Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

Technical information: USDL-08-0333 

 (202) 691-7101 Transmission of this 

Media contact: material is embargoed 

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

Internet address: http://www.bls.gov/mxp Thursday, March 13, 2008 

U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES 

- FEBRUARY 2008 - 

The U.S. Import Price Index advanced 0.2 percent in February, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of 

the U.S. Department of Labor reported today, as a 0.6 percent increase in nonpetroleum prices more 

than offset a 1.5 percent downturn in petroleum prices. Prices for U.S. exports rose 0.9 percent in 

February after increasing 1.2 percent the previous month. 

Percent changes in import and export price indexes 

by End Use category 

- not seasonally adjusted - 

News United States 

 Department 

of Labor
Import Goods

Import prices ticked up 0.2 percent in February following a 1.6 percent increase in January. The 

index advanced 13.6 percent over the past year. Petroleum prices fell for the second time in three 

months in February, declining 1.5 percent after rising 4.8 percent in January. Prices increased 60.9 

percent for the year ended in February. Nonpetroleum prices advanced 0.6 percent in February after a 

0.7 percent increase the previous month. The price index for nonpetroleum prices was up 4.5 percent 

over the past 12 months. 

A 2.5 percent increase in nonpetroleum industrial supplies and materials prices was the largest 

contributor to the overall February rise in nonpetroleum prices. That advance was led by higher prices 

for natural gas, metals, and fertilizers. Prices for nonpetroleum industrial supplies and materials rose 

12.5 percent over the past year. 

The price indexes for consumer goods, automotive vehicles, and capital goods all ticked up in 

February, rising 0.3 percent, 0.2 percent, and 0.1 percent, respectively. The February increase in 

consumer prices was led by an advance in jewelry prices and came after a 0.5 percent rise in January. 

The increase for capital goods followed a 0.3 percent downturn the previous month. 

In contrast, foods, feeds, and beverages prices edged down 0.1 percent, the first decline for the 

index since a 0.2 percent decrease in March of last year. Despite the downturn, prices for foods, feeds, 

and beverages rose 11.0 percent over the past year. 

Export Goods 

The 0.9 percent increase in export prices in February followed a 1.2 percent advance in January 

which was the largest monthly rise for the index since January 1989. The index rose 6.8 percent for the 

year ended in February. The price indexes for agricultural exports and nonagricultural exports each 

contributed to the overall increase last month. Agricultural prices rose 4.4 percent in February 

following a 5.0 percent increase the previous month and the index advanced 30.8 percent for the year 

ended in February, the largest 12-month rise since September 1988. Higher prices for wheat, corn, and 

soybeans all factored into both the February and year-over-year increases. Nonagricultural prices 

increased 0.5 percent in February after rising 0.8 percent in January, and rose 4.6 percent over the past 

year. 

The increase in nonagricultural exports was led by a 1.1 percent rise in the price index for 

nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials. Prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies and 

materials had advanced 1.9 percent in January and rose 10.7 percent over the past 12 months. The 

February increase was primarily driven by higher metals prices which more than offset lower prices for 

fuel. 

Each of the major finished goods price indexes advanced in February as well. Capital goods 

prices increased 0.4 percent, the largest monthly rise for the index since a similar 0.4 percent advance in 

January 2006. Higher prices for transportation equipment, industrial service machinery, and computers 

all factored into the February increase. Consumer goods prices and prices for automotive vehicles also 

advanced in February, rising 0.4 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively. 

2
Imports by Locality of Origin 

 

The price index for imports from China ticked up 0.1 percent in February following a 0.8 percent 

jump in January. Import prices from China last recorded a monthly decline in January 2007 and rose 

3.4 percent for the year ended in February after dropping 0.9 percent for the previous 12-month period. 

Prices of imports from Japan also continued to trend upward in February, advancing 0.3 percent for the 

second time in the past three months. The index was up 0.7 percent for the February 2007-2008 period. 

Import prices from the European Union and from Canada rose 0.6 percent and 0.1 percent, 

respectively, in February. The price index for imports from the European Union had risen 1.6 percent in 

January and advanced 5.0 percent over the past year. Import prices from Canada were up 2.4 percent in 

January and 13.7 percent for the year ended in February. 

 

In contrast, prices for imports from Mexico declined 1.2 percent in February, the first monthly 

decrease for the index since January 2007. Despite the February drop, the index advanced 17.3 percent 

over the past 12 months. 

Import and Export Services

 Import air passenger fares declined 1.1 percent in February, the fifth decrease in the past six 

months. Despite the recent downward trend, the index rose 6.7 percent for the year ended in February. 

The price index for export air passenger fares fell 7.1 percent in February, but increased 8.8 percent over 

the past year. Lower fares for Asia, the Latin America-Caribbean region, and Europe all contributed to 

the February decline. 

 

The price index for import air freight advanced 0.6 percent in February after edging down 0.1 

percent in January. Import air freight prices increased 9.0 percent over the past 12 months. Export air 

freight prices ticked up 0.1 percent in February following a 3.0 percent rise the previous month. The 

index rose 13.0 percent for the year ended in February. 

CONTENTS OF RELEASE 

This news release includes the following tables: 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Import and Export Price Index data for March are scheduled for release on April 11 at 

8:30 A.M. (EDT) 

3
Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: February 2007 to

February 2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Jan.

20081

Index Percent change

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Annual Monthly

Feb.

2007 to

Feb.

2008

Oct. 2007

to Nov.

2007

Nov.

2007 to

Dec.

2007

Dec.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Jan.

2008 to

Feb.

2008

All commodities..................................... 100.000 129.4 129.6 13.6 3.2 -0.2 1.6 0.2

All imports excluding petroleum................ 77.988 109.7 110.4 4.5 0.7 0.4 0.7 0.6

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)... 75.982 112.2 112.8 4.3 0.4 0.4 0.7 0.5

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 4.375 138.7 138.5 11.0 0.2 0.7 3.2 -0.1

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 3.385 153.9 153.6 13.4 0.4 0.8 3.8 -0.2

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 0.990 104.3 104.4 3.3 -0.7 0.5 1.3 0.1

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 38.951 218.9 219.4 35.4 7.9 -0.7 3.6 0.2

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

petroleum..................................... 16.939 150.6 154.4 12.5 2.4 0.7 2.1 2.5

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

fuels (Dec. 2001=100)....................... 14.933 159.0 162.1 11.9 1.0 0.7 2.3 1.9

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 9.670 149.2 151.9 9.1 1.1 0.3 0.1 1.8

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable

excluding petroleum......................... 5.264 151.5 157.0 17.0 4.1 1.2 4.7 3.6

Fuels & lubricants............................... 10 24.017 303.3 300.7 55.0 12.3 -1.6 4.5 -0.9

Petroleum & petroleum products........... 100 22.012 321.5 316.6 60.9 12.4 -1.8 4.8 -1.5

Crude.......................................... 10000 16.135 330.6 332.9 67.0 11.6 -1.2 5.4 0.7

Fuels, n.e.s.-coals & gas.................... 101 1.676 185.2 199.9 16.0 14.5 1.2 1.0 7.9

Gas-natural................................... 10110 1.515 179.9 195.6 15.7 16.2 1.4 0.8 8.7

Paper & paper base stocks................... 11 0.742 113.1 114.0 2.3 -3.7 1.1 3.6 0.8

Materials associated with nondurable

supplies & materials......................... 12 4.592 144.8 148.4 19.9 1.8 1.3 6.9 2.5

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.760 115.9 113.4 2.2 -0.1 0.3 -0.1 -2.2

Unfinished metals related to durable

goods.......................................... 14 4.473 214.8 223.1 12.8 1.8 1.1 -1.1 3.9

Finished metals related to durable goods. .. 15 1.805 137.7 140.0 12.4 0.8 -1.7 2.0 1.7

Nonmetals related to durable goods......... 16 1.561 105.4 105.9 3.8 0.3 0.5 1.5 0.5

Capital goods..................................... 2 21.044 91.9 92.0 0.9 0.1 0.1 -0.3 0.1

Electric generating equipment................ 20 2.656 107.8 108.4 4.1 0.7 0.4 -0.1 0.6

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 16.780 87.4 87.4 0.0 0.0 0.1 -0.5 0.0

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 1.607 115.3 115.4 4.9 0.1 0.1 0.5 0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 13.141 107.1 107.3 2.8 0.6 0.6 0.3 0.2

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 22.489 103.0 103.3 2.1 0.2 0.1 0.5 0.3

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 10.406 106.3 106.4 2.3 0.2 0.3 0.7 0.1

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 10.981 99.5 100.0 1.9 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.5

Nonmanufactured consumer goods.......... 42 1.103 103.4 103.4 1.3 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2006 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

4
Table 2. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: February 2007 to

February 2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Jan.

20081

Index Percent change

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Annual Monthly

Feb.

2007 to

Feb.

2008

Oct. 2007

to Nov.

2007

Nov.

2007 to

Dec.

2007

Dec.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Jan.

2008 to

Feb.

2008

All commodities..................................... 100.000 120.6 121.7 6.8 0.9 0.4 1.2 0.9

Agricultural commodities......................... 9.620 177.8 185.7 30.8 1.4 2.7 5.0 4.4

Nonagricultural commodities.................... 90.379 116.5 117.1 4.6 0.9 0.2 0.8 0.5

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 8.795 180.5 188.6 31.4 1.1 3.0 5.6 4.5

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 8.122 185.3 194.0 33.2 1.3 3.2 5.7 4.7

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 0.673 139.8 142.2 13.2 -0.8 0.7 4.3 1.7

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 29.952 157.0 158.8 11.0 2.3 0.1 1.9 1.1

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 11.386 159.8 165.9 5.9 1.0 -0.2 0.4 3.8

Industrial supplies & materials,

nondurable.................................... 18.566 156.1 155.4 14.5 3.0 0.3 2.8 -0.4

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials... 10 1.498 146.0 150.6 18.8 1.5 -0.1 0.9 3.2

Nonagricultural industrial supplies &

materials........................................ 28.454 157.8 159.5 10.7 2.3 0.1 1.9 1.1

Fuels & lubricants............................... 11 4.754 231.4 225.0 23.6 9.7 -1.1 4.1 -2.8

Nonagricultural supplies & materials

excluding fuels & building materials. . . . . .. 12 22.677 150.9 153.7 8.8 1.0 0.4 1.6 1.9

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.023 112.8 114.1 1.7 -0.4 -0.2 -0.7 1.2

Capital goods..................................... 2 39.453 100.7 101.1 1.9 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.4

Electrical generating equipment.............. 20 3.730 107.4 107.7 1.7 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.3

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 28.004 93.6 93.9 1.3 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.3

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 7.719 126.2 126.9 5.0 0.4 0.2 1.1 0.6

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 9.767 106.9 107.0 1.1 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.1

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 12.032 107.3 107.7 2.8 0.4 0.4 0.1 0.4

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 5.624 108.3 108.7 3.4 0.6 0.2 0.1 0.4

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 5.400 105.3 105.7 2.3 0.2 0.8 0.1 0.4

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2006 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

5
Table 3. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: February 2007 to

February 2008

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Jan.

20081

Index Percent change

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Annual Monthly

Feb.

2007 to

Feb.

2008

Oct. 2007

to Nov.

2007

Nov.

2007 to

Dec.

2007

Dec.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Jan.

2008 to

Feb.

2008

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 20.272 147.5 149.0 53.5 11.1 -1.0 4.5 1.0

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 1.624 128.8 126.1 13.3 0.6 -0.3 8.1 -2.1

Crop production................................. 111 1.177 134.3 128.8 17.1 1.0 -0.6 9.8 -4.1

Mining.............................................. 21 18.648 149.3 151.2 57.8 12.0 -1.0 4.2 1.3

Mining (except oil and gas) (Dec.

2006=100)..................................... 212 0.345 107.4 108.7 7.2 0.4 1.8 0.8 1.2

Manufactured articles.............................. 79.132 109.3 109.4 6.3 1.2 0.2 0.9 0.1

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 9.693 106.8 107.4 5.1 0.2 0.5 0.7 0.6

Food manufacturing............................ 311 2.358 119.2 121.2 13.9 0.5 1.1 1.8 1.7

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.809 104.9 104.9 2.1 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.0

Textile mills...................................... 313 0.433 109.7 111.9 6.7 0.0 0.8 0.5 2.0

Textile product mills............................ 314 0.737 100.9 101.2 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.3

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 3.948 102.4 102.4 2.4 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.0

Leather and allied product manufacturing. .. 316 1.408 103.6 103.9 2.6 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 17.907 121.1 119.1 17.5 4.3 -0.3 3.7 -1.7

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 1.099 93.3 89.7 -0.1 -0.4 0.4 0.0 -3.9

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.234 106.8 107.5 3.3 -2.1 0.8 3.3 0.7

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 4.751 146.6 132.9 44.6 14.3 -3.1 6.2 -9.3

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 8.005 119.7 122.4 13.9 1.2 1.1 3.6 2.3

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 1.639 107.9 108.1 4.6 0.3 0.4 2.0 0.2

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 1.079 109.7 110.1 5.3 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.4

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 51.533 106.0 106.6 2.9 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.6

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 5.246 147.8 154.3 13.6 2.1 0.3 -1.1 4.4

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.526 113.9 114.3 7.8 0.6 0.5 2.1 0.4

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 6.495 107.7 108.3 3.9 -0.2 0.5 0.7 0.6

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 13.882 93.8 93.5 -2.5 -0.1 -0.1 -0.7 -0.3

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.598 108.8 109.2 4.0 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.4

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 13.876 103.8 104.0 3.1 0.6 0.6 0.2 0.2

Furniture and related product

manufacturing................................ 337 1.407 103.7 103.9 2.9 0.2 0.2 1.2 0.2

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 4.504 108.2 109.2 3.3 0.6 0.3 -0.1 0.9

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2006 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

6
Table 4. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: February 2007 to

February 2008

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Jan.

20081

Index Percent change

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Annual Monthly

Feb.

2007 to

Feb.

2008

Oct. 2007

to Nov.

2007

Nov.

2007 to

Dec.

2007

Dec.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Jan.

2008 to

Feb.

2008

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 7.164 149.1 156.2 35.7 0.7 4.2 6.3 4.8

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 5.777 169.3 179.0 47.4 0.9 4.4 7.7 5.7

Crop production................................. 111 5.410 175.7 186.5 51.5 1.2 4.8 7.7 6.1

Mining.............................................. 21 1.387 103.5 104.5 3.5 0.5 3.3 1.0 1.0

Mining (except oil and gas).................... 212 0.893 99.8 100.7 0.8 -0.3 -0.6 0.3 0.9

Manufactured articles.............................. 89.957 108.7 109.2 5.4 0.8 0.3 0.8 0.5

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 6.582 115.6 117.5 10.0 1.0 0.9 1.0 1.6

Food manufacturing............................ 311 4.243 126.6 129.8 16.1 1.7 1.3 1.5 2.5

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.490 103.6 103.9 2.9 -0.1 0.2 -0.2 0.3

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 0.475 101.0 101.3 1.0 0.0 -0.2 0.7 0.3

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 22.763 117.4 117.0 11.0 2.3 0.0 2.4 -0.3

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.522 110.6 113.2 5.5 -0.5 -0.5 0.6 2.4

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.932 113.5 114.4 5.5 0.6 0.6 0.9 0.8

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 3.212 149.1 142.5 34.6 15.0 -4.0 5.2 -4.4

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 14.059 115.6 115.8 10.3 0.8 0.8 2.3 0.2

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 2.126 106.1 106.8 2.6 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.7

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 0.823 108.8 108.8 3.3 0.1 0.6 1.4 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 60.611 104.9 105.5 2.8 0.3 0.4 0.2 0.6

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 4.382 131.1 137.5 16.1 2.2 1.3 0.7 4.9

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.672 113.4 113.6 4.4 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.2

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 11.809 107.0 107.4 3.3 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.4

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 16.914 96.2 96.5 -0.2 0.1 0.2 -0.2 0.3

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.628 106.2 106.6 3.1 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.4

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 16.495 105.9 106.0 2.4 0.2 0.2 0.7 0.1

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 4.366 105.6 105.6 2.6 0.1 0.8 -0.2 0.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2006 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

7
Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: February 2007 to

February 2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Jan.

20081

Index Percent change

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Annual Monthly

Feb.

2007 to

Feb.

2008

Oct. 2007

to Nov.

2007

Nov.

2007 to

Dec.

2007

Dec.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Jan.

2008 to

Feb.

2008

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.040 125.7 128.6 5.4 -1.5 1.4 -0.2 2.3

Meat and edible meat offal....................... 02 0.239 148.1 150.4 5.7 -1.4 -0.4 0.5 1.6

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.531 100.0 100.0 0.4 -1.2 0.4 1.0 0.0

Vegetable products................................ II 1.334 152.7 145.5 15.0 -1.0 -1.0 7.9 -4.7

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers............ 07 0.424 265.6 209.7 11.7 2.1 4.4 30.1 -21.0

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.348 92.1 96.1 16.8 -5.2 -8.7 -1.9 4.3

Coffee, tea, mate and spices.................... 09 0.245 157.7 157.4 14.2 -1.2 1.9 3.4 -0.2

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.125 132.3 133.2 9.2 0.6 0.8 3.0 0.7

Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk;

bakers’ wares (Dec. 2007=100).............. 19 0.169 100.8 102.1 – – – 0.8 1.3

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts, or other

parts of plants................................... 20 0.230 135.1 137.2 13.6 2.2 1.4 0.4 1.6

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar.................. 22 0.795 116.2 116.3 5.3 0.3 0.8 3.2 0.1

Mineral products.................................... V 23.675 298.9 296.8 54.3 12.2 -1.4 4.5 -0.7

Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plaster

materials, lime & cement (Dec.2007=100)... 25 0.205 100.2 101.8 – – – 0.2 1.6

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 23.134 299.9 297.7 55.5 12.5 -1.5 4.6 -0.7

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 7.263 133.0 136.1 12.6 1.1 1.1 3.5 2.3

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 0.910 235.2 254.8 31.8 1.2 2.6 10.9 8.3

Organic chemicals................................. 29 2.490 132.9 133.0 8.5 1.6 0.4 4.7 0.1

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 2.234 111.4 111.2 3.2 0.2 0.6 1.1 -0.2

Tanning & dyeing extracts; dye & pigments;

varnish & paints; putty......................... 32 0.159 102.5 102.7 1.1 -0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec.

2001=100)....................................... 33 0.384 117.1 122.0 10.3 0.1 0.4 2.4 4.2

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 0.399 97.1 98.0 3.4 0.2 -0.6 -1.5 0.9

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 2.786 128.3 128.9 6.8 1.0 0.3 2.1 0.5

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 1.840 125.9 126.3 7.6 1.0 0.5 2.4 0.3

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 0.946 133.1 134.0 5.4 1.1 -0.1 1.7 0.7

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.571 111.0 111.3 5.1 0.1 0.5 0.5 0.3

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

various materials................................ 42 0.507 111.6 111.8 5.7 0.2 0.5 0.5 0.2

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 1.139 114.3 110.4 -0.1 -0.4 0.5 -0.1 -3.4

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 1.390 111.4 111.9 3.4 -1.8 0.6 3.3 0.4

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 0.946 105.9 106.4 1.3 -2.9 0.4 4.3 0.5

Printed matter...................................... 49 0.253 118.9 118.9 3.7 0.3 0.0 1.1 0.0

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 4.951 103.3 103.5 2.3 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.2

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

knitted or crocheted............................ 61 1.803 101.1 101.0 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.4 -0.1

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

not knitted or crocheted........................ 62 1.964 102.7 102.7 3.1 -0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0

Made-up or worn textile articles................. 63 0.493 93.3 93.6 -1.1 0.3 0.0 0.5 0.3

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.. .. XII 1.174 104.2 104.4 3.1 0.2 1.6 0.2 0.2

Footwear and parts of such articles............ 64 0.980 102.7 103.0 1.5 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.3

See footnotes at end of table.

8
Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: February 2007 to

February 2008 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Jan.

20081

Index Percent change

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Annual Monthly

Feb.

2007 to

Feb.

2008

Oct. 2007

to Nov.

2007

Nov.

2007 to

Dec.

2007

Dec.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Jan.

2008 to

Feb.

2008

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc........................................... XIII 0.931 113.9 114.0 4.5 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.1

Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, or

mica (Dec. 2001=100)......................... 68 0.332 106.3 106.6 3.8 0.4 0.7 0.4 0.3

Ceramic products.................................. 69 0.297 121.1 121.4 6.4 0.5 0.2 -0.2 0.2

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.302 113.5 113.4 3.8 0.5 0.5 0.1 -0.1

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 2.624 142.7 149.6 14.5 2.3 1.5 0.4 4.8

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 6.442 171.5 174.6 7.9 0.9 -0.6 0.2 1.8

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.842 218.7 226.0 20.1 0.5 1.1 4.3 3.3

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.582 138.7 139.5 10.3 0.6 0.8 3.6 0.6

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.750 270.0 284.1 20.5 2.7 -6.2 -8.5 5.2

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.950 140.4 141.4 -3.7 0.1 1.3 -0.4 0.7

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.352 112.0 112.9 4.6 1.5 0.1 0.8 0.8

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.440 126.6 126.6 1.0 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.0

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 23.780 88.3 88.4 0.6 0.1 0.1 -0.2 0.1

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 12.246 88.6 88.7 0.3 0.0 0.1 -0.6 0.1

Electrical machinery and equip, sound and TV

recorders & reproducers, parts............... 85 11.534 87.9 88.0 0.5 0.2 0.1 -0.1 0.1

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 12.136 108.6 108.7 3.1 0.7 0.7 0.3 0.1

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 11.254 107.8 108.0 3.2 0.8 0.7 0.3 0.2

Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof (Dec.

2002=100)....................................... 88 0.792 110.5 110.6 2.5 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 2.800 99.7 99.4 0.5 0.1 0.2 -0.1 -0.3

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical

instruments...................................... 90 2.512 97.9 97.5 0.3 0.1 0.2 -0.1 -0.4

Clocks and watches and parts thereof. . . . . . . .. 91 0.216 117.4 118.0 2.3 0.1 0.4 -0.3 0.5

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 3.576 102.4 102.6 1.8 0.1 0.0 0.5 0.2

Furniture & stuffed furnishings; lamps &

lighting fittings, nesoi; prefab bldgs........... 94 2.053 106.2 106.5 2.1 0.1 -0.1 0.8 0.3

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 1.331 97.0 97.1 1.4 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles........... 96 0.192 108.2 108.0 1.5 0.3 0.6 0.2 -0.2

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2006 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

9
Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: February 2007 to

February 2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Jan.

20081

Index Percent change

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Annual Monthly

Feb.

2007 to

Feb.

2008

Oct. 2007

to Nov.

2007

Nov.

2007 to

Dec.

2007

Dec.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Jan.

2008 to

Feb.

2008

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.527 156.1 157.6 10.5 -1.2 0.7 0.6 1.0

Meat & edible meat offal (Dec. 2006=100). . .. 02 0.788 123.2 124.6 13.9 -2.3 0.2 -1.4 1.1

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.412 140.0 144.3 19.1 -0.5 1.1 5.2 3.1

Vegetable products................................ II 5.331 219.3 232.1 48.9 1.3 4.1 8.5 5.8

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.707 123.0 122.1 7.3 0.1 -4.0 1.4 -0.7

Cereals.............................................. 10 2.379 262.3 290.4 63.8 -0.6 8.9 9.5 10.7

Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds, fruits,

plants, straw and fodder....................... 12 1.605 230.2 242.3 67.2 5.1 7.0 10.3 5.3

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.362 131.8 133.8 11.8 1.9 0.8 2.3 1.5

Miscellaneous edible preparations.............. 21 0.449 119.9 120.1 8.2 0.8 0.7 1.9 0.2

Residues and waste from the food industries;

prepared animal feed........................... 23 0.568 185.8 193.7 35.2 6.6 1.7 5.5 4.3

Mineral products.................................... V 4.829 280.3 274.3 23.2 9.8 -0.8 3.9 -2.1

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 4.238 273.6 266.7 28.0 11.8 -0.6 4.3 -2.5

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 11.583 137.0 136.9 9.3 0.8 0.7 2.3 -0.1

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 1.103 174.1 174.5 15.5 1.0 1.9 2.1 0.2

Organic chemicals................................. 29 3.548 151.1 149.6 8.6 1.1 0.6 1.7 -1.0

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 2.562 116.7 117.1 3.6 0.6 0.6 -0.1 0.3

Tanning or dyeing extracts, dyes, paints,

varnish, putty, & inks........................... 32 0.554 115.8 115.8 2.4 1.3 0.2 -1.0 0.0

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery

cosmetic or toilet preparations................ 33 0.660 118.1 118.7 2.1 1.1 0.1 -0.2 0.5

Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or scouring

products; candles, pastes..................... 34 0.392 112.2 112.5 2.1 1.0 0.9 -0.7 0.3

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 1.623 122.8 123.5 3.8 0.8 0.7 1.2 0.6

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 5.274 136.9 137.6 6.9 0.4 0.9 1.0 0.5

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 4.293 133.2 133.7 7.3 0.3 1.2 1.1 0.4

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 0.981 152.4 153.5 5.3 0.6 0.1 0.5 0.7

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.408 117.7 117.0 -6.7 -0.5 -0.4 0.3 -0.6

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.644 110.7 112.5 0.8 -1.4 -0.5 0.1 1.6

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 2.551 115.8 117.0 6.6 0.9 0.5 0.6 1.0

Woodpulp and recovered paper................. 47 0.700 124.9 127.8 11.0 1.5 0.5 1.4 2.3

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 1.315 111.1 112.2 4.6 0.4 0.6 0.7 1.0

Printed material.................................... 49 0.536 120.7 120.4 6.5 1.5 0.2 -0.8 -0.2

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 2.230 106.0 106.7 4.3 0.1 -0.1 0.7 0.7

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics

thereof............................................ 52 0.688 105.5 107.3 14.4 0.0 -0.3 2.0 1.7

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc........................................... XIII 0.809 111.4 111.4 3.4 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.0

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.437 99.4 99.3 3.5 -0.1 0.1 0.1 -0.1

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 3.781 169.8 179.9 7.7 3.2 0.9 -1.0 5.9

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 5.621 164.0 168.5 6.0 0.2 0.0 1.1 2.7

See footnotes at end of table.

10
Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: February 2007 to

February 2008 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Jan.

20081

Index Percent change

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Annual Monthly

Feb.

2007 to

Feb.

2008

Oct. 2007

to Nov.

2007

Nov.

2007 to

Dec.

2007

Dec.

2007 to

Jan.

2008

Jan.

2008 to

Feb.

2008

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.409 204.2 215.6 18.1 1.0 0.7 4.5 5.6

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.395 148.6 149.4 4.8 -0.2 -0.1 0.9 0.5

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.633 229.7 247.0 9.3 -3.9 -2.5 -1.7 7.5

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.956 138.7 140.2 -5.4 1.1 1.2 -1.7 1.1

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.389 118.3 118.3 3.9 0.0 -0.1 2.4 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.372 128.8 129.6 3.0 0.1 -0.2 0.2 0.6

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 30.968 95.0 95.3 1.4 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.3

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 17.173 103.3 103.5 1.0 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts

and accessories thereof....................... 85 13.795 85.9 86.3 1.9 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.5

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 14.067 115.3 115.5 2.0 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.2

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 8.343 106.2 106.2 0.8 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 6.101 105.6 105.8 2.5 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.2

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 1.448 107.7 107.6 4.9 0.6 0.5 0.9 -0.1

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and

lighting fittings nesoi;........................... 94 0.777 116.9 116.7 3.7 0.8 0.6 1.9 -0.2

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 0.516 92.7 92.7 7.7 0.5 0.4 -0.3 0.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2006 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

11
Table 7. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes by locality of origin: February 2007 to February 2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Percent of

U.S.

imports1

Index Percent change

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Annual Monthly

Feb. 2007

to Feb.

2008

Oct. 2007

to Nov.

2007

Nov. 2007

to Dec.

2007

Dec. 2007

to Jan.

2008

Jan. 2008

to Feb.

2008

Industrialized Countries2

...................... 42.888 126.5 127.2 9.3 2.4 -0.2 2.2 0.6

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 4.201 245.1 253.4 44.0 13.0 0.7 7.5 3.4

Manufactured articles......................... 38.251 117.4 117.6 5.4 1.1 -0.3 1.3 0.2

Other Countries3

................................ 57.112 129.8 129.5 16.6 3.6 -0.5 1.9 -0.2

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 12.058 290.9 291.0 58.1 10.6 -1.2 4.1 0.0

Manufactured articles......................... 44.837 107.0 106.6 5.6 1.1 -0.2 1.1 -0.4

Canada............................................ 16.032 145.6 145.8 13.7 5.0 -1.0 2.4 0.1

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 3.711 238.4 247.0 38.7 13.4 -1.1 7.3 3.6

Manufactured articles......................... 12.028 128.2 126.7 6.3 2.7 -0.9 0.5 -1.2

European Union4

............................... 17.355 126.1 126.8 5.0 0.6 0.7 1.6 0.6

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 0.249 306.2 307.4 59.6 6.9 7.8 0.5 0.4

Manufactured articles......................... 16.987 123.0 123.7 3.8 0.2 0.6 1.6 0.6

France (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 1.844 112.5 113.4 5.4 0.3 0.6 1.3 0.8

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)..................... 4.732 110.6 110.9 4.5 0.5 0.6 1.2 0.3

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)........... 2.684 127.9 130.5 12.3 1.5 1.4 1.1 2.0

Latin America5

.................................. 18.032 166.6 166.1 23.3 4.5 -0.6 3.0 -0.3

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 5.151 305.4 302.8 57.2 10.4 -0.5 4.9 -0.9

Manufactured articles......................... 12.786 136.8 136.9 9.7 1.4 -0.6 1.9 0.1

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 10.710 141.2 139.5 17.3 2.7 0.7 2.5 -1.2

Pacific Rim (Dec. 2003=100)6................. 33.822 100.3 100.5 2.3 0.4 0.0 0.4 0.2

China (Dec. 2003=100)......................... 15.926 100.4 100.5 3.4 0.2 0.1 0.8 0.1

Japan.............................................. 8.032 94.2 94.5 0.7 -0.1 0.3 0.0 0.3

Asian NICs7

...................................... 5.887 89.1 89.3 0.7 1.1 -0.8 0.2 0.2

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)8

...................... 6.041 99.6 100.1 3.2 1.0 0.4 0.9 0.5

Asia Near East (Dec. 2003=100)9

............ 3.928 228.2 227.1 37.7 6.8 -2.8 0.2 -0.5

1 Percentage of trade figures are based on 2006 trade values.

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

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

4 Includes European Union countries.

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

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

Countries.

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

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

Vietnam.

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

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

Regions are not mutually exclusive.

Dash = Not available

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

2007 to February 2008

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Relative

importance

Jan.

20081

Index Percent change

Jan.

2008

Feb.

2008

Annual Monthly

Feb. 2007

to Feb.

2008

Oct. 2007

to Nov.

2007

Nov. 2007

to Dec.

2007

Dec. 2007

to Jan.

2008

Jan. 2008

to Feb.

2008

Air Freight

Import Air Freight..................................... 100.000 141.7 142.6 9.0 2.1 2.6 -0.1 0.6

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 28.770 148.6 149.1 15.5 4.0 3.6 0.3 0.3

Asia.................................................... 61.077 120.7 121.7 6.8 1.5 2.3 -0.2 0.8

Export Air Freight..................................... 100.000 132.1 132.2 13.0 1.0 3.8 3.0 0.1

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)............................ 42.139 123.2 123.2 21.7 1.7 3.8 8.3 0.0

Inbound Air Freight................................... 100.000 138.7 139.3 10.0 2.3 3.0 0.4 0.4

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 30.933 145.3 145.6 16.4 4.4 3.6 1.0 0.2

Asia.................................................... 57.120 116.3 117.0 7.2 1.3 2.9 0.2 0.6

Outbound Air Freight................................. 100.000 126.7 126.8 12.8 1.8 2.7 1.9 0.1

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 41.837 144.9 144.8 14.3 2.7 2.8 2.5 -0.1

Asia.................................................... 40.513 112.6 112.8 9.5 1.2 2.6 1.6 0.2

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 132.4 131.0 6.7 -3.2 5.5 -2.1 -1.1

Europe................................................. 41.000 124.6 124.1 5.2 -7.8 1.5 0.4 -0.4

Asia.................................................... 25.806 118.5 116.6 3.2 -0.9 16.0 -11.2 -1.6

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 13.217 127.6 128.4 3.8 2.4 1.0 -0.5 0.6

Export Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 162.9 151.3 8.8 -1.2 2.6 4.6 -7.1

Europe................................................. 27.637 181.6 172.6 6.2 -5.5 3.5 -0.5 -5.0

Asia.................................................... 35.010 138.5 126.0 14.0 -2.5 6.3 9.6 -9.0

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 21.936 180.1 165.4 -0.4 1.6 -0.8 6.0 -8.2

1 Relative importance figures for Air Passenger Fares Indexes are based on 2006 trade values, while the relative importance figures for the Air Freight

Indexes are based on 2005 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

13
TECHNICAL NOTE

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

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

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

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

calling (202) 691-7101. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Index) to produce the NAICS primary products indexes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Agriculture. 

Services Price Indexes -- The Import Air Passenger Fares Indexes are calculated from data obtained 

from a commercial airline reservation system. These data exclude frequent flyer tickets and those sold 

by consolidators. The Export Air Passenger Fares Indexes are calculated from data collected directly 

from airlines. These data include frequent flyer tickets and those sold by consolidators. Taxes and fees 

are excluded from both the Import and Export Air Passenger Fares Indexes. The Air Freight Indexes are 

calculated from data collected directly from companies. 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 "Publications and Other Documentation." 

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

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

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

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

NAICS 31-33. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

15