Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until 

8:30 a.m. (EDT) Thursday, May 10, 2012 

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

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

USDL-12-0894

U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES – APRIL 2012 

U.S. import prices declined 0.5 percent in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, 

following a 1.5 percent increase in March. The April decrease was driven by lower fuel prices which more 

than offset a small increase in nonfuel prices. The price index for overall exports rose 0.4 percent in April 

after a 0.8 percent increase the previous month. 

Chart 1. One-month percent change in the Import Price Index: April 2011– April 2012 

 Percent change 

2.6

0.1

-0.6

0.1

-0.4

-0.1

-0.4

0.7

0.0 0.0 0.0

1.5

-0.5

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

4

Apr '11 May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr '12

Chart 2. 12-month percent change in the Import Price Index: April 2011– April 2012

 Percent change

11.9

12.9

13.6 13.7

12.9 12.7

11.1

10.1

8.5

6.9

5.1

3.6

0.5

0

4

8

12

16

Apr '11 May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr '12
 

All Imports: Prices for U.S. imports fell 0.5 percent in April, the first monthly decrease since a 0.4 percent 

decline in October 2011 and the largest one-month drop since the index decreased 0.6 percent in June 2011. 

Despite the April decline, import prices rose 0.5 percent over the past year, although that was the smallest 

12-month advance since the index last recorded a year-over-year decrease in October 2009. 

Fuel Imports: A 2.1 percent drop in fuel prices led the overall decline in import prices in April. The 

decrease in fuel prices followed a 4.4 percent increase in March and was the largest decline for the index 

since a similar 2.1 percent decrease in August 2011. A 1.8 percent decline in petroleum prices and a 14.1 

percent drop in natural gas prices each contributed to the April decrease in overall fuel prices. Fuel prices 

also fell over the past 12 months as a 45.3 percent decline in natural gas prices more than offset higher 

petroleum prices that ticked up 0.1 percent from April 2011 to April 2012. The decrease in overall fuel 

prices was the first 12-month decline since the index fell 14.2 percent for the year ended in October 2009. 

All Imports Excluding Fuel: The price index for nonfuel prices ticked up 0.1 percent in April after rising 

0.5 percent the previous month. Higher prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials, automotive 

vehicles, consumer goods, and foods, feeds, and beverages all contributed to the increase in overall nonfuel 

prices. Capital goods prices were unchanged. Nonfuel prices rose 1.3 percent over the past 12 months. 

Table A. Percent changes 

2
Chart 3. One-month percent change in the Export Price Index: April 2011– April 2012 

 Percent change 

0.8

0.4

0.1

-0.4

0.4 0.5

-2.0

0.1

-0.5

0.3

0.5

0.8

0.4

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

Apr '11 May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr '12

Chart 4. 12-month percent change in the Export Price Index: April 2011– April 2012 

 Percent change

9.2 9.1

10.1 9.8 9.4 9.4

6.3

4.8

3.6

2.6

1.8

1.1 0.7

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Apr '11 May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr '12

All Exports: U.S. export prices increased 0.4 percent in April as agricultural and nonagricultural prices 

each contributed to the advance. The April rise in overall export prices followed a 1.5 percent increase in the 

first quarter of 2012. Export prices advanced 0.7 percent for the April 2011-12 period, the smallest yearover-year increase since the index rose 0.4 percent between November 2008 and November 2009. The 12-

month increase in April was led by higher nonagricultural prices which more than offset declining 

agricultural prices over the past year. 

Agricultural Exports: Agricultural prices rose 2.0 percent in April after rising 2.5 percent in March. The 

April advance was led by a 7.4 percent increase in soybean prices. Despite the increases in the past two 

months, agricultural prices fell 3.1 percent over the past 12 months. That decline was driven by falling 

cotton, corn, and wheat prices between April 2011 and April 2012. 

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: The price index for nonagricultural prices advanced 0.2 percent in 

April following a 0.5 percent rise the previous month. Rising prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies 

and materials, as well as automotive vehicles, more than offset lower consumer goods prices. Overall 

nonagricultural prices increased 1.2 percent for the year ended in April. 

 

3
4

SELECTED APRIL HIGHLIGHTS 

Import Prices 

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonfuel industrial supplies and materials prices advanced 0.3 

percent in April after increasing 1.6 percent in March. In April, a 13.6 percent increase in agricultural 

products prices and a 1.5 percent advance in chemicals prices more than offset a 2.3 percent decline in 

unfinished metals prices. The price index for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials rose 1.5 percent over 

the past year. 

Finished Goods: Prices for imported finished goods were up overall in April, led by a 0.4 percent increase 

in automotive vehicles prices and a 0.1 percent advance in the price index for consumer goods. Capital 

goods prices were unchanged in April as a 0.3 percent increase in capital goods prices excluding computers 

was offset by a 0.5 percent drop in computers, peripherals, and semiconductors prices. 

 

Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Foods, feeds, and beverages prices ticked up 0.1 percent in April following 

a 1.8 percent increase the previous month. In April, rising prices for vegetables, coffee, and food oils, up 4.7 

percent, 1.4 percent, and 1.3 percent, respectively, more than offset a 2.7 percent drop in meat prices and a 

4.1 percent decline in the price index for dairy products. 

Imports by Locality of Origin: The price index for imports from China fell 0.3 percent in April, the first 

monthly decrease since the index fell 0.2 percent in June 2010. Despite the monthly decline, import prices 

from China have risen 2.0 percent over the past year. Import prices from Canada, the European Union, 

Mexico, and Japan decreased 1.0 percent, 0.1 percent, 0.5 percent, and 0.4 percent, respectively, in April. 

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares rose 0.7 percent in April after falling 1.0 percent in 

March. Higher European, Latin American/Caribbean, and Asian fares all contributed to the April increase. 

The index for import air passenger fares advanced 10.3 percent for the year ended in April. Import air 

freight prices rose 2.3 percent in April and 1.5 percent over the past year. 

Export Prices 

 

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials 

prices increased 0.4 percent in April following a 1.2 percent advance in March. The April rise was driven by 

a 1.5 percent increase in fuel prices and a 0.6 percent rise in chemicals prices. 

 

Finished Goods: Finished goods prices were mixed in April. Automotive vehicles prices rose 0.5 percent, 

led by a 0.5 percent advance in the price index for parts, engines, bodies and chassis. In contrast, consumer 

goods prices decreased 0.2 percent in April, while prices for capital goods were unchanged. 

Transportation Services: The index for export air passenger fares advanced 1.2 percent in April, driven by 

a 9.5 percent rise in European fares. Export air passenger fares rose 6.7 percent over the past year. Prices for 

export air freight increased 0.8 percent in April and 5.1 percent over the past 12 months. 

 

Import and Export Price Index data for May 2012 are scheduled for release on Tuesday, June 12, 

2012 at 8:30 a.m. (EDT). 
Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2011 to April

2012

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Mar.

20121

Index Percent change

Mar.

2012

Apr.

2012

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2011

to Apr.

2012

Dec.

2011 to

Jan.

2012

Jan.

2012 to

Feb.

2012

Feb.

2012 to

Mar.

2012

Mar.

2012 to

Apr. 2012

All commodities..................................... 100.000 144.3 143.6 0.5 0.0 0.0 1.5 -0.5

All imports excluding food and fuels (Dec.

2010=100).......................................... 69.903 103.9 104.0 1.8 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.1

All imports excluding petroleum................ 75.887 116.7 116.7 0.7 0.0 -0.1 0.3 0.0

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)... 74.956 121.2 121.3 1.3 0.2 0.0 0.5 0.1

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 5.053 174.3 174.4 -2.7 2.3 -2.8 1.8 0.1

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 3.917 196.2 196.4 -3.8 2.5 -3.4 2.1 0.1

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 1.136 124.6 124.8 1.5 1.4 -0.9 0.2 0.2

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 38.208 272.1 268.7 -0.7 -0.5 0.3 3.4 -1.2

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

petroleum..................................... 14.095 167.7 167.1 -2.2 -1.3 0.3 0.9 -0.4

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

fuels (Dec. 2001=100)....................... 13.164 193.0 193.6 1.5 -0.9 1.0 1.6 0.3

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 7.867 183.4 181.2 -1.4 -1.0 1.2 1.8 -1.2

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable

excluding petroleum......................... 5.296 149.7 150.7 -3.1 -1.6 -0.8 -0.1 0.7

Fuels & lubricants............................... 10 25.044 371.1 363.4 -1.7 -0.2 -0.1 4.4 -2.1

Petroleum & petroleum products........... 100 24.113 418.5 411.1 0.1 0.0 0.3 4.9 -1.8

Crude.......................................... 10000 18.325 432.7 418.8 -0.9 -0.4 2.3 4.0 -3.2

Fuels, n.e.s.-coals & gas.................... 101 0.634 88.2 77.6 -40.4 -5.6 -10.0 -9.7 -12.0

Gas-natural................................... 10110 0.528 73.5 63.1 -45.3 -6.6 -10.9 -13.0 -14.1

Paper & paper base stocks................... 11 0.579 114.0 113.0 -4.9 -2.0 0.0 1.3 -0.9

Materials associated with nondurable

supplies & materials......................... 12 4.823 177.9 182.6 7.8 -0.2 0.6 1.2 2.6

Selected building materials.................... 13 0.978 134.4 135.2 2.4 0.5 0.5 1.8 0.6

Unfinished metals related to durable

goods.......................................... 14 3.796 284.1 277.6 -6.0 -2.5 1.8 3.1 -2.3

Finished metals related to durable goods. .. 15 1.520 163.9 164.0 3.2 -0.2 1.5 -0.2 0.1

Nonmetals related to durable goods......... 16 1.468 115.3 115.4 2.2 -0.4 0.0 0.5 0.1

Capital goods..................................... 2 21.835 93.6 93.6 1.1 0.4 -0.1 0.2 0.0

Electric generating equipment................ 20 2.832 119.5 119.7 2.7 0.4 0.2 0.3 0.2

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 17.395 86.6 86.5 0.2 0.3 -0.1 0.0 -0.1

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 1.608 133.1 133.7 6.1 1.2 0.2 0.9 0.5

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 11.258 113.7 114.1 2.1 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.4

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 23.646 107.7 107.8 2.4 -0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 11.319 114.5 115.0 3.8 0.1 -0.1 0.1 0.4

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 11.065 100.3 100.0 0.5 -0.3 0.1 0.2 -0.3

Nonmanufactured consumer goods.......... 42 1.262 118.0 119.2 8.9 -0.6 1.0 -1.5 1.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2010 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

5
Table 2. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2011 to April

2012

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Mar.

20121

Index Percent change

Mar.

2012

Apr.

2012

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2011

to Apr.

2012

Dec.

2011 to

Jan.

2012

Jan.

2012 to

Feb.

2012

Feb.

2012 to

Mar.

2012

Mar.

2012 to

Apr. 2012

All commodities..................................... 100.000 134.1 134.7 0.7 0.3 0.5 0.8 0.4

Agricultural commodities......................... 10.813 206.9 211.1 -3.1 1.1 -0.4 2.5 2.0

All exports excluding food and fuels (Dec.

2010=100).......................................... 81.128 103.5 103.5 0.8 0.1 0.6 0.4 0.0

Nonagricultural commodities.................... 89.189 129.0 129.2 1.2 0.2 0.6 0.5 0.2

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 9.880 206.0 210.7 1.2 1.3 -0.5 2.7 2.3

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 9.180 208.6 213.5 0.1 1.3 -0.6 3.0 2.3

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 0.700 186.1 190.1 18.3 1.1 0.5 -0.4 2.1

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 34.925 188.3 189.0 -1.4 -0.4 1.3 1.1 0.4

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 12.492 191.2 189.8 0.9 -1.8 2.2 1.2 -0.7

Industrial supplies & materials,

nondurable.................................... 22.433 187.6 189.5 -2.5 0.4 0.8 1.1 1.0

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials... 10 1.633 201.7 202.5 -17.7 0.0 0.6 -0.1 0.4

Nonagricultural industrial supplies &

materials........................................ 33.293 188.1 188.8 -0.3 -0.4 1.3 1.2 0.4

Fuels & lubricants............................... 11 8.994 280.9 285.1 -0.7 1.1 0.1 2.5 1.5

Nonagricultural supplies & materials

excluding fuels & building materials. . . . . .. 12 23.367 176.4 176.3 -0.2 -1.0 1.7 0.8 -0.1

Selected building materials.................... 13 0.932 117.2 117.8 0.9 0.2 1.0 0.2 0.5

Capital goods..................................... 2 34.359 105.9 105.9 1.6 0.8 0.3 0.2 0.0

Electrical generating equipment.............. 20 3.496 113.0 113.0 1.3 -0.4 0.3 0.4 0.0

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 24.941 95.3 95.3 1.4 1.0 0.0 0.1 0.0

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 5.922 148.7 149.2 3.2 0.8 1.0 0.3 0.3

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 8.145 112.5 113.1 2.9 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.5

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 12.692 116.8 116.6 2.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 -0.2

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 5.891 115.0 115.1 1.3 0.6 0.1 0.3 0.1

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 5.331 114.3 114.0 1.4 0.1 0.5 0.3 -0.3

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2010 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

6
Table 3. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2011 to April

2012

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Mar.

20121

Index Percent change

Mar.

2012

Apr.

2012

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2011

to Apr.

2012

Dec.

2011 to

Jan.

2012

Jan.

2012 to

Feb.

2012

Feb.

2012 to

Mar.

2012

Mar.

2012 to

Apr. 2012

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 21.512 181.8 176.5 -3.6 -0.6 1.1 3.6 -2.9

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 1.809 173.4 176.7 -10.3 1.1 -5.3 3.4 1.9

Crop production................................. 111 1.277 179.0 183.9 -11.2 2.8 -7.9 4.1 2.7

Mining.............................................. 21 19.703 182.2 176.1 -2.9 -0.7 1.7 3.7 -3.3

Mining (except oil and gas) (Dec.

2006=100)..................................... 212 0.325 146.2 145.6 -5.1 0.3 -1.8 1.2 -0.4

Manufactured articles.............................. 78.022 118.8 119.1 1.8 0.2 -0.3 0.8 0.3

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 10.648 125.3 126.1 5.1 0.8 0.2 0.2 0.6

Food manufacturing............................ 311 3.000 161.5 164.6 7.0 1.6 -0.1 1.2 1.9

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.823 111.6 111.5 0.6 0.1 -0.2 -0.3 -0.1

Textile product mills............................ 314 0.847 115.5 116.5 0.8 -0.6 -0.1 -1.9 0.9

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 3.994 112.0 112.1 5.0 0.4 0.2 -0.1 0.1

Leather and allied product manufacturing. .. 316 1.590 119.4 119.5 6.9 1.4 0.7 0.1 0.1

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 17.789 141.0 142.8 2.7 0.4 -1.9 2.5 1.3

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.587 112.2 113.3 1.9 0.7 0.7 3.0 1.0

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.067 111.4 110.7 -1.3 -1.3 0.0 1.0 -0.6

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 4.842 182.0 187.2 2.7 2.0 -7.0 7.2 2.9

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 8.549 134.7 136.0 3.3 -0.6 0.1 0.8 1.0

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 1.843 127.0 127.3 4.3 1.1 -0.2 0.0 0.2

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 0.813 129.5 129.6 2.0 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.1

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 49.585 110.6 110.3 0.6 0.0 0.2 0.5 -0.3

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 4.389 186.1 182.8 -3.7 -2.4 2.0 2.8 -1.8

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.492 129.8 129.4 4.2 0.1 0.4 0.0 -0.3

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 5.484 120.7 121.1 2.9 0.7 0.2 0.2 0.3

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 15.220 83.0 82.5 -1.9 0.2 -0.2 0.1 -0.6

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.761 118.7 118.9 3.3 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.2

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 11.919 111.0 111.3 2.5 0.4 0.1 0.5 0.3

Furniture and related product

manufacturing................................ 337 1.276 113.2 113.2 3.1 0.1 -0.2 0.4 0.0

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 5.044 122.2 122.3 2.1 -1.0 0.2 -0.1 0.1

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2010 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

7
Table 4. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2011 to April

2012

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Mar.

20121

Index Percent change

Mar.

2012

Apr.

2012

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2011

to Apr.

2012

Dec.

2011 to

Jan.

2012

Jan.

2012 to

Feb.

2012

Feb.

2012 to

Mar.

2012

Mar.

2012 to

Apr. 2012

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 8.240 165.5 168.1 -9.1 0.2 -1.3 0.8 1.6

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 6.187 195.1 201.5 -6.3 2.1 -0.4 2.8 3.3

Crop production................................. 111 5.771 202.5 208.7 -7.1 2.5 -0.7 3.0 3.1

Mining.............................................. 21 2.053 104.5 100.9 -16.7 -4.6 -3.8 -4.7 -3.4

Mining (except oil and gas).................... 212 1.487 132.0 126.6 -8.9 -2.3 0.7 -5.1 -4.1

Manufactured articles.............................. 88.650 121.8 122.2 2.1 0.3 0.5 0.7 0.3

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 7.039 145.5 146.5 2.4 -0.6 0.6 1.3 0.7

Food manufacturing............................ 311 4.895 166.1 167.7 5.3 -0.1 0.6 1.5 1.0

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.560 118.8 119.1 2.7 -0.7 1.4 2.6 0.3

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 0.415 119.8 119.8 8.4 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 26.801 136.7 138.3 2.1 0.7 1.0 1.5 1.2

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.400 114.1 115.3 -2.9 0.0 0.4 -0.4 1.1

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.809 118.3 119.9 -5.7 -0.8 -0.1 -0.3 1.4

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 6.569 178.3 183.7 2.6 2.4 2.0 4.3 3.0

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 15.113 133.3 134.1 2.4 0.2 0.9 0.8 0.6

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 2.162 117.1 117.6 6.9 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.4

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 0.749 111.7 111.4 0.7 0.4 0.0 0.5 -0.3

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 54.810 113.7 113.6 2.1 0.3 0.3 0.4 -0.1

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 4.981 179.6 176.4 0.7 -3.8 1.4 2.4 -1.8

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.591 129.0 129.3 1.4 0.4 -0.9 0.5 0.2

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 10.986 120.2 120.4 3.6 1.7 0.0 0.3 0.2

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 14.392 90.5 90.2 0.3 1.1 -0.1 0.0 -0.3

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.176 112.0 112.4 1.3 0.0 0.5 0.4 0.4

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 13.284 116.5 117.0 2.8 0.4 0.5 0.3 0.4

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 5.108 122.1 121.6 3.4 -0.9 -0.2 -0.1 -0.4

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2010 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

8
Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2011 to April

2012

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Mar.

20121

Index Percent change

Mar.

2012

Apr.

2012

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2011

to Apr.

2012

Dec.

2011 to

Jan.

2012

Jan.

2012 to

Feb.

2012

Feb.

2012 to

Mar.

2012

Mar.

2012 to

Apr. 2012

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.168 170.6 168.5 -1.1 2.0 -0.9 1.4 -1.2

Meat and edible meat offal....................... 02 0.272 222.3 212.0 -2.4 2.6 -1.3 2.0 -4.6

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.608 123.0 122.5 -2.9 2.1 -1.5 0.7 -0.4

Vegetable products................................ II 1.653 214.7 227.6 -0.3 3.1 -5.8 4.4 6.0

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers............ 07 0.288 293.1 314.5 -24.4 19.4 -32.0 17.8 7.3

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.496 127.7 127.8 -1.5 2.9 1.9 7.2 0.1

Coffee, tea, mate and spices.................... 09 0.412 273.7 276.5 -8.0 1.0 -2.3 -6.2 1.0

Animal or vegetable fats and oils (Dec.

2009=100).......................................... III 0.258 134.7 135.9 -11.4 1.2 -2.8 2.1 0.9

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.333 157.8 157.6 2.4 0.6 0.0 -0.2 -0.1

Cocoa and cocoa preparations (Dec.

2009=100)....................................... 18 0.185 88.0 86.6 -13.3 0.6 1.8 1.3 -1.6

Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk;

bakers’ wares (Dec. 2007=100).............. 19 0.221 126.0 126.1 -0.2 0.4 0.0 0.2 0.1

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts, or other

parts of plants................................... 20 0.347 175.5 174.9 11.9 1.4 -0.2 -0.5 -0.3

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar.................. 22 0.779 122.0 121.9 0.9 0.2 -0.2 -0.5 -0.1

Mineral products.................................... V 24.708 372.6 364.4 -1.7 -0.2 -0.1 4.4 -2.2

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 24.404 368.9 360.7 -1.7 -0.2 -0.1 4.4 -2.2

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 8.011 148.3 149.8 2.7 -0.7 -0.5 0.4 1.0

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 0.831 341.5 340.3 -9.4 -4.7 -3.3 -3.9 -0.4

Organic chemicals................................. 29 2.418 140.4 141.2 3.8 0.4 0.1 1.9 0.6

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 2.919 115.5 117.6 4.7 -0.6 -0.5 0.3 1.8

Fertilizers (Dec. 2009=100)...................... 31 0.443 142.5 146.8 18.3 -3.7 1.2 1.0 3.0

Tanning extracts; dye, pigments, varnish,

paints & putty (Dec. 2011=100)............... 32 0.176 103.5 107.9 – 3.1 -0.5 0.9 4.3

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec.

2001=100)....................................... 33 0.405 124.7 125.8 1.2 0.2 -0.9 0.8 0.9

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 0.468 103.9 103.9 -3.3 -1.2 0.0 0.5 0.0

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 3.040 152.8 153.2 1.8 -0.1 0.3 0.3 0.3

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 1.841 143.7 144.3 3.4 0.2 -0.1 0.4 0.4

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 1.199 170.2 170.3 -0.8 -0.4 0.8 0.1 0.1

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.577 126.8 127.1 6.4 1.9 1.0 0.0 0.2

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

various materials................................ 42 0.530 127.6 127.9 6.8 2.0 1.0 0.0 0.2

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.618 135.8 137.1 2.5 0.6 0.8 3.1 1.0

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 1.167 113.9 113.4 -1.5 -1.1 0.3 0.6 -0.4

Pulp wood, waste paper, and paperboard

(Dec. 2011=100)................................ 47 0.176 100.9 99.3 – -4.4 0.5 5.0 -1.6

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 0.782 108.9 108.6 0.6 -0.6 0.0 -0.1 -0.3

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 5.113 115.5 115.6 4.1 0.3 0.2 -0.4 0.1

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

knitted or crocheted............................ 61 1.986 106.7 106.6 3.2 0.3 0.0 -0.1 -0.1

See footnotes at end of table.

9
Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2011 to April

2012 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Mar.

20121

Index Percent change

Mar.

2012

Apr.

2012

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2011

to Apr.

2012

Dec.

2011 to

Jan.

2012

Jan.

2012 to

Feb.

2012

Feb.

2012 to

Mar.

2012

Mar.

2012 to

Apr. 2012

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

not knitted or crocheted........................ 62 1.878 117.9 118.0 8.1 0.6 0.3 0.1 0.1

Made-up or worn textile articles................. 63 0.618 108.9 109.3 -1.4 -0.7 0.0 -2.8 0.4

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.. .. XII 1.301 118.4 118.5 6.2 0.9 0.3 0.1 0.1

Footwear and parts of such articles............ 64 1.106 117.4 117.5 6.3 0.8 0.3 0.1 0.1

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc........................................... XIII 0.737 131.5 131.4 2.3 0.2 -0.1 0.3 -0.1

Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, or

mica (Dec. 2001=100)......................... 68 0.236 124.6 124.5 3.0 -0.1 0.2 0.2 -0.1

Ceramic products.................................. 69 0.222 142.1 142.1 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.0

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.279 126.4 126.2 2.9 0.6 -0.3 0.2 -0.2

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 3.362 211.3 207.2 8.0 -1.9 1.5 2.5 -1.9

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 4.862 193.1 192.4 -3.9 0.3 1.1 0.8 -0.4

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.116 246.2 246.4 -5.4 0.2 -0.5 0.3 0.1

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.392 161.9 161.9 2.7 0.1 -0.2 0.4 0.0

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.471 375.8 369.3 -10.5 2.6 6.2 1.4 -1.7

Nickel and articles thereof (Dec. 2009=100). .. 75 0.149 118.0 110.5 -24.5 -1.6 6.0 6.1 -6.4

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.707 142.6 143.2 -7.1 -1.3 2.0 1.1 0.4

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.351 126.8 127.0 3.8 2.1 0.2 -0.2 0.2

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.393 132.7 132.7 2.4 0.5 0.5 -0.2 0.0

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 24.336 86.2 86.0 0.1 0.3 0.0 0.0 -0.2

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 12.219 89.9 89.9 1.4 0.8 0.0 0.2 0.0

Electrical machinery and equip, sound and TV

recorders & reproducers, parts............... 85 12.117 82.7 82.2 -1.2 -0.1 -0.1 0.0 -0.6

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 9.960 115.3 115.7 2.6 0.3 0.1 0.5 0.3

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 9.181 114.3 114.8 2.6 0.2 0.1 0.4 0.4

Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof (Dec.

2002=100)....................................... 88 0.688 117.9 117.9 2.2 0.3 0.0 1.6 0.0

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 3.140 104.3 104.4 -0.3 -1.9 0.2 0.2 0.1

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical

instruments...................................... 90 2.893 101.8 101.9 -0.6 -2.1 0.3 0.1 0.1

Clocks and watches and parts thereof. . . . . . . .. 91 0.188 128.2 128.2 1.8 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.0

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 3.602 112.2 112.2 2.8 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.0

Furniture & stuffed furnishings; lamps &

lighting fittings, nesoi; prefab bldgs........... 94 1.921 115.9 115.9 3.2 -0.3 0.3 0.4 0.0

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 1.487 104.9 105.1 2.4 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.2

Miscellaneous manufactured articles........... 96 0.194 133.2 133.3 3.7 -0.1 0.4 0.0 0.1

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2010 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

10
Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2011 to April

2012

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Mar.

20121

Index Percent change

Mar.

2012

Apr.

2012

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2011

to Apr.

2012

Dec.

2011 to

Jan.

2012

Jan.

2012 to

Feb.

2012

Feb.

2012 to

Mar.

2012

Mar.

2012 to

Apr. 2012

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.887 203.1 203.6 2.9 -0.9 -0.5 -0.9 0.2

Meat & edible meat offal (Dec. 2006=100). . .. 02 1.105 169.0 167.1 4.4 -0.8 0.3 -0.2 -1.1

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.394 199.3 203.9 17.3 0.9 0.2 -1.9 2.3

Vegetable products................................ II 5.692 243.4 251.1 -1.0 1.7 -0.8 3.9 3.2

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.832 134.3 138.3 5.3 -4.7 -2.5 4.2 3.0

Cereals.............................................. 10 2.181 285.0 286.7 -8.6 3.2 -0.1 2.0 0.6

Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds, fruits,

plants, straw and fodder....................... 12 2.100 261.9 277.8 4.7 5.2 0.5 7.1 6.1

Animal or vegetable fats and oils (Dec.

2009=100).......................................... III 0.481 151.7 154.7 -2.8 1.1 -1.3 4.3 2.0

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.650 154.2 156.4 5.0 0.1 1.0 2.5 1.4

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other

parts of plants (Dec. 2009=100).............. 20 0.319 110.3 110.6 3.5 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar (Dec.

2008=100)....................................... 22 0.398 109.5 109.8 4.4 1.0 0.4 2.7 0.3

Residues and waste from the food industries;

prepared animal feed........................... 23 0.752 217.7 226.3 1.8 -1.4 2.2 5.0 4.0

Mineral products.................................... V 8.975 331.3 337.5 -1.0 0.8 0.5 2.6 1.9

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 8.339 327.5 334.0 -0.7 1.0 0.2 2.7 2.0

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 12.216 155.5 155.6 2.0 -0.3 0.4 0.3 0.1

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 0.993 184.4 184.6 -6.3 -6.4 0.2 -0.6 0.1

Organic chemicals................................. 29 3.484 170.5 170.9 2.3 0.1 1.6 0.5 0.2

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 3.151 125.1 125.0 0.3 0.6 0.0 0.5 -0.1

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery

cosmetic or toilet preparations................ 33 0.754 135.6 135.9 6.3 0.9 0.3 0.4 0.2

Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or scouring

products; candles, pastes..................... 34 0.463 122.9 123.0 -0.4 -0.5 -0.9 -0.1 0.1

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 1.757 153.3 152.9 4.1 1.3 0.0 0.6 -0.3

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 5.518 151.2 153.3 3.2 0.3 1.4 0.9 1.4

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 4.411 141.3 142.5 1.3 0.7 1.4 0.3 0.8

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 1.107 198.4 205.9 11.7 -1.2 1.4 3.6 3.8

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.368 130.7 133.5 -2.4 2.2 2.2 3.6 2.1

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.527 107.3 110.0 -0.2 -1.8 1.4 -0.3 2.5

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 2.306 118.1 119.2 -7.0 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.9

Woodpulp and recovered paper................. 47 0.642 126.9 127.9 -18.1 0.7 2.3 1.3 0.8

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 1.218 116.9 118.1 -1.9 0.1 -0.4 0.0 1.0

Printed material.................................... 49 0.446 119.5 120.6 2.1 0.3 -0.1 0.0 0.9

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 1.973 131.2 131.0 -16.7 0.2 0.2 -1.4 -0.2

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics

thereof............................................ 52 0.634 159.1 157.1 -40.4 -1.5 -0.2 -4.7 -1.3

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc. (Dec. 2008=100)..................... XIII 0.738 117.7 117.7 1.6 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.0

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.399 98.8 98.4 -0.9 -0.1 -0.1 0.2 -0.4

See footnotes at end of table.

11
Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2011 to April

2012 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Mar.

20121

Index Percent change

Mar.

2012

Apr.

2012

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2011

to Apr.

2012

Dec.

2011 to

Jan.

2012

Jan.

2012 to

Feb.

2012

Feb.

2012 to

Mar.

2012

Mar.

2012 to

Apr. 2012

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 5.462 292.2 284.5 10.3 -4.2 1.8 1.7 -2.6

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 5.652 179.4 178.8 -4.8 1.1 1.8 0.3 -0.3

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.775 225.6 223.9 -8.7 3.5 3.4 -0.8 -0.8

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.352 172.6 172.6 1.0 0.2 -0.8 0.8 0.0

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.692 266.8 265.7 -6.9 -0.4 5.4 2.0 -0.4

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.840 128.9 128.8 -6.7 0.5 1.7 0.2 -0.1

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.375 129.2 129.2 3.0 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.319 138.0 138.0 2.3 -0.1 0.4 1.0 0.0

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 27.494 97.3 97.2 1.4 0.8 0.0 0.2 -0.1

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 15.948 110.5 110.6 2.4 1.3 0.3 0.2 0.1

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts

and accessories thereof....................... 85 11.546 82.9 82.7 0.0 0.1 -0.2 0.0 -0.2

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 10.859 126.3 126.8 2.9 0.9 0.2 0.2 0.4

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 7.188 112.8 113.2 3.4 1.0 0.3 0.2 0.4

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 5.734 105.5 105.7 0.0 -0.8 0.6 0.2 0.2

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 1.322 109.0 110.9 1.7 0.2 0.4 0.0 1.7

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and

lighting fittings nesoi;........................... 94 0.689 119.5 119.9 1.3 -0.3 0.5 0.1 0.3

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 0.516 91.2 91.2 -1.3 0.9 0.3 0.1 0.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2010 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

12
Table 7. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes by locality of origin: April 2011 to April 2012

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Percent of

U.S.

imports1

Index Percent change

Mar.

2012

Apr.

2012

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2011

to Apr.

2012

Dec. 2011

to Jan.

2012

Jan. 2012

to Feb.

2012

Feb. 2012

to Mar.

2012

Mar. 2012

to Apr.

2012

Industrialized Countries2

..................... 38.296 133.0 132.3 -1.1 -0.5 -0.2 0.6 -0.5

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 4.447 231.0 222.1 -14.7 -1.5 -1.8 -3.1 -3.9

Manufactured articles......................... 33.487 124.9 124.8 1.2 -0.3 -0.1 1.2 -0.1

Other Countries3

............................... 61.704 145.2 144.4 1.0 0.1 0.6 1.5 -0.6

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 12.907 387.1 376.2 -1.1 -0.3 2.0 4.5 -2.8

Manufactured articles......................... 48.593 112.7 113.0 2.0 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.3

Canada............................................ 14.414 154.2 152.7 -5.6 -0.6 0.1 -0.3 -1.0

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 4.027 219.3 210.5 -16.3 -1.7 -2.4 -3.3 -4.0

Manufactured articles......................... 10.122 140.6 141.1 -0.4 -0.1 1.2 1.0 0.4

European Union4

............................... 15.813 136.2 136.1 1.6 -0.9 -0.1 0.9 -0.1

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 0.262 393.0 382.6 9.1 2.1 5.6 0.2 -2.6

Manufactured articles......................... 15.467 132.4 132.4 1.5 -0.9 -0.2 0.9 0.0

France (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 1.736 121.5 121.8 2.5 0.0 -0.2 0.4 0.2

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)..................... 4.265 115.1 115.0 -0.3 -0.9 0.1 0.8 -0.1

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)........... 2.397 136.0 135.3 1.0 0.9 0.9 0.9 -0.5

Latin America5

.................................. 19.049 186.0 184.2 -0.9 0.7 0.4 1.4 -1.0

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 5.633 416.0 405.8 -1.8 0.5 0.1 3.5 -2.5

Manufactured articles......................... 13.328 136.3 136.3 -0.3 0.7 0.4 0.3 0.0

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 12.091 149.8 149.1 -3.1 1.0 -0.2 0.5 -0.5

Nonmanufactured articles (Dec.

2008=100)................................... 2.017 220.3 215.7 -5.3 3.5 -1.8 2.8 -2.1

Manufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100). . .. 10.028 96.4 96.3 -2.2 0.3 0.2 0.0 -0.1

Pacific Rim (Dec. 2003=100)6

................ 34.659 104.9 104.7 0.7 0.2 0.0 0.0 -0.2

China (Dec. 2003=100)......................... 19.583 105.5 105.2 2.0 0.3 0.1 0.0 -0.3

Japan.............................................. 6.349 102.4 102.0 0.6 0.2 0.2 -0.1 -0.4

Asian NICs7

..................................... 5.471 90.6 90.8 -1.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)8

..................... 5.652 106.0 106.3 2.0 0.2 0.6 0.3 0.3

Asia Near East (Dec. 2003=100)9........... 3.948 288.5 284.1 3.2 0.1 2.1 3.4 -1.5

1 Percentage of trade figures are based on 2010 trade values.

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

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

4 Includes European Union countries.

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

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

Countries.

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

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

Vietnam.

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

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

Regions are not mutually exclusive.

Dash = Not available

13
Table 8. U.S. international price indexes and percent changes for selected transportation services: April 2011

to April 2012

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Relative

importance

Mar.

20121

Index Percent change

Mar.

2012

Apr.

2012

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2011

to Apr.

2012

Dec. 2011

to Jan.

2012

Jan. 2012

to Feb.

2012

Feb. 2012

to Mar.

2012

Mar. 2012

to Apr.

2012

Air Freight

Import Air Freight..................................... 100.000 173.4 177.4 1.5 -3.3 -1.2 2.5 2.3

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 24.958 166.6 166.7 4.5 -2.3 -1.6 3.0 0.1

Asia.................................................... 70.463 152.1 157.1 0.3 -3.8 -1.2 2.4 3.3

Export Air Freight..................................... 100.000 149.0 150.2 5.1 1.6 0.3 1.4 0.8

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)............................ 36.077 134.2 135.7 5.1 1.5 0.5 1.5 1.1

Inbound Air Freight................................... 100.000 158.4 161.4 1.4 -2.1 -1.1 1.9 1.9

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 25.410 149.6 151.1 3.3 -1.6 -1.0 2.7 1.0

Asia.................................................... 63.018 141.2 144.7 1.5 -2.6 -1.6 1.9 2.5

Outbound Air Freight................................. 100.000 146.5 150.2 7.6 -0.3 0.4 1.2 2.5

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 31.014 165.3 166.8 5.4 -0.4 0.7 1.2 0.9

Asia.................................................... 49.039 137.4 143.5 9.7 -0.1 0.2 1.6 4.4

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 178.7 180.0 10.3 0.2 0.3 -1.0 0.7

Europe................................................. 38.049 180.7 187.5 9.8 4.8 0.2 -2.4 3.8

Asia.................................................... 25.938 147.5 148.7 9.3 -4.1 1.3 -6.6 0.8

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 12.457 178.2 181.9 5.9 -4.4 -0.6 0.3 2.1

Export Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 185.1 187.3 6.7 2.3 -4.5 -0.8 1.2

Europe................................................. 26.381 209.0 228.9 15.0 0.8 5.1 -4.7 9.5

Asia.................................................... 28.156 166.9 167.9 7.6 6.2 -14.7 3.0 0.6

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 26.352 236.3 224.7 17.8 3.7 12.3 -0.9 -4.9

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2010 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

14
TECHNICAL NOTE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Index) to produce the NAICS primary products indexes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Agriculture. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Publications."

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

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

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

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

NAICS 31-33. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

(mxpinfo@bls.gov). 

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

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

16