more than offsetting lower 

nonagricultural export prices. U.S. export prices increased 3.4 percent over the 12-month period ended in 

March and have not recorded an over-the-year drop since a 0.2-percent decline in November 2016.

Agricultural Exports: The price index for agricultural exports advanced 3.4 percent in March following a 

0.6-percent rise in February. The March increase is the largest monthly advance since agricultural export 

prices rose 4.8 percent in August 2012. Higher prices for soybeans and wheat contributed to the monthly 

advance, increasing 7.8 percent and 8.0 percent, respectively. The price index for agricultural exports rose 

3.0 percent over the past 12 months, driven by a 6.5-percent increase in meat prices.

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: Nonagricultural export prices ticked down 0.1 percent in March, after 

rising 0.2 percent in February and 0.9 percent in January. Declining prices for nonagricultural industrial 

supplies and materials more than offset increases in capital goods and automotive vehicles export prices. 

Prices for nonagricultural exports advanced 3.4 percent between March 2017 and March 2018, as the price 

indexes for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials, capital goods, consumer goods, and 

automotive vehicles all increased. 

0.1

0.2

-0.6

-0.1

0.5 0.6

0.8

0.1

0.5

0.1

0.7

0.2

0.3

-1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

Mar'17 Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar'18

3.4

3.1

1.4

0.6

0.9

2.3

2.8 2.7

3.1

2.8

3.3 3.2 3.4

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

Mar'17 Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar'18
4

SELECTED MARCH HIGHLIGHTS 

Import Prices 

Imports by Locality of Origin: Import prices from China rose for the second consecutive month in March, 

edging up 0.1 percent. The price index for imports from China increased 0.2 percent over the past 12 

months and has not recorded a 12-month decrease since December 2017. Prices for imports from Japan rose 

0.2 percent in March following increases of 0.2 percent in February and 0.5 percent in January. Despite the 

advance in March, the price index for imports from Japan edged down 0.1 percent over the past 12 months. 

The price index for imports from the European Union rose 0.1 percent in March and import prices from 

Mexico advanced 0.2 percent, after decreasing 0.5 percent the previous month. In contrast, prices for 

imports from Canada fell 0.2 percent in March.

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Import prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials 

increased 1.0 percent in March, after a 0.8-percent rise in February. Higher prices for iron and steel mill 

products and lumber each contributed to the March advance, rising 4.0 percent and 4.1 percent, respectively.

Finished Goods: Major finished goods prices were mixed in March. Import capital goods prices increased 

0.2 percent, driven by a 0.4-percent increase in prices for computers, peripherals, and semiconductors. In 

contrast, the price index for automotive vehicles decreased 0.2 percent and import prices for consumer 

goods declined 0.1 percent in March. 

Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: The import price index for foods, feeds, and beverages rose 0.6 percent in 

March following increases of 1.0 percent in February and 0.7 percent in January. Higher prices for 

vegetables drove the monthly advance, more than offsetting lower fruit prices.

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares decreased 6.5 percent in March, after a 0.9-percent 

rise in February. In March, a 14.6-percent drop in European fares more than offset increases of 2.3 percent 

in Latin American/Caribbean fares and 0.1 percent in Asian fares. Despite the monthly decrease, import air 

passenger fares advanced 1.5 percent over the past year. Prices for import air freight recorded no change in 

March and rose 11.4 percent over the past 12 months. 

Export Prices 

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials 

prices fell 0.5 percent in March, after rising 0.2 percent the previous month. Lower fuel prices drove the 

decrease, more than offsetting increasing prices for chemicals and iron and steel products.

Finished Goods: Prices for the major finished goods categories were mostly up in March. Capital goods 

prices and automotive vehicles prices each ticked up 0.1 percent, and consumer goods prices recorded no 

change following a 0.4-percent rise in February. 

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares rose 4.2 percent in March following a 7.9-percent 

decrease the previous month. The March increase was primarily driven by higher European and Asian fares. 

The price index for export air passenger fares advanced 2.4 percent between March 2017 and March 2018. 

Export air freight prices increased 4.3 percent in March and 4.4 percent over the past year. Prices for export 

air freight have not recorded a 12-month decline since falling 1.1 percent for the year ended February 2017.

 

Import and Export Price Index data for April are scheduled for release on Friday, May 11, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. 

(EDT).
Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: March 2017 to March

2018

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Feb.

20181

Index Percent change

Feb.

2018

Mar.

2018

Annual Monthly

Mar.

2017 to

Mar.

2018

Nov.

2017 to

Dec.

2017

Dec.

2017 to

Jan.

2018

Jan.

2018 to

Feb.

2018

Feb.

2018 to

Mar.

2018

All commodities................................... 100.000 126.9 126.9 3.6 0.2 0.8 0.3 0.0

All imports excluding food and fuels (Dec.

2010=100)........................................ 82.985 100.4 100.5 1.8 -0.1 0.4 0.5 0.1

All imports excluding petroleum.............. 89.948 113.8 113.9 2.1 -0.1 0.6 0.4 0.1

All imports excluding fuels (Dec.

2001=100)........................................ 89.149 117.8 118.0 2.1 -0.2 0.5 0.5 0.2

Foods, feeds, & beverages................... 0 6.163 184.1 185.2 4.1 -0.9 0.7 1.0 0.6

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............. 00 4.857 202.7 203.6 4.9 -1.2 0.8 1.0 0.4

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................. 01 1.307 142.1 143.6 1.2 0.0 0.7 0.9 1.1

Industrial supplies & materials.............. 1 25.132 190.4 190.2 12.4 1.3 2.5 0.0 -0.1

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

petroleum.................................... 15.160 158.0 159.0 8.1 0.3 2.3 0.5 0.6

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

fuels (Dec. 2001=100)..................... 14.269 178.3 180.1 8.0 -0.3 1.8 0.8 1.0

Industrial supplies & materials, durable. . .. 9.073 169.5 171.7 9.4 -0.8 2.3 0.8 1.3

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable

excluding petroleum....................... 6.007 143.6 143.0 6.2 2.0 2.4 0.0 -0.4

Fuels & lubricants............................. 10 10.851 210.9 207.5 18.7 3.3 3.4 -1.0 -1.6

Petroleum & petroleum products......... 100 10.052 228.2 225.2 19.4 2.8 2.9 -0.8 -1.3

Crude........................................ 10000 7.117 236.5 236.1 23.2 3.2 4.2 -1.9 -0.2

Fuels, n.e.s.-coals & gas.................. 101 0.616 121.5 113.0 11.5 16.0 13.1 -5.8 -7.0

Gas-natural.................................. 10110 0.460 106.0 95.9 20.0 20.0 13.4 -5.8 -9.5

Paper & paper base stocks.................. 11 0.551 112.7 113.2 7.8 0.5 1.5 1.3 0.4

Materials associated with nondurable

supplies & materials....................... 12 4.722 161.9 162.6 5.4 0.7 0.9 0.9 0.4

Selected building materials.................. 13 1.628 152.6 157.4 10.8 -1.0 -0.7 1.6 3.1

Unfinished metals related to durable

goods........................................ 14 3.926 236.6 238.9 11.5 -1.8 4.9 0.9 1.0

Finished metals related to durable

goods........................................ 15 1.812 161.6 163.1 11.4 0.3 1.6 0.9 0.9

Nonmetals related to durable goods. . . . . .. 16 1.641 110.3 111.1 1.7 0.1 0.1 -0.2 0.7

Capital goods................................... 2 26.759 89.7 89.9 1.4 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.2

Electric generating equipment............... 20 3.236 117.7 117.8 1.1 -0.2 0.0 0.6 0.1

Nonelectrical machinery...................... 21 21.246 82.1 82.2 1.4 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.1

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................. 22 2.277 137.4 137.3 0.6 0.1 0.4 1.4 -0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines..... 3 15.855 110.9 110.7 0.5 0.0 0.5 0.2 -0.2

Consumer goods, excluding

automotives.................................. 4 26.091 107.3 107.2 0.3 -0.1 0.0 0.6 -0.1

Nondurables, manufactured................. 40 12.741 122.0 121.9 0.3 0.0 -0.1 0.6 -0.1

Durables, manufactured...................... 41 12.014 93.1 93.3 0.1 -0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2

Nonmanufactured consumer goods. . . . . . .. 42 1.336 118.9 115.8 0.8 0.2 0.8 2.8 -2.6

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2016 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.

Dash = Not available

5
Table 2. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: March 2017 to March

2018

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Feb.

20181

Index Percent change

Feb.

2018

Mar.

2018

Annual Monthly

Mar.

2017 to

Mar.

2018

Nov.

2017 to

Dec.

2017

Dec.

2017 to

Jan.

2018

Jan.

2018 to

Feb.

2018

Feb.

2018 to

Mar.

2018

All commodities................................... 100.000 125.9 126.3 3.4 0.1 0.7 0.2 0.3

Agricultural commodities....................... 9.926 179.5 185.6 3.0 -0.3 0.0 0.6 3.4

All exports excluding food and fuels (Dec.

2010=100)........................................ 81.173 101.0 101.3 2.4 0.1 0.5 0.4 0.3

Nonagricultural commodities.................. 90.074 121.8 121.7 3.4 0.0 0.9 0.2 -0.1

Foods, feeds, & beverages................... 0 9.285 181.2 187.2 2.9 -0.5 -0.2 0.6 3.3

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............. 00 8.651 179.6 185.5 2.2 -0.6 -0.3 0.5 3.3

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................. 01 0.634 212.7 221.2 11.9 0.4 1.6 2.2 4.0

Industrial supplies & materials.............. 1 31.360 158.1 157.5 7.1 0.0 2.0 0.3 -0.4

Industrial supplies & materials, durable. . .. 10.524 166.5 167.2 5.0 -0.1 1.5 1.2 0.4

Industrial supplies & materials,

nondurable.................................. 20.836 154.4 153.3 8.4 -0.1 2.3 -0.3 -0.7

Agricultural industrial supplies &

materials..................................... 10 1.275 185.4 192.4 8.3 1.1 2.5 1.1 3.8

Nonagricultural industrial supplies &

materials...................................... 30.084 157.2 156.4 7.1 -0.1 2.0 0.2 -0.5

Fuels & lubricants............................. 11 9.543 188.6 183.0 13.9 -0.4 4.2 -2.0 -3.0

Nonagricultural supplies & materials

excluding fuels & building materials. . . .. 12 19.524 158.9 159.9 4.8 0.0 1.1 1.3 0.6

Selected building materials.................. 13 1.017 122.7 123.1 3.4 -0.2 -1.8 1.0 0.3

Capital goods................................... 2 36.569 109.0 109.1 1.5 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1

Electrical generating equipment............. 20 3.854 114.9 115.3 2.3 0.3 -0.5 -0.4 0.3

Nonelectrical machinery...................... 21 23.638 94.6 94.7 1.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................. 22 9.076 173.6 173.8 2.5 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines..... 3 10.136 113.8 113.9 0.7 -0.1 0.4 0.2 0.1

Consumer goods, excluding

automotives.................................. 4 12.651 110.4 110.4 2.3 0.2 0.5 0.4 0.0

Nondurables, manufactured................. 40 6.184 107.5 107.7 4.2 0.4 1.1 0.5 0.2

Durables, manufactured...................... 41 5.022 107.7 107.6 0.7 0.0 -0.1 0.1 -0.1

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2016 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.

Dash = Not available

6
Table 3. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected industries: March 2017 to March 2018

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Feb.

20181

Index Percent change

Feb.

2018

Mar.

2018

Annual Monthly

Mar.

2017 to

Mar.

2018

Nov.

2017 to

Dec.

2017

Dec.

2017 to

Jan.

2018

Jan.

2018 to

Feb.

2018

Feb.

2018 to

Mar.

2018

Nonmanufacturing................................ 9.984 114.3 113.5 19.2 2.5 4.2 -0.9 -0.7

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and

hunting........................................ 11 2.142 195.4 195.3 8.7 -2.1 2.2 3.6 -0.1

Crop production............................... 111 1.743 210.7 209.0 10.1 -3.0 2.0 3.9 -0.8

Animal production (Dec. 2014=100)........ 112 0.199 80.2 81.5 2.6 1.5 2.6 2.0 1.6

Mining............................................ 21 7.842 105.3 104.4 22.2 3.7 4.7 -2.0 -0.9

Oil and gas extraction........................ 211 7.607 105.4 104.5 23.1 4.0 4.8 -2.2 -0.9

Manufacturing..................................... 89.726 112.0 112.1 2.1 0.0 0.4 0.5 0.1

Manufacturing, part 1......................... 31 11.321 124.9 125.0 0.9 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.1

Food manufacturing.......................... 311 3.417 157.1 157.5 1.9 -0.1 0.3 0.3 0.3

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing............................... 312 1.089 120.3 120.2 1.6 0.0 0.6 0.2 -0.1

Textile mills (Dec. 2011=100)............... 313 0.384 100.4 101.1 3.0 0.6 -0.2 0.4 0.7

Textile product mills.......................... 314 0.919 109.3 109.8 1.2 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.5

Apparel manufacturing....................... 315 3.845 111.3 111.1 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.1 -0.2

Leather and allied product

manufacturing............................... 316 1.666 122.8 122.7 -0.2 0.1 0.0 -0.1 -0.1

Manufacturing, part 2......................... 32 18.146 125.7 125.4 4.2 0.4 0.1 1.1 -0.2

Wood product manufacturing................ 321 1.010 135.6 141.5 15.5 -1.5 -1.2 2.5 4.4

Paper manufacturing......................... 322 1.009 107.3 107.6 3.3 0.2 0.4 0.7 0.3

Printing and related support activities

(Dec. 2016=100)........................... 323 0.208 100.2 100.3 0.2 0.0 1.2 0.1 0.1

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing............................... 324 2.655 96.8 93.2 11.2 1.5 -0.6 2.9 -3.7

Chemical manufacturing..................... 325 10.096 139.2 139.3 2.7 0.4 0.3 0.9 0.1

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing............................... 326 2.187 118.9 118.8 0.9 0.1 -0.1 0.6 -0.1

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing............................... 327 0.982 129.5 130.2 1.3 0.2 0.4 -0.1 0.5

Manufacturing, part 3......................... 33 60.259 105.0 105.2 1.7 -0.2 0.5 0.4 0.2

Primary metal manufacturing................ 331 4.466 156.5 158.3 11.6 -1.6 4.0 1.4 1.2

Fabricated metal product manufacturing... 332 3.096 127.3 128.1 5.6 0.1 0.4 0.6 0.6

Machinery manufacturing.................... 333 6.771 118.5 118.7 2.2 0.0 0.2 0.5 0.2

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing............................... 334 17.073 75.7 75.8 0.0 -0.1 -0.1 0.3 0.1

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing................. 335 4.895 115.6 115.7 1.4 -0.2 -0.1 0.4 0.1

Transportation equipment manufacturing... 336 16.878 110.2 110.0 0.5 0.0 0.5 0.3 -0.2

Furniture and related product

manufacturing............................... 337 1.763 116.2 116.8 1.4 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.5

Miscellaneous manufacturing............... 339 5.318 118.4 118.6 0.9 -0.1 0.7 0.1 0.2

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2016 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.

Dash = Not available

7
Table 4. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected industries: March 2017 to March 2018

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Feb.

20181

Index Percent change

Feb.

2018

Mar.

2018

Annual Monthly

Mar.

2017 to

Mar.

2018

Nov.

2017 to

Dec.

2017

Dec.

2017 to

Jan.

2018

Jan.

2018 to

Feb.

2018

Feb.

2018 to

Mar.

2018

Nonmanufacturing................................ 8.392 137.4 141.4 7.9 0.5 1.2 -1.8 2.9

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and

hunting........................................ 11 5.160 155.7 164.8 3.7 -0.8 1.0 0.5 5.8

Crop production............................... 111 4.750 161.4 171.0 3.4 -0.8 1.1 0.4 5.9

Mining............................................ 21 3.231 88.1 86.7 15.1 2.2 1.4 -5.3 -1.6

Mining (except oil and gas).................. 212 1.147 112.5 111.4 7.7 0.3 1.8 1.9 -1.0

Manufacturing..................................... 90.011 115.7 115.7 3.2 0.0 0.7 0.5 0.0

Manufacturing, part 1......................... 31 6.975 139.9 141.2 2.9 0.3 -0.4 0.8 0.9

Food manufacturing.......................... 311 4.773 158.2 159.4 3.0 0.2 -0.8 0.8 0.8

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing............................... 312 0.691 119.3 123.1 9.7 -0.2 1.3 2.2 3.2

Textile mills (Dec. 2016=100)............... 313 0.633 102.4 102.9 1.1 0.5 -0.2 0.9 0.5

Leather and allied product manufacturing

(Dec. 2016=100)........................... 316 0.275 98.8 98.2 -1.9 1.0 1.0 0.5 -0.6

Manufacturing, part 2......................... 32 25.236 115.5 115.0 7.4 -0.3 1.9 0.9 -0.4

Wood product manufacturing (Dec.

2017=100)................................... 321 0.540 102.6 103.5 – – 0.4 2.2 0.9

Paper manufacturing......................... 322 1.647 125.4 126.3 10.2 -0.3 0.7 0.2 0.7

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing............................... 324 6.412 112.4 108.0 16.3 -1.7 6.0 0.4 -3.9

Chemical manufacturing..................... 325 13.345 118.7 119.7 5.3 0.3 0.7 1.3 0.8

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing............................... 326 2.231 114.5 114.9 0.0 -0.1 0.0 0.4 0.3

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing............................... 327 0.825 115.2 116.5 2.4 -0.1 -0.1 0.7 1.1

Manufacturing, part 3......................... 33 57.800 113.3 113.4 1.6 0.1 0.4 0.3 0.1

Primary metal manufacturing................ 331 3.955 145.1 145.8 6.5 -0.2 2.3 1.5 0.5

Fabricated metal product manufacturing... 332 3.023 138.6 138.7 0.9 -0.1 0.5 0.2 0.1

Machinery manufacturing.................... 333 8.947 126.1 126.0 0.6 0.2 0.1 0.2 -0.1

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing............................... 334 14.160 83.6 83.7 1.5 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.1

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing................. 335 3.789 114.7 115.0 1.9 0.0 -0.6 -0.3 0.3

Transportation equipment manufacturing... 336 18.128 125.8 125.9 1.5 0.1 0.5 0.2 0.1

Furniture and related product

manufacturing (Dec. 2011=100).......... 337 0.402 118.7 118.7 1.1 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.0

Miscellaneous manufacturing............... 339 5.397 120.2 120.0 1.0 0.2 0.0 0.4 -0.2

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2016 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.

Dash = Not available

8
Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: March 2017 to March

2018

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Feb.

20181

Index Percent change

Feb.

2018

Mar.

2018

Annual Monthly

Mar.

2017 to

Mar.

2018

Nov.

2017 to

Dec.

2017

Dec.

2017 to

Jan.

2018

Jan.

2018 to

Feb.

2018

Feb.

2018 to

Mar.

2018

Live animals; animal products................. I 1.394 197.2 200.2 4.4 0.1 1.2 1.9 1.5

Meat and edible meat offal..................... 02 0.379 251.4 254.5 6.3 0.4 0.4 1.8 1.2

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates......................... 03 0.715 142.7 145.5 1.0 0.1 1.5 1.6 2.0

Vegetable products............................... II 2.135 232.6 230.9 9.4 -2.8 1.6 3.7 -0.7

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers.......... 07 0.506 539.7 592.4 44.6 -4.9 0.3 6.6 9.8

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons.......................................... 08 0.836 132.7 127.8 3.4 -3.7 1.8 1.5 -3.7

Coffee, tea, mate and spices.................. 09 0.327 216.5 217.0 -7.8 -2.2 0.5 -0.8 0.2

Animal or vegetable fats and oils (Dec.

2009=100)........................................ III 0.297 112.9 110.4 -3.1 -0.9 -1.6 -1.3 -2.2

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and

tobacco........................................... IV 2.739 162.4 162.9 1.5 0.1 0.4 -0.1 0.3

Sugars and sugar confectionary (Dec.

2012=100)..................................... 17 0.201 90.6 90.8 5.7 -0.1 4.6 0.1 0.2

Cocoa and cocoa preparations (Dec.

2009=100)..................................... 18 0.198 95.2 99.7 0.9 -1.3 0.0 0.8 4.7

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts, or

other parts of plants.......................... 20 0.360 167.0 168.5 2.1 -0.8 -1.4 -0.5 0.9

Miscellaneous edible preparations (Dec.

2017=100)..................................... 21 0.204 101.1 101.9 – – 0.0 1.1 0.8

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar................ 22 1.031 130.3 130.3 1.8 0.1 0.8 0.1 0.0

Mineral products.................................. V 10.632 210.1 207.1 19.1 3.1 3.4 -0.9 -1.4

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............. 27 10.381 207.9 204.7 19.2 3.3 3.4 -1.0 -1.5

Products of the chemical or allied

industries........................................ VI 9.450 156.8 156.8 3.0 0.8 0.7 0.8 0.0

Inorganic chemicals............................. 28 0.622 315.1 311.8 10.4 6.8 3.0 1.5 -1.0

Organic chemicals............................... 29 2.383 130.3 130.4 5.0 1.5 0.7 0.3 0.1

Pharmaceutical products....................... 30 4.439 150.9 150.7 1.1 0.0 0.5 1.3 -0.1

Fertilizers (Dec. 2009=100).................... 31 0.258 80.2 80.1 2.2 -1.0 1.5 -1.5 -0.1

Tanning extracts; dye, pigments, varnish,

paints & putty (Dec. 2011=100)............. 32 0.183 107.3 107.6 5.7 0.9 0.7 0.3 0.3

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec.

2016=100)..................................... 33 0.580 103.4 103.7 3.7 -0.3 0.4 0.7 0.3

Miscellaneous chemical products............. 38 0.633 106.2 107.7 3.5 0.1 1.1 -0.7 1.4

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof.................................. VII 3.404 140.8 140.8 0.9 -0.1 -0.3 0.6 0.0

Plastics and articles thereof.................... 39 2.234 143.4 143.3 2.2 -0.3 -0.1 0.5 -0.1

Rubber and articles thereof.................... 40 1.170 137.6 137.9 -1.3 0.4 -0.6 0.8 0.2

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc....................................... VIII 0.631 124.4 124.3 0.9 0.0 0.0 0.2 -0.1

Articles of leather; travel goods, bags, etc.

of various materials........................... 42 0.596 129.7 129.8 1.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................. IX 1.041 165.0 172.6 16.0 -1.5 -1.2 2.7 4.6

Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal

(Dec. 2014=100).............................. 44 1.017 113.9 119.2 16.3 -1.5 -1.2 2.7 4.7

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products......................................... X 1.064 113.4 113.7 3.6 0.2 0.9 0.9 0.3

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper

pulp, paper or paperboard................... 48 0.703 105.2 105.4 1.6 0.0 0.7 1.3 0.2

See footnotes at end of table.

9
Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: March 2017 to March

2018 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Feb.

20181

Index Percent change

Feb.

2018

Mar.

2018

Annual Monthly

Mar.

2017 to

Mar.

2018

Nov.

2017 to

Dec.

2017

Dec.

2017 to

Jan.

2018

Jan.

2018 to

Feb.

2018

Feb.

2018 to

Mar.

2018

Printed matter (Dec. 2015=100)............... 49 0.205 105.9 105.9 -0.1 0.0 0.9 0.1 0.0

Textile and textile articles....................... XI 4.994 114.0 114.2 0.9 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.2

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

knitted or crocheted.......................... 61 2.000 103.9 103.7 -0.1 0.0 0.3 0.1 -0.2

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

not knitted or crocheted...................... 62 1.690 119.2 119.2 0.2 0.2 0.5 0.0 0.0

Made-up or worn textile articles............... 63 0.637 104.1 104.2 0.5 0.3 -0.1 0.1 0.1

Headgear, umbrellas, artificial flowers,

etc................................................. XII 1.375 121.7 121.9 -0.3 0.2 -0.1 -0.2 0.2

Footwear and parts of such articles........... 64 1.152 120.8 120.7 -0.6 0.1 -0.1 -0.2 -0.1

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos,

ceramics, glass etc............................ XIII 0.921 131.1 132.0 1.5 0.1 0.5 -0.4 0.7

Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos,

or mica (Dec. 2015=100).................... 68 0.328 98.0 99.4 3.2 0.4 0.2 0.2 1.4

Ceramic products................................ 69 0.256 134.6 134.6 -1.5 0.1 0.0 -1.5 0.0

Glass and glassware............................ 70 0.337 132.0 132.6 2.2 -0.2 0.9 0.0 0.5

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins.............................. XIV 3.094 175.0 174.6 2.8 -0.6 2.4 -0.1 -0.2

Base metals and articles of base metals. . .. XV 5.575 179.3 181.3 9.3 -0.9 2.0 1.2 1.1

Iron and steel.................................... 72 1.270 214.3 220.4 12.5 -0.6 3.2 2.2 2.8

Articles of iron or steel.......................... 73 1.610 152.5 154.6 11.4 0.1 1.0 1.3 1.4

Copper and articles thereof.................... 74 0.421 303.2 301.3 9.2 -2.3 4.4 -1.0 -0.6

Aluminum and articles thereof................. 76 0.940 138.0 139.4 8.2 -1.4 1.3 0.4 1.0

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and

forks, of base metal; parts thereof.......... 82 0.417 122.5 123.0 0.2 -0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4

Miscellaneous articles of base metal. . . . . . . .. 83 0.516 137.2 137.4 1.5 0.1 -0.8 0.3 0.1

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............. XVI 28.957 80.8 80.9 0.6 0.0 -0.2 0.5 0.1

Machinery and mechanical appliances;

parts thereof................................... 84 14.167 87.1 87.3 2.0 0.0 -0.1 0.7 0.2

Electrical machinery and equip, sound and

TV recorders & reproducers, parts......... 85 14.790 75.0 75.0 -0.5 -0.1 -0.3 0.4 0.0

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment........................... XVII 14.044 114.8 114.5 0.5 0.0 0.7 0.1 -0.3

Motor vehicles and their parts................. 87 12.836 113.8 113.5 0.8 0.0 0.7 0.2 -0.3

Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof (Dec.

2002=100)..................................... 88 1.117 116.4 116.1 -2.1 0.2 0.3 0.0 -0.3

Optical, photo, measuring, medical &

musical instruments; & timepieces. . . . . . .. XVIII 3.884 103.4 103.6 2.5 -0.2 1.7 0.2 0.2

Optical, photographic, measuring and

medical instruments.......................... 90 3.598 100.1 99.9 2.1 -0.1 1.8 0.2 -0.2

Clocks and watches and parts thereof. . . . . .. 91 0.228 142.4 149.0 5.2 0.3 -1.3 -0.1 4.6

Miscellaneous manufactured articles......... XX 4.279 111.6 111.8 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2

Furniture & stuffed furnishings; lamps &

lighting fittings, nesoi; prefab bldgs......... 94 2.699 117.5 117.8 1.2 -0.1 0.1 0.3 0.3

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts

and accessories thereof...................... 95 1.298 101.7 101.8 -0.9 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . . . .. 96 0.282 128.6 128.6 -0.9 -0.1 -0.8 0.0 0.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2016 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.

Dash = Not available

10
Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: March 2017 to March

2018

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Feb.

20181

Index Percent change

Feb.

2018

Mar.

2018

Annual Monthly

Mar.

2017 to

Mar.

2018

Nov.

2017 to

Dec.

2017

Dec.

2017 to

Jan.

2018

Jan.

2018 to

Feb.

2018

Feb.

2018 to

Mar.

2018

Live animals; animal products................. I 1.952 208.5 211.3 4.7 0.5 -0.3 0.7 1.3

Meat & edible meat offal (Dec. 2006=100)... 02 1.198 167.9 169.5 7.1 1.2 0.1 0.7 1.0

Fish and crustaceans, mollusks and aquatic

invertebrates (Dec. 2016=100).............. 03 0.419 117.4 122.1 13.1 0.5 1.7 2.4 4.0

Dairy products, eggs and honey (Dec.

2017=100)..................................... 04 0.260 94.1 94.1 – – -5.6 -0.3 0.0

Vegetable products............................... II 4.758 195.2 206.2 1.3 -1.4 1.1 0.1 5.6

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons.......................................... 08 0.918 146.6 148.5 3.4 -1.5 0.8 -0.5 1.3

Cereals............................................ 10 1.431 192.0 201.5 10.5 0.4 1.5 4.6 4.9

Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds, fruits,

plants, straw and fodder..................... 12 1.939 203.8 217.3 3.2 2.2 -2.4 2.2 6.6

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and

tobacco........................................... IV 3.101 151.5 153.8 4.4 -0.1 0.5 1.1 1.5

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or

other parts of plants (Dec. 2009=100). . . .. 20 0.349 117.6 117.6 0.8 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0

Miscellaneous edible preparations (Dec.

2017=100)..................................... 21 0.606 102.9 100.3 – – 1.8 1.1 -2.5

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar (Dec.

2008=100)..................................... 22 0.521 106.1 107.3 -3.3 -2.7 -1.0 0.9 1.1

Residues and waste from the food

industries; prepared animal feed............ 23 0.719 211.9 228.2 15.7 1.7 1.3 3.1 7.7

Mineral products.................................. V 9.958 227.7 220.8 16.1 -0.1 4.3 -1.8 -3.0

Ores, slag and ash (Dec. 2012=100)......... 26 0.577 113.3 111.2 19.8 0.4 3.3 3.9 -1.9

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............. 27 9.204 217.7 210.8 16.3 -0.1 4.4 -2.1 -3.2

Products of the chemical or allied

industries........................................ VI 10.884 139.1 139.8 3.8 0.6 0.8 1.2 0.5

Inorganic chemicals............................. 28 0.757 168.8 169.5 -4.6 2.5 3.1 0.7 0.4

Organic chemicals............................... 29 2.534 142.7 144.9 7.0 0.3 1.2 3.3 1.5

Pharmaceutical products....................... 30 3.307 109.3 109.5 6.1 0.5 2.7 0.9 0.2

Fertilizers (Dec. 2016=100).................... 31 0.252 117.0 118.7 14.6 0.7 3.5 4.8 1.5

Tanning or dyeing extracts, dyes, paints

varnish, putty, & inks (Dec. 2015=100). . .. 32 0.528 100.7 101.0 3.2 -0.5 -1.6 0.9 0.3

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery

cosmetic or toilet preparations.............. 33 0.814 130.4 130.7 -1.0 0.1 -2.0 0.2 0.2

Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or

scouring products; candles, pastes......... 34 0.492 118.4 119.2 2.7 -3.7 -3.3 0.2 0.7

Miscellaneous chemical products............. 38 1.806 150.8 151.1 3.8 2.0 0.5 0.0 0.2

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof.................................. VII 5.128 141.6 143.6 3.2 -0.7 0.4 1.2 1.4

Plastics and articles thereof.................... 39 4.262 138.4 140.1 5.6 -0.8 0.6 1.2 1.2

Rubber and articles thereof.................... 40 0.866 153.7 157.4 -6.0 -0.4 -0.5 0.9 2.4

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw, baskets

and wickerwork (Dec. 2014=100)............ IX 0.681 104.8 105.5 9.2 -0.1 -1.1 1.6 0.7

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products......................................... X 2.009 127.0 126.4 -2.0 -0.1 0.0 -1.0 -0.5

Woodpulp and recovered paper............... 47 0.607 131.0 128.1 -14.1 0.5 0.0 -3.7 -2.2

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper

pulp, paper or paperboard................... 48 1.073 124.5 124.8 4.5 -0.6 0.2 0.4 0.2

Printed material (Dec. 2014=100)............. 49 0.329 104.5 104.5 3.0 0.0 -0.6 0.0 0.0

Textile and textile articles....................... XI 1.663 122.1 124.8 3.1 0.5 1.2 0.0 2.2

See footnotes at end of table.

11
Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: March 2017 to March

2018 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Feb.

20181

Index Percent change

Feb.

2018

Mar.

2018

Annual Monthly

Mar.

2017 to

Mar.

2018

Nov.

2017 to

Dec.

2017

Dec.

2017 to

Jan.

2018

Jan.

2018 to

Feb.

2018

Feb.

2018 to

Mar.

2018

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics

thereof.......................................... 52 0.449 132.1 141.1 8.6 2.2 3.2 -0.2 6.8

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos,

ceramics, glass etc............................ XIII 0.807 123.5 123.8 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2

Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos,

or mica (Dec. 2015=100).................... 68 0.270 101.3 101.2 0.2 0.0 -0.1 0.1 -0.1

Glass and glassware............................ 70 0.413 99.1 99.3 0.0 0.0 -0.1 0.3 0.2

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins.............................. XIV 4.154 240.9 240.2 3.7 -0.2 2.0 0.5 -0.3

Base metals and articles of base metals. . .. XV 4.946 160.4 161.9 6.3 0.2 1.3 0.9 0.9

Iron and steel.................................... 72 1.053 168.0 175.6 10.6 1.2 3.6 0.2 4.5

Copper and articles thereof.................... 74 0.585 205.0 202.0 19.7 0.8 3.0 0.9 -1.5

Aluminum and articles thereof................. 76 0.985 121.7 122.4 8.6 -0.8 0.1 3.0 0.6

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and

forks, of base metal (Dec. 2015=100). . . .. 82 0.316 99.6 99.6 0.1 0.0 0.3 -0.2 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal. . . . . . . .. 83 0.339 149.4 149.1 0.6 -0.1 0.8 0.1 -0.2

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............. XVI 27.576 96.8 96.9 1.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.1

Machinery and mechanical appliances;

parts thereof................................... 84 15.789 113.9 113.9 0.5 -0.1 0.2 0.1 0.0

Electrical machinery and equipment and

parts and accessories thereof............... 85 11.787 78.4 78.6 2.1 0.6 -0.1 0.0 0.3

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment........................... XVII 14.333 134.5 134.7 1.8 0.2 0.5 0.3 0.1

Motor vehicles and their parts................. 87 8.328 115.9 116.0 0.8 -0.1 0.4 0.3 0.1

Optical, photo, measuring, medical &

musical instruments; & timepieces. . . . . . .. XVIII 5.980 108.9 108.9 2.4 0.2 0.6 0.4 0.0

Miscellaneous manufactured articles......... XX 1.405 112.2 112.2 -0.4 -0.1 0.3 -0.2 0.0

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and

lighting fittings nesoi;......................... 94 0.821 128.9 128.9 0.5 0.2 0.0 0.4 0.0

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts

and accessories thereof...................... 95 0.423 88.0 87.9 -1.6 -0.8 1.1 -1.2 -0.1

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2016 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.

Dash = Not available

12
Table 7. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes by locality of origin: March 2017 to March 2018

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Relative

importance

Feb.

20181

Index Percent change

Feb.

2018

Mar.

2018

Annual Monthly

Mar. 2017

to Mar.

2018

Nov. 2017

to Dec.

2017

Dec. 2017

to Jan.

2018

Jan. 2018

to Feb.

2018

Feb. 2018

to Mar.

2018

Industrialized Countries2

.................... 100.000 124.4 124.3 4.5 0.5 1.1 0.5 -0.1

Nonmanufacturing........................... 8.939 156.5 154.8 15.6 3.4 3.0 -2.6 -1.1

Manufacturing................................ 90.502 121.2 121.3 3.4 0.3 0.8 0.8 0.1

Canada.......................................... 100.000 133.2 133.0 6.9 0.8 1.5 -0.1 -0.2

Nonmanufacturing........................... 23.995 149.2 147.6 14.9 3.7 2.8 -2.9 -1.1

Manufacturing................................ 75.055 132.4 132.5 4.2 -0.2 1.0 0.8 0.1

European Union3

.............................. 100.000 136.5 136.6 3.3 0.3 0.7 0.7 0.1

Manufacturing................................ 98.966 133.0 133.1 3.3 0.2 0.7 0.7 0.1

France (Dec. 2003=100)...................... 100.000 128.4 128.5 5.8 0.1 1.3 0.6 0.1

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)................... 100.000 112.5 112.1 -1.1 -0.2 -3.0 0.8 -0.4

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100).......... 100.000 120.7 121.0 2.8 0.1 0.8 0.5 0.2

Latin America4................................. 100.000 151.2 151.2 6.0 0.3 1.5 0.1 0.0

Nonmanufacturing........................... 19.018 267.9 267.3 20.8 1.5 5.5 -0.9 -0.2

Manufacturing................................ 80.710 123.0 123.1 2.8 0.1 0.5 0.3 0.1

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)...................... 100.000 129.1 129.4 4.4 0.2 0.6 -0.5 0.2

Nonmanufacturing (Dec. 2008=100). . . . .. 8.789 134.7 135.9 14.5 2.6 3.5 -4.7 0.9

Manufacturing (Dec. 2008=100)........... 90.962 89.1 89.2 3.4 -0.1 0.3 0.0 0.1

Pacific Rim (Dec. 2003=100)5

............... 100.000 98.7 98.9 0.5 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.2

China (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 100.000 100.3 100.4 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.1

Japan............................................ 100.000 96.2 96.4 -0.1 0.0 0.5 0.2 0.2

Asian NICs6..................................... 100.000 88.2 88.7 4.1 0.5 0.6 0.1 0.6

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)7.................... 100.000 98.4 98.5 0.7 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.1

Asia Near East (Dec. 2003=100)8

........... 100.000 180.4 180.4 12.7 2.6 3.3 0.1 0.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2016 trade values.

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

3 European Union countries.

4 Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

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

Countries.

6 Asian Newly Industrialized Countries - Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan.

7 Association of Southeast Asian Nations - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

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

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.

Regions are not mutually exclusive.

Dash = Not available

13
Table 8. U.S. international price indexes and percent changes for selected transportation services: March 2017

to March 2018

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Relative

importance

Feb.

20181

Index Percent change

Feb.

2018

Mar.

2018

Annual Monthly

Mar. 2017

to Mar.

2018

Nov.

2017 to

Dec.

2017

Dec.

2017 to

Jan. 2018

Jan. 2018

to Feb.

2018

Feb. 2018

to Mar.

2018

Air Freight

Import Air Freight.................................... 100.000 181.2 181.2 11.4 -2.7 -2.3 1.9 0.0

Europe (Dec. 2003=100).......................... 24.935 148.9 150.1 9.8 0.1 0.4 3.0 0.8

Asia.................................................. 62.502 171.3 171.0 14.0 -4.3 -3.5 1.2 -0.2

Export Air Freight................................... 100.000 159.3 166.1 4.4 -6.2 -0.2 0.2 4.3

Europe (Dec. 2006=100).......................... 33.553 147.2 146.3 -0.5 -1.7 -0.3 0.0 -0.6

Inbound Air Freight................................. 100.000 168.3 166.7 8.7 -1.8 0.1 0.2 -1.0

Europe (Dec. 2003=100).......................... 26.455 137.4 139.3 5.4 3.4 1.1 3.3 1.4

Asia.................................................. 58.180 156.8 153.4 9.1 -4.2 -2.7 -1.4 -2.2

Outbound Air Freight............................... 100.000 137.6 142.2 2.0 -1.1 -0.2 -2.1 3.3

Europe (Dec. 2003=100).......................... 33.633 144.3 147.7 2.3 -1.9 0.0 -0.3 2.4

Asia.................................................. 42.204 130.2 137.7 2.5 -0.2 0.1 -4.8 5.8

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares....................... 100.000 189.3 177.0 1.5 6.5 -3.2 0.9 -6.5

Europe............................................... 46.770 238.5 203.7 3.1 -1.0 7.9 1.9 -14.6

Asia.................................................. 20.667 127.6 127.7 -0.2 17.6 -11.1 -5.6 0.1

Latin America/Caribbean.......................... 9.211 163.8 167.6 3.4 10.8 -13.0 4.6 2.3

Export Air Passenger Fares....................... 100.000 153.0 159.5 2.4 3.3 4.7 -7.9 4.2

Europe............................................... 31.241 206.4 210.9 2.7 -5.2 -5.1 6.9 2.2

Asia.................................................. 25.893 129.2 131.9 4.4 12.5 12.5 -14.4 2.1

Latin America/Caribbean.......................... 25.104 167.3 168.6 0.7 3.4 7.3 -8.0 0.8

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2016 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.

Dash = Not available

14
15 

TECHNICAL NOTE

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

formula and are not seasonally adjusted. Price indexes are reweighted annually, with a 2-year lag in the 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

industry. In the NAICS imports and exports tables, items are classified by output industry, not input 

industry. As an example, NAICS import index 326 (plastics and rubber products manufacturing) include 

outputs such as manufactured plastic rather than inputs such as petroleum. The NAICS classification 

structure also matches the classification system used by the Producer Price Index (PPI) to produce the 

NAICS primary products indexes.

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

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

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

U.S. port transaction prices, depending on the practices of the individual industry. The index for crude 

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

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

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

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

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

Agriculture. 

Services Price Indexes - Starting in September 2008, the import air passenger fares indexes represent 

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

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

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

flyer tickets generally. Starting in January 2008, the export air passenger fares indexes represent changes 

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

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

consolidators. Taxes and fees are included in the import air passenger fares indexes and excluded from 

the export air passenger fares indexes. The air freight indexes are calculated from data collected directly 

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

the movement of freight from airport to airport only, and does not include any ground transportation or 

port service. The air freight indexes are presented using two definitions: balance of payments (which 

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

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

each services industry are available at www.bls.gov/mxp under "MXP Publications." 
16 

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

for the import price indexes. Beginning with January 2002, the indexes are defined by locality of origin 

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

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

NAICS 31-33. 

Relative Importance - A relative importance is a specific index’s price-updated value share (expressed 

as a percentage) of overall imports or exports at a specific point in time. Relative importance values are 

affected by the trade weights at the point indexes are reweighted and index changes relative to other 

indexes since the reweight point. If an index is rising in value relative to other indexes over time, the 

relative importance will increase as well. 

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

may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication. After 3 months, no further data 

revisions take place. For example, data first published in the January release will be subject to revision 

in the releases for February, March, and April. 

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

sector of the National Income and Product Accounts (NIPA) constructed by the Department of 

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

services, balance of payments indexes are used for deflating NIPA, while international indexes are more 

appropriate for market analysis. Merchandise and services indexes also can be used to study U.S. 

competitiveness and to compute price elasticities, and the merchandise import indexes by country or 

region of origin are useful in terms of trade analysis. 

Email Subscription - The U.S. import and export price indexes news release is available through an 

email subscription service at www.bls.gov/bls/list.htm. 

 

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

page at www.bls.gov/mxp. For import and export price indexes data requests, send an email to 

mxpinfo@bls.gov. 

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

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