Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until 

8:30 a.m. (EDT) Friday, June 10, 2011 

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

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

USDL-11-0850

U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES – MAY 2011 

U.S. import prices increased 0.2 percent in May, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, after 

advancing 3.0 percent in March and 2.1 percent in April. A 0.2 percent drop in fuel prices partially offset 

higher nonfuel prices. U.S. export prices rose 0.2 percent in May following a 0.9 percent increase the 

previous month. 

Chart 1. One-month percent change in the Import Price Index: May 2010 – May 2011 

 Percent change 

-0.8

-1.2

0.0

0.4

0.0

1.1

1.7

1.4 1.5 1.7

3.0

2.1

0.2

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

4

May'10 Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May'11

Chart 2. 12-month percent change in the Import Price Index: May 2010 – May 2011 

 Percent change

8.5

4.3

4.9

3.8 3.6 3.9 4.1

5.3 5.6

7.6

10.3

11.4

12.5

0

5

10

May'10 Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May'11
 

All Imports: Import prices ticked up 0.2 percent in May after rising more than 1.0 percent in each of the 

previous seven months. The May advance was led by higher nonfuel prices. In contrast, fuel prices declined 

for the month. Prices for overall imports advanced 12.5 percent over the past year, the largest 12-month 

month increase since the index rose 13.1 percent between September 2007 and September 2008. 

Fuel Imports: Prices for fuel decreased 0.2 percent in May, the first monthly decline for the index since a 

1.5 percent drop in September 2010. In May, a 0.4 percent drop in petroleum prices more than offset a 4.1 

percent increase in natural gas prices. Despite the May decrease, fuel prices advanced 42.3 percent over the 

past 12 months, the largest year-over-year rise since the index increased 54.4 percent for the year ended 

April 2010. Both petroleum and natural gas prices rose for the May 2010-11 period, advancing 44.6 percent 

and 8.8 percent, respectively. 

All Imports Excluding Fuel: The price index for nonfuel imports continued to rise in May, although the 

0.4 percent increase was the smallest monthly advance since a 0.3 percent gain in December 2010. Since 

August 2010, the index has risen between 0.3 percent and 0.8 percent on a monthly basis. Higher nonfuel 

industrial supplies and materials prices and finished goods prices drove the May advance, while foods, 

feeds, and beverages prices decreased for the month. Overall, nonfuel import prices rose 4.4 percent on a 

12-month basis. 

Table A. Percent changes 

 

2
Chart 3. One-month percent change in the Export Price Index: May 2010 – May 2011 

 Percent change 

0.5

-0.7

-0.2

0.8

0.6 0.8

1.5

0.7

1.3 1.3

1.5

0.9

0.2

-1

0

1

2

May'10 Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May'11

Chart 4. 12-month percent change in the Export Price Index: May 2010 – May 2011 

 Percent change

5.6

3.7 3.9 4.1

4.9

5.8

6.5 6.5 7.0

8.7

9.5 9.3 9.0

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

May'10 Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May'11

All Exports: Export prices increased 0.2 percent in May, the smallest monthly advance since the index 

declined 0.2 percent in July 2010. In May, agricultural prices fell for the first time since July 2010, but were 

more than offset by a continued upward trend in nonagricultural prices. The price index for overall exports 

rose 9.0 percent for the year ended in May. 

Agricultural Exports: Agricultural export prices fell 2.0 percent in May, breaking a nine-month trend of 

rising prices. The decline is the largest monthly drop in agricultural prices since a 4.0 percent decrease in 

February 2010. A 17.1 percent drop in cotton prices led the May decline, although prices for soybeans, corn, 

and wheat, fell 1.5 percent, 1.1 percent, and 2.0 percent, respectively. Despite the May drop, agricultural 

prices increased 30.1 percent over the past year, driven by higher prices for corn, cotton, wheat, and 

soybeans over that period. 

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: Nonagricultural prices continued to rise in May, increasing 0.5 

percent. Rising prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials and most finished goods 

contributed to the advance. The price index for nonagricultural prices has not recorded a decline since July 

2010, and increased 7.0 percent over the past 12 months. 

 

 

3
4

SELECTED MAY HIGHLIGHTS 

Import Prices 

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonfuel industrial supplies and materials prices increased 1.4 

percent in May after rising a similar 1.5 percent the previous month. The May advance was attributable to a 

3.1 percent rise in unfinished metals prices led by continued higher prices for gold and other precious 

metals. Rising chemicals prices, up 1.5 percent in May following a 2.1 percent increase in April, also 

contributed to the advance. 

Finished Goods: Each of the three major finished goods areas rose for the second consecutive month in 

May. Consumer goods prices increased 0.3 percent in May, driven primarily by a 0.7 percent rise in the 

price index for cotton apparel and household goods. Automotive vehicles prices advanced 0.5 percent, led 

by higher prices for automotive parts. Capital goods prices also rose in May, increasing 0.2 percent. 

 

Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: The price index for foods, feeds, and beverages fell 0.5 percent in May, the 

first monthly decline for the index since a 1.6 percent decrease in June 2010. The May decline was led by a 

9.4 percent drop in vegetable prices. 

Imports by Locality of Origin: Import prices from China continued to rise in May, advancing 0.3 percent 

after rising 0.6 percent in March and 0.4 percent in April. Prices for imports from China rose 2.8 percent on 

a 12-month basis for the second consecutive month, the largest year-over-year increases since rising 2.8 

percent for the December 2007-08 period. The price indexes for imports from the European Union and 

Canada also rose in May, advancing 0.8 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively. In contrast, import prices 

from Mexico fell 0.7 percent. Prices for imports from Japan were unchanged in May. 

Transportation Services: The index for import air passenger fares increased 5.6 percent in May, and was 

led by higher European and Asian fares. Import air passenger fares advanced 7.3 percent for the year ended 

in May. Prices for import air freight rose 2.9 percent in May and 9.8 percent over the past 12 months. 

Export Prices 

 

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: The price index for nonagricultural industrial 

supplies and materials advanced 1.0 percent in May following a 2.1 percent rise in April. The increase was 

led by a 2.1 percent advance in nonferrous metals prices and a 2.2 percent rise in chemical prices. Fuel 

prices, which advanced 34.0 percent over the past year, only rose 0.6 percent in May. 

 

Finished Goods: Prices for finished goods were mostly up in May, with capital goods prices rising 0.4 

percent and prices for automotive vehicles advancing 0.2 percent. The increase in capital goods prices was 

led by a 1.8 percent rise in electrical generating equipment. In contrast, consumer goods prices edged down 

0.1 percent. 

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares advanced 2.5 percent in May, following a 7.1 percent 

increase in March and a 1.6 percent gain in April. In May, higher Asian and European fares more than offset 

declining Latin American/Caribbean fares. The index for export air passenger fares rose 10.0 percent for the 

year ended in May. Export air freight prices increased 3.6 percent in May and 19.0 percent over the past 

year. 

 

Import and Export Price Index data for June 2011 are scheduled for release on Wednesday, July 13, 

2011 at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).
Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: May 2010 to May

2011

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Apr.

20111

Index Percent change

Apr.

2011

May

2011

Annual Monthly

May

2010 to

May

2011

Jan.

2011 to

Feb.

2011

Feb.

2011 to

Mar.

2011

Mar.

2011 to

Apr. 2011

Apr. 2011

to May

2011

All commodities..................................... 100.000 142.2 142.5 12.5 1.7 3.0 2.1 0.2

All imports excluding food and fuels (Dec.

2010=100).......................................... 66.549 102.1 102.6 – 0.5 0.4 0.6 0.5

All imports excluding petroleum................ 73.826 115.7 116.2 4.5 0.7 0.5 0.6 0.4

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)... 72.361 119.4 119.9 4.4 0.5 0.8 0.6 0.4

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 5.812 178.4 177.5 17.5 0.6 4.3 2.0 -0.5

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 4.578 202.9 201.1 18.4 0.8 5.2 2.1 -0.9

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 1.234 122.8 124.3 14.4 -0.2 1.0 1.7 1.2

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 40.574 268.0 268.8 30.7 4.0 7.0 4.6 0.3

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

petroleum..................................... 14.400 170.4 173.1 12.4 2.0 0.7 1.2 1.6

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

fuels (Dec. 2001=100)....................... 12.935 190.5 193.2 12.4 1.3 2.0 1.5 1.4

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 7.930 183.7 187.0 11.8 1.4 2.3 1.3 1.8

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable

excluding petroleum......................... 5.005 154.9 157.0 13.4 2.6 -1.2 1.2 1.4

Fuels & lubricants............................... 10 27.639 364.7 363.8 42.3 5.6 9.7 6.1 -0.2

Petroleum & petroleum products........... 100 26.174 405.0 403.3 44.6 5.5 11.0 6.6 -0.4

Crude.......................................... 10000 19.613 416.9 409.7 45.2 5.5 9.7 7.9 -1.7

Fuels, n.e.s.-coals & gas.................... 101 1.086 129.4 134.2 7.1 8.1 -11.7 -1.6 3.7

Gas-natural................................... 10110 0.967 114.5 119.2 8.8 8.7 -12.8 -1.9 4.1

Paper & paper base stocks................... 11 0.634 118.9 119.5 6.0 -1.9 0.7 2.2 0.5

Materials associated with nondurable

supplies & materials......................... 12 4.438 168.7 170.3 14.8 1.6 1.6 1.7 0.9

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.053 131.9 131.2 -1.9 0.2 1.2 0.4 -0.5

Unfinished metals related to durable

goods.......................................... 14 3.897 295.2 304.4 19.9 1.9 3.8 1.8 3.1

Finished metals related to durable goods. .. 15 1.532 158.5 160.0 8.3 1.4 1.1 0.8 0.9

Nonmetals related to durable goods......... 16 1.381 113.1 114.0 6.0 0.9 0.6 0.9 0.8

Capital goods..................................... 2 20.713 92.7 92.9 1.4 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.2

Electric generating equipment................ 20 2.624 116.7 116.8 5.0 0.3 0.6 1.0 0.1

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 16.283 86.4 86.6 0.6 0.2 0.1 -0.1 0.2

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 1.806 126.0 126.0 3.7 1.6 0.7 1.0 0.0

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 8.981 110.5 111.0 2.3 0.2 0.5 0.2 0.5

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 23.920 105.2 105.5 0.9 0.4 -0.2 0.5 0.3

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 11.682 110.8 111.0 1.6 0.4 -0.6 0.5 0.2

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 11.250 99.5 99.9 -0.4 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.4

Nonmanufactured consumer goods.......... 42 0.987 109.5 109.5 6.3 1.2 0.5 1.6 0.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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: May 2010 to May

2011

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Apr.

20111

Index Percent change

Apr.

2011

May

2011

Annual Monthly

May

2010 to

May

2011

Jan.

2011 to

Feb.

2011

Feb.

2011 to

Mar.

2011

Mar.

2011 to

Apr. 2011

Apr. 2011

to May

2011

All commodities..................................... 100.000 133.9 134.2 9.0 1.3 1.5 0.9 0.2

Agricultural commodities......................... 12.065 219.6 215.1 30.1 4.6 2.2 0.4 -2.0

All exports excluding food and fuels (Dec.

2010=100).......................................... 80.347 102.8 103.1 – 0.9 0.7 0.6 0.3

Nonagricultural commodities.................... 87.934 127.7 128.4 7.0 1.0 1.4 0.9 0.5

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 10.522 208.2 207.3 25.6 3.0 1.7 0.6 -0.4

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 9.870 213.2 211.4 26.3 3.7 1.7 0.5 -0.8

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 0.652 161.0 170.8 16.0 -6.5 1.4 1.8 6.1

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 35.368 191.9 192.7 18.8 2.8 3.3 2.0 0.4

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 12.283 187.8 189.0 12.7 2.3 1.4 1.0 0.6

Industrial supplies & materials,

nondurable.................................... 23.084 195.1 195.7 22.6 3.1 4.3 2.5 0.3

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials... 10 2.195 258.1 239.0 50.2 8.6 4.6 -0.3 -7.4

Nonagricultural industrial supplies &

materials........................................ 33.173 189.1 190.9 17.4 2.5 3.2 2.1 1.0

Fuels & lubricants............................... 11 9.130 286.7 288.4 34.0 3.5 9.0 3.8 0.6

Nonagricultural supplies & materials

excluding fuels & building materials. . . . . .. 12 23.177 176.4 178.3 13.0 2.2 1.3 1.6 1.1

Selected building materials.................... 13 0.866 117.0 116.6 -1.4 -0.1 0.1 0.6 -0.3

Capital goods..................................... 2 34.293 104.2 104.6 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.4

Electrical generating equipment.............. 20 3.312 111.7 113.7 4.2 0.3 0.5 0.4 1.8

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 23.967 94.0 94.2 -0.5 -0.2 -0.1 0.1 0.2

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 7.014 144.7 145.0 3.9 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.2

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 6.637 109.8 110.0 1.4 0.0 0.5 0.1 0.2

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 13.179 114.5 114.4 3.2 0.7 0.7 0.4 -0.1

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 6.696 114.2 114.8 2.3 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.5

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 5.345 112.5 111.3 3.1 0.8 1.0 -0.4 -1.1

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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: May 2010 to May

2011

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Apr.

20111

Index Percent change

Apr.

2011

May

2011

Annual Monthly

May

2010 to

May

2011

Jan.

2011 to

Feb.

2011

Feb.

2011 to

Mar.

2011

Mar.

2011 to

Apr. 2011

Apr. 2011

to May

2011

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 24.076 180.9 178.4 39.9 5.2 7.9 7.0 -1.4

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 2.297 195.3 189.6 22.6 1.1 8.2 3.3 -2.9

Crop production................................. 111 1.690 204.7 198.0 22.8 0.4 10.9 4.0 -3.3

Mining.............................................. 21 21.779 179.1 176.9 42.0 5.6 7.9 7.4 -1.2

Mining (except oil and gas) (Dec.

2006=100)..................................... 212 0.364 151.2 151.3 13.0 0.6 0.4 3.1 0.1

Manufactured articles.............................. 75.432 116.6 117.5 6.1 0.8 1.5 0.6 0.8

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 10.596 119.8 120.4 10.4 0.7 1.6 1.1 0.5

Food manufacturing............................ 311 3.219 153.5 154.7 22.0 0.8 2.9 1.4 0.8

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.879 110.9 110.9 1.7 0.1 0.4 0.5 0.0

Textile product mills............................ 314 0.842 115.1 115.3 13.4 0.9 5.0 0.9 0.2

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 3.880 106.9 107.3 6.0 0.6 0.9 1.0 0.4

Leather and allied product manufacturing. .. 316 1.420 111.5 111.8 4.8 0.5 0.2 1.5 0.3

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 18.620 138.1 140.1 13.3 1.7 4.0 1.2 1.4

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.655 111.0 110.1 -3.2 0.2 1.8 0.4 -0.8

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.150 112.2 112.6 5.3 -0.7 0.5 1.2 0.4

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 5.364 178.5 184.9 43.6 5.2 17.1 1.4 3.6

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 8.904 131.4 132.4 4.3 0.7 -1.1 1.0 0.8

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 1.690 122.1 123.1 6.9 0.6 0.4 1.7 0.8

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 0.764 126.9 127.4 5.5 0.2 0.2 0.6 0.4

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 46.216 109.4 109.9 2.6 0.5 0.6 0.4 0.5

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 4.600 190.0 195.4 17.1 1.9 3.0 1.5 2.8

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.402 123.7 124.8 5.6 0.2 0.7 0.4 0.9

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 5.258 117.8 118.5 4.7 0.9 0.3 0.5 0.6

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 14.441 84.2 84.2 -4.0 0.1 -0.1 -0.4 0.0

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.405 115.2 115.3 2.8 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.1

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 10.062 107.5 107.9 2.1 0.4 0.6 0.1 0.4

Furniture and related product

manufacturing................................ 337 1.173 109.8 110.3 4.2 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.5

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 4.875 119.8 120.0 6.9 0.7 0.3 1.2 0.2

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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: May 2010 to May

2011

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Apr.

20111

Index Percent change

Apr.

2011

May

2011

Annual Monthly

May

2010 to

May

2011

Jan.

2011 to

Feb.

2011

Feb.

2011 to

Mar.

2011

Mar.

2011 to

Apr. 2011

Apr. 2011

to May

2011

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 9.710 187.0 184.0 36.6 3.8 2.3 0.6 -1.6

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 7.301 218.2 210.7 47.2 6.6 2.6 -0.2 -3.4

Crop production................................. 111 6.889 228.2 219.9 50.0 6.7 2.8 -0.5 -3.6

Mining.............................................. 21 2.409 121.2 126.0 14.9 -3.9 1.5 3.0 4.0

Mining (except oil and gas).................... 212 1.576 139.0 142.0 12.0 1.7 1.2 2.1 2.2

Manufactured articles.............................. 86.585 119.7 120.3 6.8 0.9 1.4 0.9 0.5

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 7.271 143.1 143.8 13.9 1.5 1.8 1.1 0.5

Food manufacturing............................ 311 4.995 159.3 160.2 13.1 1.0 1.7 1.2 0.6

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.542 115.4 114.7 8.4 0.3 0.6 0.2 -0.6

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 0.395 110.6 111.4 9.0 2.8 0.2 0.0 0.7

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 26.817 135.5 136.5 13.8 2.1 3.1 2.2 0.7

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.397 119.2 116.5 0.3 5.2 2.2 -2.1 -2.3

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.990 127.2 127.3 7.5 0.7 0.0 1.6 0.1

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 6.317 179.0 178.3 42.2 6.4 11.8 4.1 -0.4

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 15.508 131.0 132.9 8.8 1.1 0.9 1.9 1.5

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 1.918 110.1 111.3 4.0 1.0 0.1 0.9 1.1

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 0.686 110.7 110.6 -2.3 -0.2 -0.2 0.4 -0.1

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 52.497 111.3 111.7 3.0 0.3 0.5 0.4 0.4

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 5.014 174.3 177.1 20.7 1.3 2.0 2.1 1.6

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.472 127.9 127.9 5.3 1.4 0.8 1.0 0.0

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 10.271 116.3 116.5 1.5 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.2

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 13.705 90.0 90.1 -2.6 -0.5 -0.3 -0.4 0.1

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.017 111.2 113.0 4.7 0.2 0.5 0.5 1.6

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 12.836 113.8 114.1 2.7 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.3

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 4.888 117.3 116.7 5.7 1.2 1.6 1.4 -0.5

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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: May 2010 to May

2011

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Apr.

20111

Index Percent change

Apr.

2011

May

2011

Annual Monthly

May

2010 to

May

2011

Jan.

2011 to

Feb.

2011

Feb.

2011 to

Mar.

2011

Mar.

2011 to

Apr. 2011

Apr. 2011

to May

2011

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.342 170.4 171.2 18.6 1.4 1.7 2.8 0.5

Meat and edible meat offal....................... 02 0.321 218.4 215.9 15.5 3.7 2.2 3.3 -1.1

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.702 125.9 127.9 19.9 -0.7 1.1 2.7 1.6

Vegetable products................................ II 1.947 225.5 220.5 24.6 0.0 10.3 4.6 -2.2

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers............ 07 0.419 416.1 368.0 6.7 -11.4 35.4 4.9 -11.6

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.552 129.8 129.2 12.2 4.1 5.0 -0.5 -0.5

Coffee, tea, mate and spices.................... 09 0.490 289.5 292.6 73.9 3.1 6.2 16.9 1.1

Animal or vegetable fats and oils (Dec.

2009=100).......................................... III 0.334 152.9 154.9 49.4 4.7 0.4 -3.2 1.3

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.509 153.7 154.2 9.2 0.3 2.4 -0.3 0.3

Cocoa and cocoa preparations (Dec.

2009=100)....................................... 18 0.215 99.7 99.9 -4.4 4.7 3.9 -7.1 0.2

Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk;

bakers’ wares (Dec. 2007=100).............. 19 0.251 124.2 126.3 10.2 -2.7 -1.0 -1.1 1.7

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts, or other

parts of plants................................... 20 0.358 156.2 157.0 20.3 1.0 0.7 1.7 0.5

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar.................. 22 0.851 120.9 120.7 1.8 -0.1 0.4 0.4 -0.2

Mineral products.................................... V 27.150 365.5 364.5 41.6 5.5 9.6 6.2 -0.3

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 26.831 361.9 360.9 42.0 5.6 9.8 6.2 -0.3

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 8.566 145.7 146.7 4.1 0.8 -1.0 0.6 0.7

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 1.101 374.5 381.0 31.9 3.0 3.3 3.1 1.7

Organic chemicals................................. 29 2.748 135.6 137.2 1.6 0.5 -1.2 0.4 1.2

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 3.073 112.3 112.3 -4.8 0.2 -3.1 -0.3 0.0

Fertilizers (Dec. 2009=100)...................... 31 0.249 123.8 125.2 20.2 0.5 0.4 1.8 1.1

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec.

2001=100)....................................... 33 0.413 124.3 125.7 5.4 0.3 -0.1 0.6 1.1

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 0.491 107.9 107.8 14.8 1.4 0.7 0.5 -0.1

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 2.865 150.1 150.8 9.9 1.1 0.8 2.0 0.5

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 1.757 139.1 140.6 6.8 0.7 0.4 2.0 1.1

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 1.108 171.3 170.3 15.2 1.8 1.1 2.3 -0.6

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.519 119.7 119.9 4.8 0.4 0.3 2.2 0.2

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

various materials................................ 42 0.490 119.9 120.1 4.6 0.5 0.3 2.2 0.2

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.686 133.5 132.4 -3.4 0.4 1.8 0.3 -0.8

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 1.260 115.3 115.9 4.6 -0.9 0.3 1.3 0.5

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 0.835 108.1 108.2 4.3 0.0 0.1 0.7 0.1

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 5.002 110.9 111.4 8.2 0.8 1.6 0.9 0.5

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

knitted or crocheted............................ 61 1.928 103.1 103.7 5.8 0.8 0.1 0.4 0.6

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

not knitted or crocheted........................ 62 1.828 109.4 109.8 6.6 0.6 1.3 1.8 0.4

Made-up or worn textile articles................. 63 0.637 110.6 110.8 18.2 1.0 6.9 0.8 0.2

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.. .. XII 1.182 111.3 111.6 4.7 0.4 0.2 1.1 0.3

See footnotes at end of table.

9
Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: May 2010 to May

2011 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Apr.

20111

Index Percent change

Apr.

2011

May

2011

Annual Monthly

May

2010 to

May

2011

Jan.

2011 to

Feb.

2011

Feb.

2011 to

Mar.

2011

Mar.

2011 to

Apr. 2011

Apr. 2011

to May

2011

Footwear and parts of such articles............ 64 1.006 110.1 110.4 4.4 0.4 0.2 1.0 0.3

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc........................................... XIII 0.695 128.5 129.1 4.0 0.3 0.5 0.4 0.5

Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, or

mica (Dec. 2001=100)......................... 68 0.238 120.9 121.6 3.5 0.5 -0.1 0.6 0.6

Ceramic products.................................. 69 0.203 141.1 141.2 1.0 0.1 1.3 0.1 0.1

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.255 122.7 123.5 7.3 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.7

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 2.949 192.0 198.9 22.9 0.0 2.2 3.7 3.6

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 5.113 200.3 202.5 9.3 2.0 2.4 0.4 1.1

Iron and steel...................................... 72 0.956 262.2 266.2 11.7 3.2 4.1 2.3 1.5

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.506 157.5 159.0 6.8 0.5 1.2 0.9 1.0

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.599 411.2 406.3 17.6 3.9 1.7 -3.1 -1.2

Nickel and articles thereof (Dec. 2009=100). .. 75 0.181 146.3 142.7 -3.9 5.5 10.3 -3.8 -2.5

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.892 154.1 158.9 12.1 2.8 1.9 1.3 3.1

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.310 122.4 123.1 4.3 0.1 -0.2 0.2 0.6

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.352 128.9 129.1 1.8 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 22.956 86.0 86.2 -0.7 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.2

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 11.397 88.9 89.1 1.3 0.6 -0.1 0.2 0.2

Electrical machinery and equip, sound and TV

recorders & reproducers, parts............... 85 11.559 83.2 83.3 -2.6 0.1 0.2 -0.1 0.1

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 8.354 111.5 112.0 2.0 0.3 0.4 0.0 0.4

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 7.410 110.4 111.1 2.0 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.6

Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof (Dec.

2002=100)....................................... 88 0.862 115.4 115.3 1.1 1.3 -0.2 0.1 -0.1

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 3.081 104.6 104.8 3.7 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.2

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical

instruments...................................... 90 2.846 102.4 102.4 3.6 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.0

Clocks and watches and parts thereof. . . . . . . .. 91 0.174 125.7 126.6 3.4 0.2 -0.1 0.6 0.7

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 3.410 108.9 109.1 2.5 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.2

Furniture & stuffed furnishings; lamps &

lighting fittings, nesoi; prefab bldgs........... 94 1.671 112.0 112.3 2.7 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.3

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 1.542 102.6 102.7 1.9 0.3 0.2 0.6 0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles........... 96 0.196 128.4 128.6 7.7 0.2 0.3 0.0 0.2

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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: May 2010 to May

2011

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Apr.

20111

Index Percent change

Apr.

2011

May

2011

Annual Monthly

May

2010 to

May

2011

Jan.

2011 to

Feb.

2011

Feb.

2011 to

Mar.

2011

Mar.

2011 to

Apr. 2011

Apr. 2011

to May

2011

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.959 197.7 198.0 15.7 2.1 3.6 3.6 0.2

Meat & edible meat offal (Dec. 2006=100). . .. 02 1.191 160.1 162.3 11.9 4.1 3.7 1.8 1.4

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.377 174.3 185.7 22.3 -9.8 1.8 3.0 6.5

Vegetable products................................ II 6.166 253.7 250.9 38.7 4.5 1.4 0.1 -1.1

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.960 131.4 128.0 -0.4 0.1 1.7 -3.7 -2.6

Cereals.............................................. 10 2.489 313.8 309.2 70.5 6.9 4.6 1.3 -1.5

Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds, fruits,

plants, straw and fodder....................... 12 2.165 265.6 262.3 33.2 3.1 -2.6 0.3 -1.2

Animal or vegetable fats and oils (Dec.

2009=100).......................................... III 0.537 159.1 156.7 40.4 4.2 0.6 0.6 -1.5

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.606 148.7 150.0 8.9 0.6 0.7 0.1 0.9

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other

parts of plants (Dec. 2009=100).............. 20 0.337 107.0 107.5 1.7 0.8 1.2 0.6 0.5

Miscellaneous edible preparations.............. 21 0.433 117.3 117.6 -0.4 -0.3 -0.5 -0.3 0.3

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar (Dec.

2008=100)....................................... 22 0.331 105.2 105.1 2.1 0.3 0.8 0.2 -0.1

Residues and waste from the food industries;

prepared animal feed........................... 23 0.701 220.8 225.6 31.2 1.0 1.6 -0.8 2.2

Mineral products.................................... V 9.113 340.8 343.5 33.6 3.3 8.9 4.2 0.8

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 8.473 336.3 340.2 36.7 3.6 9.5 4.2 1.2

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 12.712 152.6 153.8 5.6 1.0 0.7 1.0 0.8

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 0.995 194.0 190.0 4.2 -1.1 -0.6 0.3 -2.1

Organic chemicals................................. 29 3.305 166.6 168.4 8.0 2.6 1.9 2.0 1.1

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 3.862 125.5 126.3 2.9 0.0 0.6 0.4 0.6

Tanning or dyeing extracts, dyes, paints,

varnish, putty, & inks........................... 32 0.548 123.1 123.2 6.0 3.1 0.3 0.5 0.1

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery

cosmetic or toilet preparations................ 33 0.728 127.9 129.1 3.4 0.9 0.2 0.0 0.9

Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or scouring

products; candles, pastes..................... 34 0.476 125.3 125.9 6.5 1.7 -0.4 2.3 0.5

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 1.779 146.8 149.3 5.4 0.5 0.2 1.0 1.7

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 5.164 148.4 152.2 9.8 0.9 0.6 3.1 2.6

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 4.164 140.5 144.4 8.9 1.0 0.4 2.3 2.8

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 1.000 185.0 188.2 13.7 0.7 1.1 6.6 1.7

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.437 138.2 140.7 15.4 2.4 2.8 4.4 1.8

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.508 110.5 109.9 -0.8 0.9 0.3 0.3 -0.5

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 2.716 128.2 127.2 8.3 1.4 0.0 0.8 -0.8

Woodpulp and recovered paper................. 47 0.960 156.3 152.6 15.7 3.3 -0.4 1.5 -2.4

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 1.275 120.4 120.6 6.8 0.4 0.3 0.5 0.2

Printed material.................................... 49 0.480 118.0 118.0 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 2.534 164.1 154.4 35.2 7.1 5.2 -0.5 -5.9

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics

thereof............................................ 52 1.273 286.8 248.6 93.2 14.9 10.5 -1.8 -13.3

See footnotes at end of table.

11
Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: May 2010 to May

2011 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Apr.

20111

Index Percent change

Apr.

2011

May

2011

Annual Monthly

May

2010 to

May

2011

Jan.

2011 to

Feb.

2011

Feb.

2011 to

Mar.

2011

Mar.

2011 to

Apr. 2011

Apr. 2011

to May

2011

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc. (Dec. 2008=100)..................... XIII 0.674 115.8 115.8 -0.3 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.378 99.3 99.4 1.6 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.1

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 4.973 257.6 263.5 26.5 0.5 3.2 2.8 2.3

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 5.939 187.3 186.0 11.6 4.9 1.6 0.2 -0.7

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.969 243.0 238.3 15.6 11.9 1.5 -0.4 -1.9

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.268 171.2 171.8 8.2 1.3 2.1 1.6 0.4

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.749 285.2 276.1 21.6 2.3 0.5 -0.2 -3.2

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.957 137.9 140.8 9.0 2.6 1.9 -0.4 2.1

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.331 125.4 125.4 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.304 134.9 135.2 8.7 2.0 4.1 0.1 0.2

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 26.154 96.0 96.2 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 15.348 108.0 108.3 0.9 0.0 0.3 0.4 0.3

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts

and accessories thereof....................... 85 10.806 83.0 83.1 -0.2 0.1 -0.5 -0.2 0.1

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 10.557 123.0 123.2 1.5 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.2

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 5.902 109.3 109.5 0.9 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.2

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 5.755 105.6 105.7 -0.8 -0.6 0.1 0.0 0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 1.358 107.7 108.1 0.0 0.3 0.3 -0.3 0.4

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and

lighting fittings nesoi;........................... 94 0.646 118.0 118.6 -0.1 0.3 0.3 -1.0 0.5

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 0.606 92.4 92.7 -0.5 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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: May 2010 to May 2011

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Percent of

U.S.

imports1

Index Percent change

Apr.

2011

May

2011

Annual Monthly

May 2010

to May

2011

Jan. 2011

to Feb.

2011

Feb. 2011

to Mar.

2011

Mar. 2011

to Apr.

2011

Apr. 2011

to May

2011

Industrialized Countries2

..................... 39.494 133.3 134.1 6.8 0.9 1.2 2.0 0.6

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 4.457 256.9 255.9 32.4 0.5 4.8 8.5 -0.4

Manufactured articles......................... 34.670 123.1 124.0 3.3 1.0 0.7 0.9 0.7

Other Countries3

............................... 60.506 141.9 141.2 13.5 2.2 3.6 2.2 -0.5

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 12.079 374.0 367.7 42.0 6.4 9.0 6.5 -1.7

Manufactured articles......................... 48.226 110.5 110.5 4.7 0.7 1.6 0.5 0.0

Canada............................................ 14.271 160.6 161.4 13.6 1.3 2.6 3.1 0.5

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 3.991 247.7 246.5 32.3 0.6 4.1 8.5 -0.5

Manufactured articles......................... 10.005 141.2 142.6 6.2 1.6 1.9 0.5 1.0

European Union4

............................... 17.186 134.1 135.2 5.1 0.6 1.2 1.0 0.8

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 0.256 352.7 348.6 40.4 0.1 15.0 9.5 -1.2

Manufactured articles......................... 16.854 130.6 131.8 4.4 0.6 0.9 0.8 0.9

France (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 1.995 119.1 119.6 -1.6 0.3 -3.0 0.5 0.4

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)..................... 4.510 115.6 116.3 3.3 1.1 0.6 0.9 0.6

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)........... 2.795 134.1 134.3 6.6 0.5 1.1 1.1 0.1

Latin America5

.................................. 18.406 185.7 183.8 17.4 2.1 5.0 3.5 -1.0

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 5.479 411.2 402.0 45.8 4.7 11.4 7.9 -2.2

Manufactured articles......................... 12.844 137.0 136.7 3.9 0.7 1.3 0.7 -0.2

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 11.380 153.5 152.4 10.5 1.3 3.8 2.8 -0.7

Nonmanufactured articles (Dec.

2008=100)................................... 1.900 225.7 218.9 44.7 3.0 15.7 7.6 -3.0

Manufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100). . .. 9.437 98.5 98.6 1.8 0.8 0.4 1.1 0.1

Pacific Rim (Dec. 2003=100)6

................ 34.852 103.9 104.1 3.0 0.5 0.7 0.3 0.2

China (Dec. 2003=100)......................... 19.595 103.1 103.4 2.8 0.3 0.6 0.4 0.3

Japan.............................................. 6.198 101.3 101.3 2.9 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.0

Asian NICs7

..................................... 5.555 92.3 92.7 5.3 0.6 1.7 1.3 0.4

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)8

..................... 5.987 104.2 104.4 8.8 1.0 1.0 -0.2 0.2

Asia Near East (Dec. 2003=100)9........... 3.795 265.0 261.9 25.0 5.7 4.1 3.5 -1.2

1 Percentage of trade figures are based on 2009 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: May 2010 to

May 2011

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Relative

importance

Apr.

20111

Index Percent change

Apr.

2011

May

2011

Annual Monthly

May 2010

to May

2011

Jan. 2011

to Feb.

2011

Feb. 2011

to Mar.

2011

Mar. 2011

to Apr.

2011

Apr. 2011

to May

2011

Air Freight

Import Air Freight..................................... 100.000 175.0 180.0 9.8 2.5 0.8 1.3 2.9

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 24.534 159.9 169.7 26.8 1.8 3.1 7.5 6.1

Asia.................................................... 73.391 156.7 159.5 5.8 2.7 0.2 -0.6 1.8

Export Air Freight..................................... 100.000 142.9 148.0 19.0 2.0 2.9 2.7 3.6

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)............................ 38.748 129.1 133.9 18.1 0.9 3.3 2.6 3.7

Inbound Air Freight................................... 100.000 159.2 162.6 10.5 1.5 1.3 1.4 2.1

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 24.129 146.5 153.7 23.5 1.4 3.2 5.5 4.9

Asia.................................................... 63.926 142.5 144.6 6.1 1.8 0.3 -0.2 1.5

Outbound Air Freight................................. 100.000 139.5 143.1 18.4 2.0 2.9 2.4 2.6

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 36.573 157.8 159.2 14.0 1.4 2.7 1.7 0.9

Asia.................................................... 44.946 130.8 135.7 23.4 2.8 3.1 3.4 3.7

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 163.2 172.3 7.3 -2.4 -0.2 1.2 5.6

Europe................................................. 38.175 170.8 184.9 4.2 -2.7 -3.5 2.8 8.3

Asia.................................................... 25.092 136.0 143.2 2.7 -5.2 2.3 -1.3 5.3

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 15.793 171.8 169.7 22.7 0.5 2.9 5.3 -1.2

Export Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 175.5 179.8 10.0 -9.6 7.1 1.6 2.5

Europe................................................. 29.141 199.0 213.7 3.4 -1.6 0.2 9.1 7.4

Asia.................................................... 29.412 156.0 175.8 16.0 -16.4 10.8 -4.4 12.7

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 21.077 190.8 175.0 9.0 -10.9 5.2 2.8 -8.3

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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