Technical Information
    Jim Thomas                 (202) 606-7155  USDL-97-172
    Bill Alterman              (202) 606-7108  For release: 10:00 A.M. E.D.T.
 Media contact:                Wednesday, May 21, 1997
    Kathryn Hoyle              (202) 606-5902
 Internet Address:   http://stats.bls.gov/ipphome.htm
                                  
                U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES
                            -APRIL 1997-
                                  
     The U.S. Import Price Index decreased 0.9 percent in April, the
Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported
today.  The monthly decline was the fourth in a row with both
petroleum and nonpetroleum import prices contributing to the April
drop.  The U.S. Export Price Index declined 0.6 percent in April, led
by falling agricultural export prices.
                                  
         Percent changes in import and export price indexes
                         by End Use category
                     - not seasonally adjusted -
                      IMPORTS                     EXPORTS
                                                                 
   Month                        Non-               Agri-    Nonagri- 
               All   Petroleum  petroleum  All     cultural cultural 
             Imports  Imports   Imports   Exports  Exports  Exports 
                                                                 
                                                                 
1996                                                             
April           0.9      8.5     -0.1      0.6      4.8      0.0 
May            -0.7     -3.7     -0.3      0.4      3.1     -0.1 
June           -1.1     -5.8     -0.4     -0.2     -2.2      0.1 
July           -0.1      1.9     -0.4     -0.5     -1.9     -0.2 
August          0.1      2.2     -0.1     -0.2     -0.2     -0.2 
September       1.2      7.5      0.4     -0.8     -7.3      0.2 
October         0.5      7.1     -0.3     -0.2     -2.6      0.0 
November       -0.2     -0.8     -0.1     -0.4     -2.3      0.0 
December        0.3      2.0      0.1      0.0     -0.9      0.1 
1997                                                             
January        -0.3      0.6     -0.4      0.1      0.1      0.0 
February       -0.9 r   -7.7 r   -0.1 r    0.2      2.1 r    0.0 
March          -1.2 r   -9.6 r   -0.3      0.0      1.4     -0.1 
April          -0.9     -3.8     -0.6     -0.6     -6.7      0.1 
                                                                 
April 1995- 96  1.6     16.2      0.0      1.2     21.9     -1.3 
April 1996-97  -3.2    -11.2     -2.5     -2.2    -16.5     -0.1 

r = revised to reflect late reports and corrections by respondents.
                                  
                            Import Goods
                                  
     The April decline continued a downward trend, with import prices
falling 3.2 percent over the past 12 months.  For the third
consecutive month, declining petroleum prices led the decrease,
falling 3.8 percent in April after a 16.5 percent decline over the
previous two months.  Also contributing to the decline for all
imports were nonpetroleum prices, down 0.6 percent in April, its
largest monthly dip since December 1992 and the fourth monthly
decline in a row.  Over the past 12 months, the nonpetroleum index
was down 2.5 percent.
                                  
      Import prices for capital goods had the largest impact on the
price index for nonpetroleum imports, declining 1.1 percent in April.
Over the past twelve months, the index was down 5.7 percent following
a 1.8 percent decline for the April 1995-96 period.  Import prices
for industrial supplies and materials excluding petroleum also
continued a recent downturn, declining 0.6 percent last month after a
1.3 percent drop in March.   The index for foods, feeds, and
beverages fell 1.6 percent in April, a turnaround from the 3.0 and
1.9 percent gains posted over the previous two months.   Import
prices for automotive vehicles, parts, and engines dipped 0.2 percent
last month after edging up 0.1 percent in March.
                                  
      The price index for consumer goods was unchanged in April after
dropping 0.6 percent in March.
                                  
                            Export Goods
                                  
       The April decrease in export prices reversed the 0.3 percent
 advance recorded over the previous four months.  The index dropped
2.2 percent over the past year.  Agricultural export prices fell 6.7
percent in April, after posting gains of 1.4 percent in March and 2.1
percent in February.   The large turnaround was attributable to
falling prices for grains and oilseeds as soybeans dropped 19.6
percent, corn declined 19.3 percent, and wheat fell 13.9 percent
after gains of 5.3, 1.8, and 2.7 percent respectively in March.  In
contrast, nonagricultural export prices edged up 0.1 percent in
April, continuing a pattern of little or no movement over the past
seven months.
                                  
     The index for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials
recorded a 0.2 percent gain in April, after no change in March.  The
indexes for all the finished goods areas either rose slightly or were
unchanged in April.   The index for capital goods, which accounts for
nearly one-half of U.S. exports, was unchanged.  Capital goods prices
have declined 0.5 percent over the past year.  Export prices for
automotive vehicles, parts, and engines were up 0.3 percent in April
after rising 0.2 percent the previous month, while consumer goods
prices inched up 0.1 percent last month.
                                 
                    Imports by Locality of Origin
                                  
      The index for import prices from Japan continued its downward
trend, falling 1.0 percent in April. (See table 7.)  Import prices
from Japan have declined for eight consecutive months and were down
5.5 percent over the past year.
                                  
       The index for imports from Canada fell 0.3 percent in April,
after falling 1.4 percent in March and 1.7 percent in February.  For
the April 1996-97 period, import prices from Canada were down 2.1
percent.
                                  
     Import prices from the European Union also fell 0.3 last month,
after decreasing in each of the previous two months.  For the year
ended in April, the index was down 1.2 percent.
                                  
      In contrast, import prices from the Asian Newly Industrialized
countries gained a modest 0.1 percent in April.  Despite the
increase, the index fell 2.7 percent over the past 12 months.
                                  
                                  
                         CONTENTS OF RELEASE
                                  
This news release includes the following tables:

Table 1   Import Price Indexes, by End Use.....page  4
Table 2   Export Price Indexes, by End Use.....page  5
Table 3   Import Price Indexes, by SITC.....pages 6-7
Table 4   Export Price Indexes, by SITC.....pages  8-9
Table 5   Import Price Indexes, by Harmonized System.....pages 10-11
Table 6   Export Price Indexes, by Harmonized System.....pages 12-13
Table 7   Import Price Indexes, by Locality of Origin.....page  14
Table 8   U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes for Services.....page 15
Table 9   U.S. International Price Indexes for Services.....page  16
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Import and Export Price Index data for May are scheduled for release
on June 19 at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).



Table 1      U.S. Import Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, April 1996-April 1997                                 
                 1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                            
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
                                                         ance                           April   Dec.      Jan.      Feb.      March
END       Description                                                                   1996    1996      1997      1997      1997 
USE                                                     March      March       April    to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1997       1997        1997     April   Jan.      Feb.      March     April
                                                        1/         2/                   1997    1997      1997      1997      1997 
                                                                                                                                   
          ALL COMMODITIES                               100.000     99.5        98.6     -3.2    -0.3      -0.9      -1.2      -0.9
          ALL IMPORTS EXCLUDING PETROLEUM                91.120     97.9        97.3     -2.5    -0.4      -0.1      -0.3      -0.6
                                                                                                                                   
0          FOODS, FEEDS, & BEVERAGES                      4.781    101.5        99.9     -0.6    -0.1       1.9       3.0      -1.6
                                                                                                                                   
00          Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,                                                                                 
                excluding distilled beverages             3.498    102.0        99.4     -2.3     0.0       2.1       4.4      -2.5
                                                                                                                                   
01          Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled                                                                                 
                beverages)                                1.283    100.1       100.9      3.4    -0.5       1.1       0.0       0.8
                                                                                                                                   
1          INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS               27.228    103.3       101.6     -5.2     0.8      -2.9      -4.2      -1.6
             INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS                                                                                       
                 EXCLUDING PETROLEUM                     18.348     98.4        97.8     -2.2     1.0      -0.1      -1.3      -0.6
             INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS,                                                                                      
                 DURABLE                                  9.715     99.7        99.6      0.9     0.2       0.8       1.0      -0.1
             INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS,                                                                                      
                 NONDURABLE EXCLUDING PETROLEUM           8.633     96.8        95.7     -5.5     2.0      -1.2      -3.9      -1.1
                                                                                                                                   
10          Fuels & lubricants                           10.042    113.8       109.0    -10.8     2.5      -7.3     -11.5      -4.2
                                                                                                                                   
100          Petroleum & petroleum products               8.881    113.1       108.8    -11.2     0.6      -7.7      -9.6      -3.8
                                                                                                                                   
10000          Crude                                      7.041    113.0       109.1    -11.8     0.9      -7.9     -10.2      -3.5
                                                                                                                                   
11          Paper & paper base stocks                     1.705     79.8        80.2    -17.1    -1.7      -0.6       1.0       0.5
                                                                                                                                   
12          Materials associated with nondurable                                                                                   
                supplies & materials                      5.969     96.9        96.4     -2.1    -0.6      -0.1       0.0      -0.5
                                                                                                                                   
13          Selected building materials                   2.201    114.7       113.7     12.6     0.6       2.7       0.6      -0.9
                                                                                                                                   
14          Unfinished metals associated with                                                                                      
                durable goods                             4.411     95.5        95.8     -1.1     0.5       0.8       2.0       0.3
                                                                                                                                   
15          Finished metals associated with durable                                                                                
                goods                                     1.426     97.2        97.2     -2.1    -0.7      -0.2      -0.5       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
16          Nonmetals associated with durable goods       1.475     96.7        96.6     -4.3    -0.4      -0.6      -0.6      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
2          CAPITAL GOODS                                 28.878     93.7        92.7     -5.7    -1.8      -0.5      -0.2      -1.1
                                                                                                                                   
20          Electric & electrical generating                                                                                       
                equipment                                 3.314     97.8        97.6     -2.5    -0.2      -0.4      -0.6      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
21          Nonelectrical machinery                      23.921     91.9        90.8     -7.1    -1.9      -0.5      -0.3      -1.2
                                                                                                                                   
3          AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES, PARTS & ENGINES          17.394    100.8       100.6      0.0    -0.1       0.0       0.1      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
4          CONSUMER GOODS, EXCLUDING AUTOMOTIVES         21.719     99.6        99.6     -0.9    -0.1       0.2      -0.6       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
40          Nondurables, manufactured                    10.646    100.5       100.9      0.1     0.1       0.0      -0.1       0.4
                                                                                                                                   
41          Durables, manufactured                       10.001     98.5        98.4     -1.9    -0.3      -0.3      -0.5      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
42          Nonmanufactured consumer goods                1.072    100.4        98.9     -1.7     0.4       6.5      -7.0      -1.5
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                       n.a.      Not available         
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for January, February and March 1997                                                                                      
            have been revised to reflect the availability                                                                                 
            of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                                                               
            All data are subject to revision in each of                                                                                   
            the three months after original publication.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                          
        NOTE:  Published categories may include price data not shown separately                                                           
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
Table 2      U.S. Export Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, April 1996-April 1997                                 
                 1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                            
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
                                                         ance                           April   Dec.      Jan.      Feb.      March
END       Description                                                                   1996    1996      1997      1997      1997 
USE                                                     March      March       April    to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1997       1997        1997     April   Jan.      Feb.      March     April
                                                        1/         2/                   1997    1997      1997      1997      1997 
                                                                                                                                   
          ALL COMMODITIES                               100.000     99.6        99.0     -2.2     0.1       0.2       0.0      -0.6
          AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES                       11.017    105.0        98.0    -16.5     0.1       2.1       1.4      -6.7
          NONAGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES                    88.982     99.0        99.1     -0.1     0.0       0.0      -0.1       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
0          FOODS, FEEDS, & BEVERAGES                      9.902    105.9        98.3    -18.0    -0.3       1.9       1.5      -7.2
                                                                                                                                   
00          Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,                                                                                 
                excluding distilled beverages             9.187    107.5        99.2    -19.9    -0.3       2.4       1.8      -7.7
                                                                                                                                   
01          Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled                                                                                 
                beverages)                                0.715     90.7        89.7      2.6    -1.2      -5.0      -0.8      -1.1
                                                                                                                                   
1          INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS               24.819     95.4        95.4     -0.2     0.2       0.2       0.0       0.0
             INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS,                                                                                      
                 DURABLE                                  9.871     96.2        96.3     -1.5     0.0       0.4      -0.2       0.1
             INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS,                                                                                      
                 NONDURABLE                              14.947     94.8        94.9      0.6     0.4       0.0       0.1       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
10          Agricultural industrial supplies &                                                                                     
                materials                                 1.830     95.9        94.3      0.3     2.2      -0.1       0.1      -1.7
                                                                                                                                   
            NONAGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES &                                                                                  
              MATERIALS                                  22.988     95.3        95.5     -0.3     0.0       0.2       0.0       0.2
                                                                                                                                   
11          Fuels & lubricants                            2.429    110.5       109.8     -0.3    -0.1      -2.9      -0.8      -0.6
                                                                                                                                   
12          Nonagricultural supplies & materials                                                                                   
                excluding fuels & building materials     18.955     92.6        93.0     -0.6     0.0       0.7       0.2       0.4
                                                                                                                                   
13          Selected building materials                   1.604     97.1        95.5     -0.6     0.3       0.4      -1.5      -1.6
                                                                                                                                   
2          CAPITAL GOODS                                 44.012    100.3       100.3     -0.5     0.1      -0.2      -0.1       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
20          Electric & electrical generating                                                                                       
                Equipment                                 4.342    100.5       100.7      0.0     0.0      -0.3       0.2       0.2
                                                                                                                                   
21          Nonelectrical machinery                      34.415     98.2        98.1     -2.2    -0.1      -0.2      -0.1      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
3          AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES, PARTS & ENGINES           9.585    101.9       102.2      1.3     0.2       0.0       0.2       0.3
                                                                                                                                   
4          CONSUMER GOODS, EXCLUDING AUTOMOTIVES         11.682    101.7       101.8      0.4     0.1       0.1      -0.3       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
40          Nondurables, manufactured                     6.162    101.4       101.1     -0.1     0.0       0.0      -0.2      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
41          Durables, manufactured                        4.985    101.3       102.1      1.1     0.3       0.1      -0.4       0.8
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                       n.a.      Not available         
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for January, February and March 1997                                                                                      
            have been revised to reflect the availability                                                                                 
            of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                                                               
            All data are subject to revision in each of the                                                                               
            three months after original publication.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                          
        NOTE:  Published categories may include price data not shown separately                                                           
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
Table 3       U.S. Import Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, April 1996-April 1997                                 
                  1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                            
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
                                                         ance                           April   Dec.      Jan.      Feb.      March
SITC      Description                                                                   1996    1996      1997      1997      1997 
Rev. 3                                                  March      March       April    to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1997       1997        1997     April   Jan.      Feb.      March     April
                                                        1/         2/                   1997    1997      1997      1997      1997 
                                                                                                                                   
          ALL COMMODITIES                               100.000     99.5        98.6     -3.2    -0.3      -0.9      -1.2      -0.9
                                                                                                                                   
0          FOOD AND LIVE ANIIALS                          4.071    101.9        99.8      0.7     0.0       2.7       4.8      -2.1
01          Meat and meat preparations                    0.350    103.5       104.9     14.4    -1.2       0.2       5.7       1.4
03          Fish, crustaceans, aquatic invertebrates                                                                               
               and preparations thereof                   0.966     99.7       100.4      4.6     0.2       1.7      -0.4       0.7
05          Vegetables and fruit, prepared                                                                                         
               fresh or dried                             1.150    111.1       101.9    -10.5    -0.2       2.5       6.7      -8.3
07          Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and                                                                                         
               manufactures thereof                       0.679     98.7        98.7     13.4     3.6      10.4      15.0       0.0
       3/ Other food and live animals (9612=100)          0.926    100.2       100.3     n.a.    -1.6       0.6       1.2       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
1          BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO                          0.822    106.8       107.2      3.8     0.4       0.9       0.2       0.4
11          Beverages                                     0.690    103.2       103.6      2.2     0.0       0.0       0.3       0.4
                                                                                                                                   
2          CRUDE MATERIALS, INEDIBLE, EXCEPT FUELS        3.007     98.9        97.7      2.3     0.7       5.2      -3.0      -1.2
23          Crude rubber (including synthetic and                                                                                  
               reclaimed)                                 0.289     88.3        84.8     -9.1    -0.9       0.8       0.2      -4.0
24          Cork and wood                                 1.132    126.2       124.9     21.4     0.7       3.3       0.6      -1.0
25          Pulp and waste paper                          0.354     64.9        63.8    -12.2    -0.8       0.0      -1.2      -1.7
28          Metalliferous ores and metal scrap            0.619    103.0       105.9      3.7     2.4       2.8       0.4       2.8
29          Crude animal and vegetable materials,                                                                                  
               n.e.s. (9612=100)                          0.267    105.1        94.2     n.a.     5.3      39.4     -28.4     -10.4
       3/ Other crude materials, inedible, except                                                                                  
             fuels (9612=100)                             0.345     97.7        97.8     n.a.    -1.9      -2.5       2.2       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
3          MINERAL FUELS, LUBRICANTS AND RELATED                                                                                   
              MATERIALS                                   9.701    113.4       108.5    -10.8     2.5      -7.5     -11.8      -4.3
33          Petroleum, petroleum products and                                                                                      
               related materials                          8.439    112.6       108.3    -11.7     0.5      -7.7      -9.4      -3.8
34          Gas, natural and manufactured                 1.142    125.7       115.2      0.9    17.1      -7.4     -26.4      -8.4
                                                                                                                                   
5          CHEMICALS AND RELATED PRODUCTS, N.E.S.         5.578     97.9        97.3     -2.5    -0.5      -0.5      -0.2      -0.6
51          Organic chemicals                             1.631    100.2        99.2      1.1     0.1       0.1       0.6      -1.0
52          Inorganic chemicals                           0.681    101.5       100.8     -0.5    -0.3      -0.5      -1.2      -0.7
53          Dyeing, tanning and coloring materials        0.283     96.9        97.1     -5.8    -1.0      -2.0      -0.5       0.2
54          Medicinal and pharmaceutical products         0.891     96.0        96.0     -4.8    -1.2      -1.0      -0.8       0.0
55          Essential oils; polishing and cleansing                                                                                
               preps                                      0.318     98.2        98.8     -5.1    -0.7      -0.7      -0.5       0.6
57          Plastics in primary forms                     0.359     91.6        89.6    -13.8    -0.5      -2.2      -0.9      -2.2
58          Plastics in nonprimary forms                  0.536     86.1        85.7     -0.3    -1.2       0.0       0.5      -0.5
59          Chemical materials and products, n.e.s.       0.653    104.6       104.1     -3.3    -0.3      -0.8      -0.1      -0.5
                                                                                                                                   
6          MANUFACTURED GOODS CLASSIFIED CHIEFLY                                                                                   
              BY MATERIAL                                12.285     96.0        95.9     -4.1    -0.2       0.1       0.6      -0.1
62          Rubber manufactures, n.e.s.                   0.720     97.4        97.5     -2.6    -0.1      -0.5      -0.5       0.1
63          Cork and wood manufactures other than                                                                                  
               furniture                                  0.550     99.2       100.0     n.a.    -0.7       2.4      -1.3       0.8
64          Paper, paperboard, and articles of                                                                                     
               paper pulp, paper or paper board           1.517     85.0        85.8    -18.0    -2.3      -0.5       1.4       0.9
65          Textile yarn, fabrics, made-up                                                                                         
               articles, n.e.s., and related product      1.399    100.5       100.7      0.2     0.2      -0.3       0.1       0.2
66          Nonmetallic mineral manufactures,                                                                                      
               n.e.s.                                     2.118    103.2       103.0      1.1     0.5       0.1      -0.4      -0.2
67          Iron and steel                                2.004     96.2        96.5     -1.4    -1.0      -0.1       0.2       0.3
68          Nonferrous metals                             1.853     91.1        90.6     -3.9     1.8       1.9       3.9      -0.5
69          Manufactures of metals, n.e.s.                1.961     99.5        98.9     -2.6    -0.7      -0.4      -0.4      -0.6
                                                                                                                                   
7          MACHINERY AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT             46.875     96.7        96.1     -3.1    -1.0      -0.3      -0.1      -0.6
71          Power generating machinery and                                                                                         
               equipment (9612=100)                       2.943     99.5        99.6     n.a.    -0.6       0.4      -0.3       0.1
72          Machinery specialized for particular                                                                                   
               industries                                 2.660     99.7        99.3     -2.3    -0.4      -0.5      -0.9      -0.4
73          Metalworking machinery                        0.813     98.6        98.7     -2.9    -0.4      -0.7      -1.6       0.1
74          General industrial machinery and equip-                                                                                
               ment, n.e.s. and machine parts, n.e.s      3.394     98.6        98.2     -2.5    -0.1      -1.0      -1.0      -0.4
75          Computer equipment and office machines        7.499     84.6        82.7    -12.3    -1.8      -1.2      -1.2      -2.2
76          Telecommunications & sound recording                                                                                   
               & reproducing apparatus & equipment        4.565     94.5        94.3     -4.0    -1.1       0.1      -0.3      -0.2
77          Electrical machinery and equipment            9.643     91.1        90.6     -6.5    -2.6      -0.1       1.0      -0.5
78          Road vehicles                                14.327    100.9       100.7      0.1    -0.1      -0.1       0.3      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
8          MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES           17.177    100.1       100.4     -0.4     0.1      -0.1      -0.2       0.3
81          Prefabricated buildings; plumbing, heat                                                                                
               & lighting fixtures, n.e.s.                0.377     96.0        95.6     -6.0     0.0      -0.5      -2.7      -0.4
82          Furniture and parts thereof                   1.236    102.4       102.7      2.0     0.2      -0.1       0.5       0.3
83          Travel goods, handbags and similar                                                                                     
               containers                                 0.497    101.4       101.2      0.3     0.6      -0.2       0.3      -0.2
84          Articles of apparel and clothing                                                                                       
               accessories                                5.687    101.9       102.7      1.7     0.2       0.2       0.4       0.8
85          Footwear                                      1.740    101.0       101.0     -0.4     0.5       0.3      -0.7       0.0
87          Professional, scientific and controlling                                                                               
               instruments and apparatus, n.e.s.          1.572     97.4        97.1     -3.5    -0.4      -0.6      -1.4      -0.3
88          Photographic apparatus, equipment and                                                                                  
               supplies and optical goods, n.e.s.;        1.339     95.4        95.7     -3.1    -0.4      -0.5      -0.6       0.3
89          Miscellaneous manufactured articles,                                                                                   
               n.e.s.                                     4.729     99.8        99.7     -1.4    -0.1      -0.1      -0.3      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                       n.a.      Not available.        
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for January, February and March 1997                                                                                      
            have been revised to reflect the availability                                                                                 
            of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                                                               
            All data are subject to revision in each of the                                                                               
            three months after original publication.                                                                                      
        3  Product categories included in this group                                                                                      
            have been modified due to concordance                                                                                         
            or coverage limitations.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                          
        NOTE:   Published categories may include price data not shown separetely                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                                    

Table 4       U.S. Export Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, April 1996-April 1997                                 
                  1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                            
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
                                                         ance                           April   Dec.      Jan.      Feb.      March
SITC      Description                                                                   1996    1996      1997      1997      1997 
Rev. 3                                                  March      March       April    to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1997       1997        1997     April   Jan.      Feb.      March     April
                                                        1/         2/                   1997    1997      1997      1997      1997 
                                                                                                                                   
          ALL COMMODITIES                               100.000     99.6        99.0     -2.2     0.1       0.2       0.0      -0.6
                                                                                                                                   
0          FOOD AND LIVE ANIMALS                          7.995    103.3        97.5    -19.0    -1.2       1.6       1.0      -5.6
01          Meat and meat preparations                    1.146     96.4        96.7     -3.2    -2.5      -0.9       2.0       0.3
03          Fish, crustaceans, aquatic invertebrates                                                                               
               and preparations                           0.539     89.1        88.0      3.5    -1.2      -5.6      -1.2      -1.2
04          Cereals and cereal preparations               3.090    104.9        89.1    -38.4    -1.8       4.2       2.0     -15.1
05          Vegetables, fruit and nuts,                                                                                            
               fresh or dried                             1.419    100.3        99.9     -3.9     0.4       0.5      -1.6      -0.4
08          Feeding stuff for animals (not                                                                                         
               including unmilled cereals)                0.874    125.3       128.5      6.6    -1.9       4.3       2.0       2.6
09          Miscellaneous edible products and                                                                                      
               preparations                               0.382    103.3       103.3     n.a.    -0.1      -0.2      -0.1       0.0
       3/ Other food and live animals (9612=100)          0.544    102.9       103.2     n.a.     1.6       0.3       1.0       0.3
                                                                                                                                   
1          BEVERAGES ANB TOBACCO                          1.485    100.2       100.2     -0.4     0.1      -0.1      -0.2       0.0
12          Tobacco and tobacco manufactures              1.224    100.1       100.1     n.a.     0.1      -0.1      -0.3       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
2          CRUDE MATERIALS, INEDIBLE, EXCEPT FUELS        5.956     93.2        88.6     -2.1     1.5       2.4       1.1      -4.9
21          Hides, skins and furskins, raw                0.376    115.6       113.8     26.3    -0.3       1.1       0.8      -1.6
22          Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits               1.442    133.1       109.3    -14.5     4.5       5.5       5.1     -17.9
24          Cork and wood                                 0.995     96.0        94.2     -2.3     0.3       0.4      -2.3      -1.9
25          Pulp and waste paper                          0.673     58.6        58.9     11.8     0.0       6.3      -1.3       0.5
26          Textile fibers and their waste                0.842     85.2        83.6    -10.5    -0.2      -0.1       2.4      -1.9
27          Crude fertilizers and crude minerals          0.276     96.9        96.9     -1.9     0.6      -0.2      -0.7       0.0
28          Metalliferous ores and metal scrap            0.922     89.6        89.7     -1.4     1.4       2.2       0.9       0.1
       3/ Other crude materials, inedible, except                                                                                  
             fuels (9612=100)                             0.431    102.6       101.5     n.a.     2.4       0.3      -0.1      -1.1
                                                                                                                                   
3          MINERAL FUELS, LUBRICANTS AND RELATED                                                                                   
              MATERIALS                                   2.132    110.9       110.2     -0.6    -0.3      -3.7      -1.2      -0.6
32          Coal, coke and briquettes                     0.691    102.1       102.3     -0.4     0.8      -0.4      -0.1       0.2
33          Petroleum, petroleum products and                                                                                      
               related materials                          1.289    118.8       119.0      0.2    -1.2      -4.4      -2.1       0.2
                                                                                                                                   
4          ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE OILS, FATS AND                                                                                     
              WAXES                                       0.450     96.5        93.2      2.3     3.3       1.6      -1.1      -3.4
                                                                                                                                   
5          CHEMICALS AND RELATED PRODUCTS, N.E.S.        10.398     97.1        97.0     -0.2     0.1       0.4       0.5      -0.1
51          Organic chemicals                             2.608     86.1        85.1     -4.5     0.2       0.9       0.2      -1.2
52          Inorganic chemicals                           0.835     99.3        99.1     -4.5    -2.1       0.3      -0.7      -0.2
53          Dyeing, tanning and coloring materials        0.496    102.4       103.2      2.3    -0.3       0.0       0.6       0.8
54          Medicinal and pharmaceutical products         1.222    100.9       101.6     -0.1    -0.4      -0.2      -0.3       0.7
55          Essential oils; polishing and cleansing                                                                                
               preps                                      0.751    102.2       102.3      1.5    -0.1       1.1      -0.3       0.1
56          Fertilizers (9612=100)                        0.000     96.6        95.2     n.a.     0.5      -2.5      -1.4      -1.4
57          Plastics in primary forms                     1.909     97.8        98.0      4.3     1.1       1.1       2.1       0.2
58          Plastics in nonprimary forms                  0.824     98.8        98.5     -0.8     1.7      -0.7       0.4      -0.3
59          Chemical materials and products, n.e.s.       1.753    103.5       103.9      2.1    -0.1       0.1       0.4       0.4
                                                                                                                                   
6          MANUFACTURED GOODS CLASSIFIED CHIEFLY                                                                                   
              BY MATERIAL                                 9.565     97.5        97.8     -0.5     0.1       0.4       0.0       0.3
62          Rubber manufactures, n.e.s.                   0.664    102.7       103.0      0.6    -0.1      -0.3       0.1       0.3
63          Cork and wood manufactures other than                                                                                  
               furniture                                  0.292     92.7        90.9     -0.8     0.3       0.7       1.1      -1.9
64          Paper, paperboard, and articles of                                                                                     
               paper pulp, paper or paperboard            1.487     83.1        82.3     -9.0    -1.5      -0.5      -0.1      -1.0
65          Textile yarn, fabrics, made-up                                                                                         
               articles, n.e.s., and related product      1.380    101.8       103.7     n.a.     0.2       0.1      -0.9       1.9
66          Nonmetallic mineral manufactures,                                                                                      
               n.e.s.                                     1.282    104.0       104.0      2.9     0.1       0.1      -0.1       0.0
67          Iron and steel                                1.100    103.3       103.3     n.a.     1.3       0.0       0.3       0.0
68          Nonferrous metals                             1.264     91.6        92.0     -2.1     1.8       2.4      -0.5       0.4
69          Manufactures of metals, n.e.s.                1.935    103.2       104.0      1.2     0.0       0.6       1.0       0.8
                                                                                                                                   
7          MACHINERY AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT             50.094    100.5       100.6     -0.1     0.1      -0.1       0.0       0.1
71          Power generating machinery and                                                                                         
               equipment                                  4.194    105.6       106.3      2.8     0.5       0.1       0.4       0.7
72          Machinery specialized for particular                                                                                   
               industries                                 4.592    103.8       103.8      0.7     0.8       0.1       0.0       0.0
73          Metalworking machinery                        0.943    104.8       104.6      3.4     0.0       1.1       1.3      -0.2
74          General industrial machinery and equip-                                                                                
               ment, n.e.s. and machine parts, n.e.s      4.906    104.1       104.6      2.6     0.3       0.4       0.3       0.5
75          Computer equipment and office machines        6.751     86.6        86.4     -8.5    -0.2      -0.9      -0.3      -0.2
76          Telecommunications & sound recording                                                                                   
               & reproducing apparatus & equipment        3.776     99.9       100.0     -1.3     0.1      -0.6      -0.3       0.1
77          Electrical machinery and equipment           11.769     96.5        96.5     -3.5    -0.5      -0.1      -0.4       0.0
78          Road vehicles                                 8.970    101.8       101.9      1.1     0.2      -0.1       0.3       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
8          MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES           11.084    101.4       101.5      0.9     0.1       0.0       0.0       0.1
82          Furniture and parts thereof                   0.620    102.5       102.6      0.2     0.2       0.3       0.0       0.1
84          Articles of apparel and clothing                                                                                       
               accessories                                1.238    101.4       101.4     n.a.     0.0       0.4       0.1       0.0
87          Professional, scientific and controlling                                                                               
               instruments and apparatus, n.e.s.          3.677    103.8       103.1      2.1     0.7       0.2       0.2      -0.7
88          Photographic apparatus, equipment and                                                                                  
               supplies and optical goods, n.e.s.         0.933     98.4        97.5     n.a.    -0.3      -0.2      -0.3      -0.9
89          Miscellaneous manufactured articles,                                                                                   
               n.e.s.                                     4.166     99.8       100.7     -0.2    -0.4      -0.2      -0.2       0.9
       3/ Other miscellaneous manufactured                                                                                         
             articles (9612=100)                          0.450    100.7       100.8     n.a.     0.8      -0.1       0.0       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                     n.a.      Not available.          
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for January, February and March 1997                                                                                      
            have been revised to reflect the availability                                                                                 
            of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                                                               
            All data are subject to revision in each of the                                                                               
            three months after original publication.                                                                                      
        3  Product categories included in this group                                                                                      
            have been modified due to concordance                                                                                         
            or coverage limitations.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                          
        NOTE:  Published categories may include price data not shown separately                                                           
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                                    

Table 5       U.S. Import Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, April 1996-April 1997                                 
                 1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                             
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
Harmo-                                                   ance                           April   Dec.      Jan.      Feb.      March
nized     Description                                                                   1996    1996      1997      1997      1997 
System                                                  March      March       April    to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1997       1997        1997     April   Jan.      Feb.      March     April
                                                        1/         2/                   1997    1997      1997      1997      1997 
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
I          LIVE ANIMALS; ANIMAL PRODUCTS                  1.502     99.9       100.4      5.5    -0.5       1.7       1.6       0.5
02          Meat and edible meat offal                    0.270     98.9       100.0      8.1    -1.5       0.4       6.1       1.1
03          Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and                                                                                     
               other aquatic invertebrates                0.846    100.3       100.9      5.5     1.0       1.8      -0.4       0.6
       3/ Other live animals and animal                                                                                            
             products (9612=100)                          0.386    102.0       102.0     n.a.    -3.4       2.2       3.3       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
II         VEGETABLE PRODUCTS                             1.646     97.9        91.8     -5.6     0.7       9.2       3.6      -6.2
07          Edible vegetables and certain roots and                                                                                
               tubers                                     0.329    124.8        98.3    -24.2    -5.0      11.9      26.4     -21.2
08          Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus                                                                                  
               fruit or melons                            0.470    107.0       105.3      4.1    -2.4      -1.9       0.4      -1.6
09          Coffee, tea, mate and spices                  0.425     89.7        88.6      5.4     4.7      11.0      14.1      -1.2
       3/   Other vegetable products                      0.422     99.6        95.0     -2.7     4.9      19.4     -13.5      -4.6
                                                                                                                                   
IV         PREPARED FOODSTUFFS, BEVERAGES, AND                                                                                     
              TOBACCO                                     2.007    100.8       101.4     -1.6    -0.3      -0.2      -0.8       0.6
20          Preparations of vegetables, fruit,                                                                                     
               nuts, or other parts of plants             0.281     95.8        93.0    -18.0     1.5      -2.5      -1.5      -2.9
22          Beverages, spirits, and vinegar               0.721    102.8       103.2      1.9     0.0      -0.1      -0.1       0.4
       3/   Other prepared foodstuffs (9612=100)          1.006     98.3       100.0     n.a.    -0.9       0.2      -1.0       1.7
                                                                                                                                   
V          MINERAL PRODUCTS                              10.293    112.9       108.1    -10.8     2.7      -7.2     -11.5      -4.3
26          Ores, slag and ash                            0.281     99.9       103.8      3.5     0.1       0.2       0.6       3.9
27          Mineral fuels, oils and residuals,                                                                                     
               bituminous substances and mineral wax      9.786    113.5       108.3    -11.4     2.8      -7.5     -12.0      -4.6
                                                                                                                                   
VI         PRODUCTS OF THE CHEMICAL OR ALLIED                                                                                      
              INDUSTRIES                                  5.225    101.1       100.9     -1.1    -0.1      -0.5       0.1      -0.2
28          Inorganic chemicals                           0.854    105.5       105.3      1.5     0.5      -0.1       0.6      -0.2
29          Organic chemicals                             2.032     99.5        98.5     -0.7    -0.2      -0.3       0.3      -1.0
30          Pharmaceutical products                       0.536    101.0       101.7     -1.0    -0.9      -1.2      -0.5       0.7
32          Tanning & dyeing extracts; dye &                                                                                       
               pigments; varnish & paints; putty          0.282     95.8        96.1     -6.7    -1.2      -2.7      -0.3       0.3
37          Photographic or cinematographic goods         0.350     99.0       100.9      0.9    -1.0       0.1       1.0       1.9
38          Miscellaneaous chemical products                                                                                       
               (9612=100)                                 0.408     98.7        99.1     n.a.     1.0      -1.1      -1.2       0.4
       3/   Other products of the chemical or                                                                                      
             allied industries (9612=100)                 0.763     99.8       100.1     n.a.     0.0       0.4      -0.6       0.3
                                                                                                                                   
VII        PLASTICS AND ARTICLES THEREOF; RUBBER                                                                                   
              AND ARTICLES THEREOF                        2.792     93.9        93.1     -4.0    -0.2      -0.6       0.1      -0.9
39          Plastics and articles thereof                 1.703     94.9        94.2     -2.4    -0.1      -0.6       0.6      -0.7
40          Rubber and articles thereof                   1.089     92.5        91.6     -6.1    -0.2      -0.6      -0.6      -1.0
                                                                                                                                   
VIII       RAW HIDES, SKINS, LEATHER, FURSKINS,                                                                                    
              TRAVEL GOODS, ETC                           0.989    103.8       103.4      1.7     0.7      -0.5       0.0      -0.4
42          Articles of leather; travel goods, bags,                                                                               
               etc. of various materials                  0.791    101.4       101.5      0.9     0.8      -0.2       0.1       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
IX         WOOD, WOOD CHARCOAL, CORK, STRAW, BASKET                                                                                
              AND WICKER                                  1.728    114.7       113.5     12.3     0.0       3.1       0.1      -1.0
                                                                                                                                   
X          WOOD PULP, WASTE AND SCRAP PAPER, PAPER                                                                                 
              AND ARTICLES THEREOF                        2.240     82.7        82.8    -13.8    -1.3       0.0       0.4       0.1
47          Pulp wood or other fibrous cellulosic                                                                                  
               material; waste paper/paperboard           0.355     65.9        64.6    -12.2    -0.6       0.0      -1.1      -2.0
48          Paper and paperboard; articles of paper                                                                                
               pulp, paper or paperboard                  1.536     86.3        87.0    -16.7    -1.9      -0.5       1.2       0.8
49          Printed matter                                0.348    100.9       100.7      2.1     0.0       2.1      -1.7      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
XI         TEXTILE AND TEXTILE ARTICLES                   6.723    101.1       101.8      1.3     0.2       0.2       0.4       0.7
61          Articles of apparel and clothing                                                                                       
               accessories, knitted or crocheted          1.988    101.2       101.9      0.4    -0.5      -0.2       0.6       0.7
62          Articles of apparel and clothing                                                                                       
               accessories, not knitted or crocheted      3.213    102.4       103.4      2.5     0.4       0.8       0.3       1.0
63          Made-up or worn textile articles and                                                                                   
               clothing; needlecraft sets; rags           0.338     98.4        98.1     -2.2    -0.5      -1.4       0.6      -0.3
       3/   Other textile & textile                                                                                                
             articles (9612=100)                          1.184    100.9       101.0     n.a.     0.6      -0.1       0.4       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
XII        FOOTWEAR, HEADGEAR, UMBRELLAS, WHIPS,                                                                                   
              ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS, ETC.                    2.024    101.0       101.2     -0.2     0.5       0.2      -0.6       0.2
64          Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts                                                                                  
               of such articles                           1.746    100.8       100.8     -0.5     0.6       0.2      -0.8       0.0
       3/ Other footwear, headgear, umbrellas,                                                                                     
             whips, art. flowers, etc. (9612=100)         0.278    100.2       101.5     n.a.     0.0       0.0       0.2       1.3
                                                                                                                                   
XIII       STONE, PLASTER, CEMENT, ASBESTOS,CERAMIC                                                                                
              GLASS ETC.                                  1.134    103.7       103.4      0.2     0.9       0.0      -0.7      -0.3
69          Ceramic products                              0.434    101.8       101.0     n.a.     0.4      -0.4      -0.3      -0.8
70          Glass and glassware                           0.440    103.8       103.9      0.1     0.6       1.0      -2.1       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
XIV        PEARLS, STONES, PRECIOUS METALS,                                                                                        
              IIITATION JEWELRY, AND COINS                2.125     97.4        97.3     -3.3    -0.5      -1.1       0.9      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
XV         BASE METALS AND ARTICLES OF BASE METAL         5.760     95.2        95.1     -2.5     0.1       0.9       0.4      -0.1
72          Iron and steel                                1.715     95.2        95.3     -1.9    -1.3       0.1       0.5       0.1
73          Articles of iron or steel                     1.280     98.7        98.4     -2.3    -0.1      -0.6      -0.6      -0.3
74          Copper and articles thereof                   0.451     85.3        86.1     -3.0     0.9       3.1       1.4       0.9
76          Aluminum and articles thereof                 0.955     93.3        92.3     -2.1     4.4       3.4      -0.1      -1.1
83          Miscellaneous articles of base metal          0.408    102.6       102.8      0.9    -1.1       0.4       0.0       0.2
       3/   Miscellaneous nonferrous metals and                                                                                    
             articles, including scrap (9612=100)         0.513    104.7       107.5     n.a.    -1.5       2.3       3.9       2.7
                                                                                                                                   
XVI        MACHINERY, ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, TV                                                                                     
              IMAGE & SOUND RECORDERS, PARTS, ETC.       30.916     93.6        92.6     -5.5    -1.8      -0.4      -0.1      -1.1
84          Specialized machinery & computer                                                                                       
               equipment                                 16.291     95.1        93.6     -5.1    -0.8      -0.7      -0.8      -1.6
85          Electrical machinery and equip, sound                                                                                  
               and TV recorders & reproducers, parts     14.625     92.0        91.4     -6.3    -2.8       0.0       0.7      -0.7
                                                                                                                                   
XVII       VEHICLES, AIRCRAFT, VESSELS AND                                                                                         
              ASSOCIATED TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT             15.474    101.0       100.8      0.2    -0.2      -0.1       0.2      -0.2
87          Motor vehicles and their parts               14.626    100.8       100.6      0.0    -0.1      -0.1       0.2      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
XVIII      OPTICAL, PHOTO, MEASURING, MEDICAL &                                                                                    
              MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; CLOCKS & WATCHES       3.509     95.0        94.9     -4.5    -0.9      -0.3      -1.2      -0.1
90          Optical, photographic, measuring and                                                                                   
               medical instruments                        2.998     95.0        94.9     -4.3    -1.0      -0.4      -1.0      -0.1
91          Clocks and watches and parts thereof          0.370     94.9        94.7     -6.0    -1.0      -0.8      -1.8      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
XX         MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES            3.631     99.7       100.0     -0.9     0.1      -0.4      -0.3       0.3
94          Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps                                                                                  
               and lighting fittings nes;                 1.557     99.8        99.9     -0.4     0.2      -0.2      -0.2       0.1
95          Toys, games and sports equipment; parts                                                                                
               and accessories thereof                    1.795    100.7       100.8     -1.1     0.0      -0.3      -0.2       0.1
96          Miscellaneous manufactured articles           0.279     93.9        94.9     -2.8    -0.2      -2.1      -0.3       1.1
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                                                       
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for January, February and March 1997                                                                                      
            have been revised to reflect the availability                                                                                 
            of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                                                               
            All data are subject to revision in each of                                                                                   
            the three months after original publication.                                                                                  
        3  Product categories included in this group                                                                                      
            have been modified due to concordance                                                                                         
            or coverage limitations.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                          
        NOTE:  Published categories may include price data not shown separately                                                           
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
Table 6       U.S. Export Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, April 1996-April 1997                                 
                  1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                            
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
Harmo-                                                   ance                           April   Dec.      Jan.      Feb.      March
nized     Description                                                                   1996    1996      1997      1997      1997 
System                                                  March      March       April    to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1997       1997        1997     April   Jan.      Feb.      March     April
                                                        1/         2/                   1997    1997      1997      1997      1997 
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
I          LIVE ANIMALS; ANIMAL PRODUCTS                  1.906     95.9        95.7      2.9    -2.0      -2.4       0.6      -0.2
02          Meat & edible meat offal                      1.064     94.3        94.7     -4.6    -2.8      -0.9       1.9       0.4
03          Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and                                                                                     
               other aquatic invertebrates                0.479     87.0        85.9      2.0    -2.2      -7.2      -1.2      -1.3
       3/ Other live animals and animal                                                                                            
             products (9612=100)                          0.363    100.1        99.4     n.a.     0.2       0.3      -0.4      -0.7
                                                                                                                                   
II         VEGETABLE PRODUCTS                             5.782    108.7        95.0    -28.7     0.4       3.4       2.2     -12.6
07          Edible vegetables and certain roots and                                                                                
               tubers                                     0.302     96.2        93.9     -3.8    -0.3      -1.1       0.7      -2.4
08          Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus                                                                                  
               fruit or melons                            0.715     98.1        98.0     -8.2    -0.3       1.4      -3.0      -0.1
10          Cereals                                       2.862    104.6        87.5    -40.6    -2.0       4.5       2.1     -16.3
12          Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds,                                                                                      
               fruits, plants, straw and fodder           1.627    130.8       110.5    -12.0     5.2       4.2       4.6     -15.5
                                                                                                                                   
III        ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE FATS AND OILS              0.483     96.2        93.3      0.2     2.5       2.0      -1.4      -3.0
                                                                                                                                   
IV         PREPARED FOODSTUFFS, BEVERAGES, AND                                                                                     
              TOBACCO                                     3.589    105.5       106.1      1.2    -0.1       1.0       0.1       0.6
20          Preparations of vegetables, fruit,                                                                                     
               nuts, or other parts of plants             0.389    109.5       109.3      3.3     2.1       2.4      -0.5      -0.2
21          Miscellaneous edible preparations             0.355    104.1       104.1      1.7     0.0      -0.3       0.0       0.0
22          Beverages, spirits, and vinegar               0.329     99.9       100.0     n.a.    -1.2      -0.5       0.2       0.1
23          Residues and waste from the food                                                                                       
               industries; prepared animal feed           0.791    122.7       125.5      4.1    -2.2       4.1       0.8       2.3
24          Tobacco and manufactured tobacco                                                                                       
               substitutes                                1.231    100.1       100.1     n.a.     0.1      -0.1      -0.3       0.0
       3/   Other prepared foods                          0.495    100.2       100.9     n.a.     1.7      -0.5      -0.1       0.7
                                                                                                                                   
V          MINERAL PRODUCTS                               2.750    108.8       108.2      0.7     0.2      -2.0      -1.4      -0.6
27          Mineral fuels, oils and residuals,                                                                                     
               bituminous substances and mineral wax      2.204    112.9       112.1      0.6    -0.3      -2.9      -1.5      -0.7
                                                                                                                                   
VI         PRODUCTS OF THE CHEMICAL OR ALLIED                                                                                      
              INDUSTRIES                                  8.272     97.7        97.4     -1.2    -0.1       0.5       0.0      -0.3
28          Inorganic chemicals                           0.925    101.2       100.9     -3.0    -1.3       0.5      -0.9      -0.3
29          Organic chemicals                             2.927     89.5        88.9     -4.0     0.1       1.0       0.2      -0.7
30          Pharmaceutical products                       0.884    100.7       100.7     -0.3     0.2      -0.3      -0.3       0.0
31          Fertilizers (9612=100)                        0.000     96.6        95.2     n.a.     0.5      -2.5      -1.4      -1.4
32          Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes and                                                                                   
               pigments; paints & varnish; putty;ink      0.506    102.1       102.9      1.9    -0.4       0.0       0.6       0.8
33          Essential oils and resinoids;                                                                                          
               perfumery, cosmetic or toilet              0.529    102.8       102.8      2.3    -0.4       1.9       0.0       0.0
34          Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or                                                                                  
               scouring products; candles, pastes         0.308    100.9       101.0      0.3     0.2      -0.2      -0.5       0.1
37          Photographic or cinematographic goods         0.436     96.7        94.7     -0.8    -0.3      -0.5      -0.5      -2.1
38          Miscellaneous chemical products               1.539    103.6       103.6      1.4    -0.3       0.1       0.6       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
VII        PLASTICS AND ARTICLES THEREOF; RUBBER                                                                                   
              AND ARTICLES THEREOF                        4.381     98.7        98.5      1.4     0.4       0.5       1.0      -0.2
39          Plastics and articles thereof                 3.474     98.1        98.1      1.8     0.5       0.3       1.3       0.0
40          Rubber and articles thereof                   0.907    100.8       100.2      0.8     0.1       0.9      -0.2      -0.6
                                                                                                                                   
VIII       RAW HIDES, SKINS, LEATHER, FURSKINS,                                                                                    
              TRAVEL GOODS, ETC.                          0.607    104.9       104.0     13.7    -0.5       0.5      -0.5      -0.9
41          Raw hides and skins (other than                                                                                        
               furskins) and leather                      0.444    103.0       101.8     14.3    -0.7       0.6       1.9      -1.2
                                                                                                                                   
IX         WOOD, WOOD CHARCOAL, CORK, STRAW, BASKET                                                                                
              AND WICKER                                  1.313     95.9        94.2     -1.5     0.4       0.5      -1.5      -1.8
                                                                                                                                   
X          WOOD PULP, WASTE AND SCRAP PAPER, PAPER                                                                                 
              AND ARTICLES THEREOF                        2.835     75.3        74.6     -3.0    -0.9      -0.3      -0.5      -0.9
47          Pulp wood or other fibrous cellulosic                                                                                  
               material; waste paper/paperboard           0.622     56.4        56.3      3.7    -0.5       1.2      -2.1      -0.2
48          Paper and paperboard; articles of paper                                                                                
               pulp, paper or paperboard                  1.450     83.4        81.9     -9.8    -1.4      -0.7       0.4      -1.8
49          Printed material                              0.762    103.4       103.8      1.8     0.1      -0.9      -1.0       0.4
                                                                                                                                   
XI         TEXTILE AND TEXTILE ARTICLES                   3.213     93.4        93.7     -4.0     0.0       0.0       0.2       0.3
52          Cotton, including yarns and woven                                                                                      
               fabrics thereof                            0.721     84.5        83.2    -11.9     0.0      -0.2       0.5      -1.5
                                                                                                                                   
XIII       STONE, PLASTER, CEMENT, ASBESTOS,                                                                                       
              CERAMIC, GLASS ETC.                         0.842    103.2       103.2     n.a.     0.2       0.0      -0.1       0.0
70          Glass and glassware                           0.482    101.1       101.1     n.a.     0.2      -0.3      -0.1       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
XIV        PEARLS, STONES, PRECIOUS METALS,                                                                                        
              IMITATION JEWELRY, AND COINS                1.862     96.8        97.8     -3.8    -1.2      -2.2      -0.5       1.0
                                                                                                                                   
XV         BASE METALS AND ARTICLES OF BASE METALS        4.586     96.2        96.8     -0.9     0.5       0.7       1.1       0.6
72          Iron and steel                                0.965     93.7        94.2     -3.6     0.6       0.4       0.1       0.5
73          Articles of iron or steel                     1.224    106.0       106.4      2.1     0.4       0.2       2.9       0.4
74          Copper and articles thereof                   0.453     87.5        88.5     -6.8     1.3       1.2       2.1       1.1
76          Aluminum and articles thereof                 0.870     88.5        88.6     -1.2     0.8       1.4       0.9       0.1
82          Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and                                                                                 
               forks, of base metal; parts thereof        0.409    103.6       103.3     n.a.     0.1       0.5      -0.3      -0.3
83          Miscellaneous articles of base metal          0.367     99.5       100.1     -1.2    -0.3       0.2       0.0       0.6
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
XVI        MACHINERY, ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, TV                                                                                     
              IMAGE AND SOUND RECORDERS, PARTS, ETC      36.844     97.9        98.0     -2.1     0.0      -0.4      -0.1       0.1
84          Specialized machinery & computer                                                                                       
               equipment                                 20.326     98.4        98.5     -1.4     0.2      -0.1      -0.1       0.1
85          Electrical machinery and equip, sound                                                                                  
               & tv recorders & reproducers, parts       16.518     97.3        97.4     -2.9    -0.3      -0.6      -0.2       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
XVII       VEHICLES, AIRCRAFT, VESSELS AND                                                                                         
              ASSOCIATED TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT             13.433    103.8       103.9      2.6     0.4       0.0       0.2       0.1
87          Motor vehicles and their parts                9.385    101.9       102.0      1.1     0.2      -0.1       0.3       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
XVIII      OPTICAL, PHOTO, MEASURING, MEDICAL &                                                                                    
              MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; CLOCKS & WATCHES       5.338    102.4       102.0      1.1     0.5       0.2      -0.1      -0.4
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
XX         MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES            1.748    101.8       101.8      0.7     0.3       0.0       0.2       0.0
94          Furniture; stuffed furnishings;                                                                                        
               lamps and lighting fittings nesoi;         0.854    102.8       102.8      0.7     0.2       0.3       0.0       0.0
95          Toys, games and sports equipment; parts                                                                                
               and accessories thereof                    0.722    100.6       100.6      0.5     0.4      -0.1       0.1       0.0
                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                                                       
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for January, February and March 1997                                                                                      
            have been revised to reflect the availability                                                                                 
            of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                                                               
            All data are subject to revision in each of                                                                                   
            the three months after original publication.                                                                                  
        3  Product categories included in this group                                                                                      
            have been modified due to concordance                                                                                         
            or coverage limitations.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                          
        NOTE:  Published categories may include price data not shown separately                                                           
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
   Table  7    U.S. Import Price Indexes and Percent Changes by Locality of Origin,April 1996-April 1997                                   
          1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                           
                                                                  Index                    Percent Change                    
                                                   Percentage                                                                                          
                                                      of                            Annual                  Monthly                                     
                                                    US Imports                    April   Dec.         Jan.        Feb.     March  
    Description 1/                                                                1996    1996         1997        1997     1997   
                                                    1995       March     April    to      to           to          to       to     
                                                               1997      1997     April   Jan.         Feb.        March    April  
                                                               2/                 1997    1997         1997        1997     1997   
                                                                                                                                   
3/  Developed Countries                                55.6     98.3      97.7     -3.1     0.1         -0.9        -1.2     -0.6  
      Manufactured Goods                               52.2     97.7      97.3     -2.9    -0.3         -0.4        -0.4     -0.4  
      Nonmanufactured Goods                             3.1    110.2     107.5     -5.6     6.4         -8.3       -12.0     -2.5  
                                                                                                                                   
3/  Developing Countries                               42.7    103.1     102.3     -1.5     0.0         -1.0        -1.1     -0.8  
      Manufactured Goods                               35.4    100.3     100.1     -0.6    -0.1         -0.2         0.2     -0.2  
      Nonmanufactured Goods                             7.1    111.7     107.4     -7.8     0.2         -4.6        -6.2     -3.8  
                                                                                                                                   
    Canada                                             18.9     99.5      99.2     -2.1     0.8         -1.7        -1.4     -0.3  
      Manufactured Goods                               16.5     98.7      98.6     -0.8    -0.3          0.1         0.8     -0.1  
      Nonmanufactured Goods                             2.2    109.3     107.1     -9.5     7.1        -11.2       -14.1     -2.0  
                                                                                                                                   
4/  European Union                                     17.0    101.6     101.3     -1.2     0.0         -0.4        -1.0     -0.3  
      Manufactured Goods                               16.4    100.9     100.8     -1.4    -0.1         -0.5        -0.8     -0.1  
      Nonmanufactured Goods                             0.5    123.0     119.2      4.1     2.3          1.5        -6.7     -3.1  
                                                                                                                                   
    Japan                                              16.6     94.3      93.4     -5.5    -0.7         -0.6        -0.3     -1.0  
                                                                                                                                   
5/  Asian Newly Industrialized Countries               10.9     96.3      96.4     -2.7    -0.4         -0.2         0.0      0.1  
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
1    Regions are not mutually exclusive.                                              
                                                                                      
2    Data for January, February and March 1997                                        
     have been revised to reflect the availability                                    
     of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                  
                                                                                      
3    Defined according to the Standard Census Definition.                             
                                                                                      
4    Includes EU  15 countries                                                        
                                                                                      
5    Includes Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan.                          
                                                                                      
   Table  9    U.S. International Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Services.                                   
        March 1996-March 1997    1995 = 100,  unless otherwise noted                                                                                                 
                                                                 Index                             Percent Change                    
                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                  Annual          Quarterly                                   
                                                    Trade                         March   March    June        Sept.    Dec.   
    Description                                     (Mil.                         1996    1996     1996        1996     1996   
                                                    of         Dec.      March    to      to       to          to       to     
                                                    Dollars)   1996      1997     March   June     Sept.       Dec.     March  
                                                                                  1997    1996     1996        1996     1997   
                                                                                                                               
    Air Freight (Inbound)                           5495        95.0      89.5     -6.7    -0.8      0.5        -0.6     -5.8  
     Atlantic                                       1880        96.6      89.7     -5.5    -1.8      1.8         1.8     -7.1  
     Pacific                                        3151        94.0      89.8     -7.1    -0.5     -0.6        -1.7     -4.5  
                                                                                                                               
    Air Freight (Outbound)                          5835        99.2      99.8      0.7     0.3     -0.5         0.3      0.6  
     Atlantic                                       2080        99.0      99.9      1.8     0.8     -0.2         0.3      0.9  
     Pacific                                        3222       100.2     100.3     -0.4     0.0     -0.9         0.4      0.1  
                                                                                                                               
    Air Passenger Fares (U.S. Carrier)              30673      101.6      99.8      1.5     6.1      2.9        -5.3     -1.8  
1/   Atlantic                                       8811        99.6      97.3      1.6    13.4      6.0       -13.5     -2.3  
1/   Pacific                                        15900       95.0      92.7     -6.0     1.7     -1.7        -3.7     -2.4  
1/   Latin American / Caribbean                     4542       102.9     105.1      2.2    -0.1      0.2         0.0      2.1  
     Canadian                                       1367       153.6     150.0     44.4     2.8     15.7        24.3     -2.3  
                                                                                                                               
    Air Passenger Fares (Foreign Carrier)           31694      100.7      98.9      2.7     7.0      2.4        -4.5     -1.8  
1/   Atlantic                                       13572      100.3      97.6      1.6    10.2      4.0        -8.9     -2.7  
1/   Pacific                                        12570       94.2      92.3     -0.4     4.5     -2.6        -0.2     -2.0  
1/   Latin American / Caribbean                     4224       103.6     105.8      3.5    -0.1      1.3         0.2      2.1  
                                                                                                                               
1/  Crude Oil Tanker Freight (Inbound)                                                                                         
       (1990 = 100)                                 2153       122.1      n.a.     n.a.    -1.9    -11.0         8.1     n.a.  
                                                                                                                               
    Ocean Liner Freight (Inbound)                   12253       98.4      97.6     -3.8    -1.9     -1.6         0.4     -0.8  
     U.S. East Coast                                5410       101.7      99.8     -2.5    -0.9     -0.8         1.0     -1.9  
      from Atlantic                                 2647       101.4      99.4     -4.6    -1.6     -1.4         0.3     -2.0  
      from Pacific                                  1874        98.5      98.4     -0.7    -0.5     -0.2         0.1     -0.1  
     U.S. West Coast                                6844        95.4      95.4     -5.4    -3.0     -2.5         0.0      0.0  
      from Pacific                                  6347        94.8      95.1     -5.5    -3.2     -2.5        -0.2      0.3  
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
    1     Detailed data available upon request.                          n.a.    N                                             
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
   Table  8     U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Services.                              
        March 1996-March 1997  1995 = 100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                    
                                                                 Index                             Percent Change                    
                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                  Annual          Quarterly                                   
                                                    Trade                         March   March    June        Sept.    Dec.   
    Description                                     (Mil.                         1996    1996     1996        1996     1996   
                                                    of         Dec.      March    to      to       to          to       to     
                                                    Dollars)   1996      1997     March   June     Sept.       Dec.     March  
                                                                                  1997    1996     1996        1996     1997   
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
    IMPORT                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                               
    Air Freight                                     3188        95.6      90.1     -8.4    -1.3     -0.3        -1.2     -5.8  
     Atlantic                                       1278        98.2      91.2     -7.9    -2.5      2.0        -0.2     -7.1  
     Pacific                                        1674        94.8      90.5     -8.5    -0.8     -1.4        -2.0     -4.5  
                                                                                                                               
    Air Passenger Fares                             11127      100.0     101.2      4.1     7.5     -1.4        -2.9      1.2  
1/   Atlantic                                       4922        98.4     100.7      4.9    10.5     -0.3        -7.0      2.3  
1/   Pacific                                        2340        99.0      98.1      2.3     5.7     -9.2         7.5     -0.9  
1/   Latin American / Caribbean                     3021       104.1     107.0      4.4     0.1      1.4         0.1      2.8  
                                                                                                                               
1/  Crude Oil Tanker Freight (1990 = 100)           1985       122.0      n.a.     n.a.    -1.4    -11.3         6.4     n.a.  
                                                                                                                               
    Ocean Liner Freight                             9868        98.6      98.0     -4.0    -1.9     -1.3        -0.3     -0.6  
     U.S. East Coast                                4271       101.7     100.5     -2.2    -1.1     -0.1         0.1     -1.2  
      from Atlantic                                 1952       102.9     100.4     -4.5    -2.2      0.2        -0.1     -2.4  
      from Pacific                                  1774       100.4     100.2     -0.4    -0.2     -0.2         0.2     -0.2  
     U.S. West Coast                                5596        95.7      95.4     -6.0    -2.8     -2.4        -0.6     -0.3  
      from Pacific                                  5126        94.9      95.0     -6.2    -3.1     -2.5        -0.8      0.1  
                                                                                                                               
    EXPORT                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                               
    Air Freight (12/96 = 100)                       2562       100.0      98.5     n.a.    n.a.     n.a.        n.a.     -1.5  
                                                                                                                               
    Air Passenger Fares                             17272       99.7      96.7     -1.3     1.4      3.5        -3.1     -3.0  
1/   Atlantic                                       4120       104.7      98.7     -0.5     5.7      8.3        -7.8     -5.7  
1/   Pacific                                        10700       89.6      87.1     -9.4    -2.5      0.2        -4.6     -2.8  
     Latin American / Caribbean                     1392       101.6     101.8      0.7    -1.1      0.8         0.8      0.2  
     Canadian                                       1006       145.8     146.2     41.7     4.5      7.1        26.3      0.3  
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
    1     Detailed data available upon request.                          n.a.    N                                             
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
                                                                     
                           TECHNICAL NOTE
   
Import and Export Merchandise and Services Price Indexes -- All indexes use 
a modified Laspeyres formula and are weighted with 1995 trade weights.  The 
merchandise price indexes are published using three classifications:  the 
Harmonized System (HS), the Bureau of Economic Analysis End Use System,
and the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) system, Rev. 3.  
Price indexes for internationally traded services are presented using two 
definitions: Balance of Payments (which represents transactions between U.S. 
and foreign residents) and International (which represents all transactions
with U.S. importers or exporters, regardless of nationality).  Published
series use a base year of 1995=100 where possible.  Net transaction price
data are collected every month for over 20,000 products from over 6,000
companies and secondary sources.  Indexes are not seasonally adjusted.  More
detailed index series and additional information may be obtained from the
Division of International Prices, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2 Massachusetts
Avenue N.E., PSB 3955, Washington, DC 20212 or (202) 606-7155.

Import Price Indexes -- Products have been classified by the 1995 Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States Annotated (TSUSA).  Import prices are 
based on U.S. dollar prices paid by the U.S. importer.  The prices are
generally either "free on board" (f.o.b.) foreign port or "cost, insurance,
and freight" (c.i.f.) U.S. port transaction prices, depending on the
practices of the individual industry.  The index for crude petroleum is
calculated from data collected by the U.S. Department of Energy.  

Export Price Indexes -- Products have been classified by the 1995 Harmonized 
Schedule B classification system of the U.S. Bureau of the Census.  The
prices used are generally either "free alongside ship" (f.a.s.) factory
or "free on board" (f.o.b.) transaction prices, depending on the practices of
the individual industry.  Prices used in the grain index, excluding rice,
are obtained from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Import Indexes by Locality of Origin -- Prices used in these indexes are a
subset of the data collected for the Import Price Indexes.  Prior to
January 1993, nonmanufactured goods were defined as SITC 0-4 and manufactured
goods were defined as SITC 5-8.  Beginning with January 1993, the indexes are
defined by locality of origin using a nomenclature based upon the Standard
Industrial Classification (SIC-based).  Nonmanufactured goods are defined as
SIC 0-1, and manufactured goods are defined as SIC 2-3.  The indexes use 1995
weights and a base of 1995=100.

Import, Export, and International Services Indexes -- Indexes are calculated
on a quarterly basis.  The figures for services indexes will not sum up to
the aggregate dollar value because not all categories are shown in the tables.
Revenue figures for air passenger indexes exclude frequent flyer tickets and
those sold by consolidators.  Indexes for crude oil tanker freight are
calculated from data collected by the U. S. Department of Energy and the 
publication of these indexes is lagged one quarter.  

Revision policy -- Data are revised for the previous three months to reflect
the availability of late reports and corrections by respondents.

Uses of the Data -- The primary use of the indexes is to deflate trade
statistics.  For merchandise trade, the End Use classification system is the
structure used by the U.S. Department of Commerce in the construction of the
foreign trade sector of the National Income and Product Accounts.  Indexes
published using the Harmonized System and the Standard International Trade
Classification, Rev. 3, both international structures, are useful for general
market analysis.  For trade in international services, Balance of Payments
indexes are used for deflating National Accounts data, while International
indexes are more appropriate for market analysis. Merchandise and services
indexes also can be used to study U.S. competitiveness and price elasticities,
and the merchandise import indexes by country or region of origin are useful
for terms of trade analysis.



The import and export news release contains monthly price indexes at the
two-digit level of detail.  If you would like to be added to the mailing list
for more detailed index and percent change tables, please fill out the form
below and mail or fax it to the following address:


                       Division of International Prices
                       Bureau of Labor Statistics
                       PSB Building, Rm. 3955                                                                      
                       2 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E.
                       Washington, DC 20212


     Phone Number: (202) 606-7155           Fax Number: (202) 606-7179

         
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