Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until 

8:30 a.m. (EDT) Tuesday, June 15, 2010 

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

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

USDL-10-0811

U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES – MAY 2010 

U.S. import prices declined 0.6 percent in May, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, after 

rising 1.1 percent in April and 0.4 percent in March. The decrease was led by falling fuel prices, which more 

than offset a rise in nonfuel prices. In contrast, the price index for U.S. exports increased 0.7 percent in May 

following increases of 1.2 percent and 0.7 percent in April and March, respectively. 

Chart 1. One-month percent change in the Import Price Index: May 2009 – May 2010 

 Percent change 

1.7

2.7

-0.6

1.5

0.2

0.8

1.5

0.2

1.2

-0.1

0.4

1.1

-0.6

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

4

May'09 Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May'10

Chart 2. 12-month percent change in the Import Price Index: May 2009 – May 2010 

 Percent change 

-17.3 -17.5 -19.1

-15.3

-12.0

-5.6

3.4

8.6

11.4 11.3 11.2 11.2

8.6

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

May'09 Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May'10
 

All Imports: Import prices fell 0.6 percent in May, the first decline for the index since edging down 0.1 

percent in February and the largest monthly drop since a similar 0.6 percent decrease in July 2009. Despite 

the May decline, import prices rose 8.6 percent over the past 12 months. Prices of overall imports have been 

up on a 12-month basis since declining 5.6 percent for the October 2008-09 period. 

Fuel Imports: Fuel prices reversed the recent upward trend, falling 4.9 percent in May. The drop was the 

first one-month decrease since a 0.7 percent decline in February and the largest monthly decrease since a 

22.2 percent fall in December 2008. The May decline was primarily driven by a 5.0 percent drop in 

petroleum prices, which accounted for approximately 95 percent of the decrease; natural gas prices fell as 

well, decreasing 3.5 percent. Fuel prices have trended up over most of the past year, rising 33.9 percent. The 

price indexes for petroleum and natural gas advanced for the year ended in May, rising 35.9 percent and 

17.0 percent, respectively. 

All Imports Excluding Fuel: In contrast to fuel prices, nonfuel prices continued to trend up in May, rising 

0.5 percent. Nonfuel import prices last recorded a monthly decline in July 2009 and rose 3.6 percent over 

the past 12 months. A 1.9 percent increase in nonfuel industrial supplies and materials prices was the largest 

contributor to the overall advance, while foods, feeds, and beverages prices and finished goods prices 

advanced as well. 

Table A. Percent changes 

2
Chart 3. One-month percent change in the Export Price Index: May 2009 – May 2010 

 Percent change 

0.4

-0.3

0.6

-0.2

0.0

0.8 0.7 0.8

-0.3

0.7

1.2

0.7

1.0

-1

0

1

2

May'09 Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May'10

Chart 4. 12-month percent change in the Export Price Index: May 2009 – May 2010 

 Percent change 

-6.6 -6.6

-8.3

-6.2 -5.6

-3.6

0.4

3.4 3.5 3.4

4.9 5.6 5.8

-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

May'09 Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May'10

All Exports: Export prices rose 0.7 percent in May, the sixth time in the last seven months that the index 

increased by at least that magnitude. In May, higher prices for nonagricultural goods and agricultural goods 

each contributed to the advance, with the rise in nonagricultural prices accounting for approximately 78 

percent of the overall increase. The price index for overall exports rose 5.8 percent for the year ended in 

May, the largest 12-month advance since a 7.0 percent increase between September 2007 and September 

2008. 

Agricultural Exports: The price index for agricultural exports increased 1.4 percent in May following a 0.4 

percent downturn the previous month. A 5.5 percent increase in corn prices was the largest factor for the 

May advance, while meat, wheat, and soybeans prices also rose, up 3.2 percent, 6.4 percent, and 2.7 percent, 

respectively. Prices of agricultural exports advanced 1.3 percent over the past year. 

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: Prices for nonagricultural exports increased 0.6 percent in May after 

rising 1.3 percent in April. A 1.9 percent increase in nonagricultural supplies and materials more than offset 

declining finished goods prices. Nonagricultural prices increased 6.2 percent over the May 2009-2010 

period, led by an 18.0 percent increase for the price index of nonagricultural supplies and materials. 

3
4

 

SELECTED MAY HIGHLIGHTS 

Import Prices 

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: The price index for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials 

increased 1.9 percent in May following a 3.1 percent advance the previous month. The May rise was driven 

by continued increases in unfinished metals prices, up 3.5 percent. That increase was in turn driven by 

higher prices for precious metals, iron and steel mill products, nickel, aluminum, and copper. 

Finished Goods: Finished goods prices advanced overall, led by a 0.2 percent increase in capital goods 

prices and a 0.1 percent uptick in consumer goods prices. A 1.5 percent increase in the price index for 

computer accessories, peripherals, and parts was the largest contributor to the advance in capital goods 

prices, although higher prices for drilling and oil field equipment, up 2.0 percent, were also a factor. 

 

Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Prices for foods, feeds, and beverages rose 1.4 percent in May after a 1.1 

percent advance in April. A 3.7 percent increase in vegetable prices, a 2.7 percent advance in meat prices, 

and a 2.1 percent rise in fruit prices all contributed to the overall increase. 

Imports by Locality of Origin: Prices of imports from China rose 0.3 percent in May after rising 0.2 

percent in April. Those were the first monthly increases since a 0.2 percent advance in December and the 

May advance was the largest one-month gain since a 0.3 percent jump in August 2009. Import prices from 

the European Union and from Japan each rose 0.1 percent, while the price indexes for imports from Canada 

and from Mexico, down 0.6 percent and 1.0 percent, respectively, fell as the result of lower fuel prices. 

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares rose 2.8 percent in May, the result of a 6.6 percent 

increase in Asian fares and a 3.7 percent advance in European fares. The overall increase followed advances 

of 4.2 percent and 5.3 percent in April and March, respectively. The price index for import air freight prices 

increased 2.1 percent in May. 

Export Prices 

 

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials 

prices continued to trend upward in May, increasing 1.9 percent following a 3.2 percent advance the 

previous month. The increase was led by a 4.2 percent advance in fuel prices that was driven by a sharp 

increase in coal prices. Higher prices for chemicals and metals also contributed to the advance. 

 

Finished Goods: Finished goods prices, which had been trending up over the past year, fell overall in May 

with capital goods prices and consumer goods prices edging down 0.2 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively. 

Those declines followed increases in April: capital goods prices rose 0.3 percent while prices for consumer 

goods advanced 1.0 percent. Automotive vehicle prices were unchanged in May. 

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares fell 0.7 percent in May following increases of 2.8 

percent and 1.7 percent the two previous months. The decline was driven by a 6.9 percent drop in Latin 

American/Caribbean fares. Export air freight prices rose 1.1 percent in May. 

 

Import and Export Price Index data for June 2010 are scheduled for release on Wednesday, July 14, 

2010 at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).
Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: May 2009 to May

2010

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Apr.

20101

Index Percent change

Apr.

2010

May

2010

Annual Monthly

May

2009 to

May

2010

Jan.

2010 to

Feb.

2010

Feb.

2010 to

Mar.

2010

Mar.

2010 to

Apr. 2010

Apr. 2010

to May

2010

All commodities..................................... 100.000 127.7 126.9 8.6 -0.1 0.4 1.1 -0.6

All imports excluding petroleum................ 79.761 110.8 111.3 3.7 0.1 -0.1 0.5 0.5

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)... 78.299 114.4 115.0 3.6 0.1 0.2 0.6 0.5

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 4.733 149.0 151.1 8.5 -0.2 1.4 1.1 1.4

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 3.690 167.5 169.9 9.6 -0.5 1.7 1.0 1.4

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 1.043 107.1 108.5 4.7 0.5 0.9 1.4 1.3

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 36.022 210.9 206.3 26.6 0.0 1.1 2.8 -2.2

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

petroleum..................................... 15.783 152.2 154.5 17.7 1.1 -0.6 1.7 1.5

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

fuels (Dec. 2001=100)....................... 14.321 169.3 172.5 18.2 1.2 0.7 3.1 1.9

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 9.044 163.9 168.0 25.2 1.5 0.4 3.5 2.5

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable

excluding petroleum......................... 5.277 138.5 138.7 8.5 0.4 -1.9 -0.6 0.1

Fuels & lubricants............................... 10 21.700 269.6 256.5 33.9 -0.7 1.4 2.7 -4.9

Petroleum & petroleum products........... 100 20.238 294.8 280.0 35.9 -0.8 2.5 3.7 -5.0

Crude.......................................... 10000 14.960 301.4 281.3 31.8 -0.8 3.3 3.8 -6.7

Fuels, n.e.s.-coals & gas.................... 101 1.224 128.7 125.3 15.3 0.4 -11.4 -10.8 -2.6

Gas-natural................................... 10110 0.906 113.6 109.6 17.0 0.5 -14.3 -14.1 -3.5

Paper & paper base stocks................... 11 0.690 109.5 112.6 9.0 2.0 1.1 1.8 2.8

Materials associated with nondurable

supplies & materials......................... 12 4.662 148.0 148.7 6.8 0.2 1.2 2.4 0.5

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.375 130.2 134.0 17.0 1.8 2.3 2.0 2.9

Unfinished metals related to durable

goods.......................................... 14 4.242 246.8 255.5 47.9 2.6 -0.2 5.8 3.5

Finished metals related to durable goods. .. 15 1.817 146.1 148.2 11.0 -0.1 0.7 2.6 1.4

Nonmetals related to durable goods......... 16 1.535 107.3 107.7 4.2 0.7 0.4 0.2 0.4

Capital goods..................................... 2 22.926 91.5 91.7 -0.2 -0.2 -0.3 0.1 0.2

Electric generating equipment................ 20 2.905 111.3 110.8 0.9 0.1 -0.7 0.3 -0.4

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 18.043 86.0 86.2 -0.6 -0.1 -0.1 0.0 0.2

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 1.977 121.5 121.5 -0.4 -0.2 -0.9 0.0 0.0

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 11.917 108.3 108.3 0.4 -0.1 -0.1 0.1 0.0

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 24.402 104.5 104.6 0.4 -0.1 0.2 0.0 0.1

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 11.363 109.0 109.0 0.8 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 11.844 100.3 100.4 -0.1 -0.2 0.0 0.0 0.1

Nonmanufactured consumer goods.......... 42 1.195 102.0 103.0 1.7 0.3 0.1 -0.5 1.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

5
Table 2. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: May 2009 to May

2010

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Apr.

20101

Index Percent change

Apr.

2010

May

2010

Annual Monthly

May

2009 to

May

2010

Jan.

2010 to

Feb.

2010

Feb.

2010 to

Mar.

2010

Mar.

2010 to

Apr. 2010

Apr. 2010

to May

2010

All commodities..................................... 100.000 122.6 123.4 5.8 -0.3 0.7 1.2 0.7

Agricultural commodities......................... 8.672 162.6 164.9 1.3 -4.0 1.9 -0.4 1.4

Nonagricultural commodities.................... 91.328 119.7 120.4 6.2 0.1 0.7 1.3 0.6

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 7.852 162.6 164.9 -1.4 -4.1 1.7 -0.6 1.4

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 7.270 164.6 167.2 -1.8 -4.5 1.7 -0.7 1.6

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 0.582 147.8 147.2 4.1 2.8 0.8 1.3 -0.4

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 31.498 159.8 162.8 18.2 -0.1 1.6 3.1 1.9

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 12.339 165.4 167.9 17.3 0.1 0.3 3.2 1.5

Industrial supplies & materials,

nondurable.................................... 19.160 157.3 160.5 18.8 -0.3 2.4 3.1 2.0

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials... 10 1.402 157.2 157.9 21.3 -1.1 3.5 1.0 0.4

Nonagricultural industrial supplies &

materials........................................ 30.097 160.2 163.3 18.0 -0.1 1.5 3.2 1.9

Fuels & lubricants............................... 11 5.863 206.8 215.4 34.5 -4.8 3.2 5.3 4.2

Nonagricultural supplies & materials

excluding fuels & building materials. . . . . .. 12 23.213 156.4 158.7 15.6 1.1 1.1 2.8 1.5

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.021 117.8 118.2 5.1 0.9 0.2 1.6 0.3

Capital goods..................................... 2 38.533 104.2 104.0 1.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 -0.2

Electrical generating equipment.............. 20 3.588 109.9 110.0 2.8 0.1 -0.2 0.1 0.1

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 28.183 95.2 94.9 0.5 0.0 0.3 0.4 -0.3

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 6.762 139.4 139.6 2.0 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 9.145 108.5 108.5 0.4 0.2 -0.1 -0.1 0.0

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 12.971 111.3 111.2 3.1 0.5 0.2 1.0 -0.1

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 5.939 112.5 112.6 4.5 0.9 0.0 0.5 0.1

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 5.694 108.8 108.6 0.6 -0.3 0.1 1.1 -0.2

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

6
Table 3. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: May 2009 to May

2010

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Apr.

20101

Index Percent change

Apr.

2010

May

2010

Annual Monthly

May

2009 to

May

2010

Jan.

2010 to

Feb.

2010

Feb.

2010 to

Mar.

2010

Mar.

2010 to

Apr. 2010

Apr. 2010

to May

2010

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 18.753 133.7 127.2 29.7 -0.6 1.9 2.2 -4.9

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 1.805 149.7 155.0 15.2 -0.6 3.2 1.6 3.5

Crop production................................. 111 1.274 154.8 161.7 12.4 -1.4 2.5 0.8 4.5

Mining.............................................. 21 16.948 131.9 124.3 32.0 -0.6 1.7 2.3 -5.8

Mining (except oil and gas) (Dec.

2006=100)..................................... 212 0.520 133.7 135.4 5.3 1.2 1.5 1.4 1.3

Manufactured articles.............................. 80.719 110.6 111.0 4.9 0.0 0.2 0.8 0.4

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 9.997 108.6 109.0 2.4 0.0 0.3 0.4 0.4

Food manufacturing............................ 311 2.522 124.5 126.7 10.6 -0.2 1.0 1.3 1.8

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.909 109.2 109.1 1.9 0.5 0.0 -0.1 -0.1

Textile product mills............................ 314 0.762 100.6 101.4 2.6 0.0 -0.5 0.1 0.8

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 3.913 101.5 101.2 -1.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 -0.3

Leather and allied product manufacturing. .. 316 1.493 106.7 106.7 -0.8 -0.2 0.1 0.0 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 18.142 124.2 124.4 12.8 0.1 0.9 1.8 0.2

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.846 108.7 113.8 29.0 3.2 4.1 2.8 4.7

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.196 104.9 106.9 3.7 1.5 0.7 1.1 1.9

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 4.285 134.5 132.6 42.4 -0.8 0.2 4.3 -1.4

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 8.964 126.8 127.0 5.5 0.1 1.4 1.1 0.2

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 1.768 114.0 115.3 2.5 -0.2 0.0 0.0 1.1

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 0.981 120.7 120.6 0.8 0.2 0.0 0.2 -0.1

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 52.580 106.7 107.2 2.9 0.0 -0.2 0.6 0.5

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 4.928 162.2 167.5 39.6 2.3 0.3 5.5 3.3

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.672 117.5 118.7 2.0 0.0 0.3 0.8 1.0

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 6.701 113.2 113.2 2.1 -0.2 0.1 0.0 0.0

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 14.946 87.6 87.9 -1.5 -0.1 -0.3 -0.2 0.3

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.773 112.5 112.2 -0.2 -0.2 -0.6 0.3 -0.3

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 13.173 105.6 105.6 0.5 -0.2 -0.2 0.1 0.0

Furniture and related product

manufacturing................................ 337 1.309 105.9 106.0 -3.7 -0.7 -0.5 0.1 0.1

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 5.077 112.1 112.4 1.1 0.0 0.1 -0.1 0.3

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

7
Table 4. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: May 2009 to May

2010

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Apr.

20101

Index Percent change

Apr.

2010

May

2010

Annual Monthly

May

2009 to

May

2010

Jan.

2010 to

Feb.

2010

Feb.

2010 to

Mar.

2010

Mar.

2010 to

Apr. 2010

Apr. 2010

to May

2010

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 6.479 126.9 134.4 9.4 -5.7 2.3 0.6 5.9

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 4.543 140.5 143.0 -1.0 -7.4 3.6 -1.0 1.8

Crop production................................. 111 4.184 143.9 146.5 -1.9 -8.0 3.9 -1.2 1.8

Mining.............................................. 21 1.936 94.3 109.2 45.0 -1.6 -0.9 4.5 15.8

Mining (except oil and gas).................... 212 1.461 104.3 125.0 43.7 -2.4 4.3 6.0 19.8

Manufactured articles.............................. 90.608 112.6 112.9 5.0 0.1 0.5 1.2 0.3

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 6.617 125.2 126.0 6.5 0.2 0.5 1.0 0.6

Food manufacturing............................ 311 4.488 140.4 141.7 7.0 0.2 0.5 1.2 0.9

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.506 103.1 103.1 -2.5 -1.0 -0.9 -2.5 0.0

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 0.370 102.2 102.2 0.0 0.0 0.5 -0.7 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 24.006 120.1 120.7 12.1 0.0 1.8 2.4 0.5

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.455 115.0 115.8 11.9 1.6 0.0 3.0 0.7

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.922 114.9 118.4 8.0 -0.2 0.4 1.3 3.0

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 3.809 127.8 125.3 35.8 -7.6 7.0 6.3 -2.0

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 14.942 122.3 123.2 11.8 1.8 1.3 2.2 0.7

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 2.035 106.0 107.3 -1.2 0.0 -0.2 -0.5 1.2

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 0.842 113.9 113.1 0.0 -0.1 -0.4 -0.2 -0.7

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 59.984 108.6 108.6 2.4 0.1 0.2 0.6 0.0

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 4.877 142.9 146.8 23.7 0.3 -0.6 2.7 2.7

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.766 121.6 121.6 0.5 0.2 -0.5 0.8 0.0

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 12.629 114.9 114.9 2.7 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.0

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 15.721 93.3 92.7 -1.1 -0.3 0.3 0.8 -0.6

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.459 109.7 109.8 2.9 0.1 -0.1 0.1 0.1

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 15.156 111.0 111.1 0.9 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 5.024 110.5 110.5 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.3 0.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

8
Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: May 2009 to May

2010

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Apr.

20101

Index Percent change

Apr.

2010

May

2010

Annual Monthly

May

2009 to

May

2010

Jan.

2010 to

Feb.

2010

Feb.

2010 to

Mar.

2010

Mar.

2010 to

Apr. 2010

Apr. 2010

to May

2010

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.087 140.6 144.3 14.2 0.3 3.2 3.2 2.6

Meat and edible meat offal....................... 02 0.253 180.5 188.0 28.2 3.4 4.3 3.4 4.2

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.555 104.1 106.5 8.2 0.2 1.8 2.6 2.3

Vegetable products................................ II 1.497 172.5 177.2 8.4 -0.9 2.5 1.3 2.7

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers............ 07 0.420 328.9 345.2 9.1 -2.7 14.9 -3.7 5.0

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.420 112.1 115.3 11.1 0.2 -0.7 5.5 2.9

Coffee, tea, mate and spices.................... 09 0.290 172.7 170.2 11.2 -1.3 -1.3 7.3 -1.4

Animal or vegetable fats and oils (Dec.

2009=100).......................................... III 0.211 104.4 103.8 – -2.8 4.3 0.6 -0.6

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.246 140.0 141.1 5.4 0.0 -0.4 -0.1 0.8

Cocoa and cocoa preparations (Dec.

2009=100)....................................... 18 0.206 100.2 104.9 – -1.0 -2.2 0.2 4.7

Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk;

bakers’ wares (Dec. 2007=100).............. 19 0.235 112.8 114.7 7.1 -1.3 -0.7 0.4 1.7

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts, or other

parts of plants................................... 20 0.282 129.3 130.5 5.0 0.2 -0.2 -0.9 0.9

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar.................. 22 0.895 118.7 118.6 2.4 0.4 0.0 -0.2 -0.1

Mineral products.................................... V 21.680 271.6 258.4 32.9 -0.7 1.4 2.8 -4.9

Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plaster

materials, lime & cement (Dec.

2009=100)....................................... 25 0.187 102.2 102.4 – -0.7 0.2 1.7 0.2

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 21.272 268.4 255.1 33.4 -0.7 1.4 2.8 -5.0

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 8.243 140.2 141.0 6.7 0.4 1.2 0.6 0.6

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 0.955 278.0 288.7 17.3 5.0 5.4 1.6 3.8

Organic chemicals................................. 29 2.743 134.4 134.8 9.9 0.0 1.4 0.7 0.3

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 2.794 117.8 117.7 4.1 0.0 -0.2 -0.1 -0.1

Fertilizers (Dec. 2009=100)...................... 31 0.326 107.0 105.2 – -4.8 2.9 1.6 -1.7

Tanning & dyeing extracts; dye & pigments;

varnish & paints; putty......................... 32 0.172 114.0 114.0 9.8 2.0 -0.5 0.6 0.0

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec.

2001=100)....................................... 33 0.405 119.7 119.5 1.8 -0.7 -1.1 0.9 -0.2

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 0.497 94.6 94.5 4.3 1.5 0.6 1.2 -0.1

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 2.973 136.8 137.9 6.7 0.7 1.3 1.9 0.8

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 1.865 131.9 132.3 3.1 0.5 0.9 2.2 0.3

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 1.108 146.2 148.6 13.5 1.1 2.1 1.0 1.6

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.582 114.0 114.0 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.0

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

various materials................................ 42 0.546 114.9 114.9 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.868 131.4 137.3 26.9 3.1 3.9 2.9 4.5

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 1.336 108.8 110.6 1.6 1.0 0.5 0.7 1.7

Pulp wood, waste paper, and paperboard

(Dec. 2009=100)................................ 47 0.201 115.0 121.4 – 5.0 2.6 3.4 5.6

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 0.872 102.6 103.8 -4.8 0.5 0.2 0.5 1.2

Printed matter...................................... 49 0.263 120.0 120.2 0.3 0.1 -0.3 -0.2 0.2

See footnotes at end of table.

9
Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: May 2009 to May

2010 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Apr.

20101

Index Percent change

Apr.

2010

May

2010

Annual Monthly

May

2009 to

May

2010

Jan.

2010 to

Feb.

2010

Feb.

2010 to

Mar.

2010

Mar.

2010 to

Apr. 2010

Apr. 2010

to May

2010

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 4.907 103.1 103.0 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.2 -0.1

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

knitted or crocheted............................ 61 1.884 98.4 97.7 -1.9 0.0 0.0 0.2 -0.7

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

not knitted or crocheted........................ 62 1.854 103.4 103.4 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.0

Made-up or worn textile articles................. 63 0.518 92.2 93.4 3.3 -0.1 -0.2 -0.1 1.3

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.. .. XII 1.195 106.6 106.6 -1.2 -0.3 -0.1 -0.1 0.0

Footwear and parts of such articles............ 64 1.017 105.7 105.7 -1.5 -0.3 0.0 -0.1 0.0

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc........................................... XIII 0.873 124.2 124.1 -0.2 -0.2 -0.1 0.0 -0.1

Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, or

mica (Dec. 2001=100)......................... 68 0.310 117.6 117.5 0.0 -0.3 0.1 -0.1 -0.1

Ceramic products.................................. 69 0.275 139.9 139.8 1.9 0.1 -0.1 0.0 -0.1

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.288 115.0 114.9 -2.7 -0.2 -0.3 -0.1 -0.1

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 2.721 158.0 162.6 19.1 0.3 -0.6 2.0 2.9

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 6.100 182.2 185.9 23.1 1.9 0.6 4.2 2.0

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.407 233.6 235.9 35.0 4.1 5.1 6.0 1.0

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.792 146.0 149.9 4.6 0.3 1.8 1.7 2.7

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.712 347.9 351.8 57.2 1.2 -2.5 7.3 1.1

Nickel and articles thereof (Dec. 2009=100). .. 75 0.197 130.4 149.8 – 8.5 3.3 17.3 14.9

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.842 139.6 141.8 35.2 2.2 -2.3 4.9 1.6

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.360 118.1 117.9 0.2 -0.1 -0.2 0.3 -0.2

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.406 127.0 126.8 -2.8 0.5 -0.7 -0.2 -0.2

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 25.223 86.8 86.9 0.1 -0.1 -0.2 0.0 0.1

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 12.675 88.1 88.3 0.6 -0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2

Electrical machinery and equip, sound and TV

recorders & reproducers, parts............... 85 12.548 85.5 85.5 -0.3 -0.1 -0.5 0.0 0.0

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 11.156 109.7 109.7 0.2 -0.2 -0.2 0.2 0.0

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 10.071 108.7 108.7 0.2 -0.2 -0.1 0.2 0.0

Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof (Dec.

2002=100)....................................... 88 0.992 114.1 114.1 -1.4 0.0 -1.4 0.1 0.0

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 3.231 101.2 101.2 -0.5 0.2 -0.3 -0.1 0.0

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical

instruments...................................... 90 2.927 99.0 99.0 -0.5 0.1 -0.2 0.0 0.0

Clocks and watches and parts thereof. . . . . . . .. 91 0.226 122.4 122.3 -0.4 0.0 -1.9 0.1 -0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 3.808 106.3 106.4 -1.5 -0.2 -0.1 -0.2 0.1

Furniture & stuffed furnishings; lamps &

lighting fittings, nesoi; prefab bldgs........... 94 1.940 109.4 109.4 -3.1 -0.4 -0.5 0.1 0.0

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 1.670 100.8 100.9 0.1 -0.1 0.2 -0.4 0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles........... 96 0.198 118.7 118.7 2.6 -0.2 0.1 0.0 0.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

10
Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: May 2009 to May

2010

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Apr.

20101

Index Percent change

Apr.

2010

May

2010

Annual Monthly

May

2009 to

May

2010

Jan.

2010 to

Feb.

2010

Feb.

2010 to

Mar.

2010

Mar.

2010 to

Apr. 2010

Apr. 2010

to May

2010

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.722 168.2 170.9 8.8 2.8 2.2 2.6 1.6

Meat & edible meat offal (Dec. 2006=100). . .. 02 0.988 139.4 144.7 13.7 3.8 3.7 4.3 3.8

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.322 152.9 151.9 6.3 4.7 1.6 1.9 -0.7

Vegetable products................................ II 4.123 177.1 180.7 -7.1 -8.4 2.9 -2.2 2.0

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.805 133.3 128.2 28.6 -1.0 0.4 6.7 -3.8

Cereals.............................................. 10 1.555 170.9 181.3 -11.7 -9.7 3.0 -6.8 6.1

Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds, fruits,

plants, straw and fodder....................... 12 1.273 192.5 196.5 -10.9 -9.7 3.2 -1.4 2.1

Animal or vegetable fats and oils (Dec.

2009=100).......................................... III 0.305 106.8 111.6 – -2.8 1.6 5.3 4.5

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.417 137.4 137.3 -0.4 -1.3 -1.1 -0.8 -0.1

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other

parts of plants (Dec. 2009=100).............. 20 0.344 104.2 105.6 – 1.3 0.3 1.7 1.3

Miscellaneous edible preparations.............. 21 0.408 118.1 118.5 0.1 -0.1 -0.3 -0.6 0.3

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar (Dec.

2008=100)....................................... 22 0.329 102.7 102.8 2.4 0.0 0.4 -1.9 0.1

Residues and waste from the food industries;

prepared animal feed........................... 23 0.528 170.9 168.3 -15.8 -5.8 -5.0 -3.0 -1.5

Mineral products.................................... V 5.800 245.8 257.5 38.2 -5.0 2.9 5.8 4.8

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 5.149 239.4 248.5 38.6 -5.4 3.2 5.8 3.8

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 12.160 145.9 147.2 9.4 1.5 1.3 2.1 0.9

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 1.008 173.4 185.1 -1.6 0.8 0.6 1.8 6.7

Organic chemicals................................. 29 3.155 156.9 155.4 14.1 1.2 1.7 4.4 -1.0

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 2.990 123.9 123.7 7.4 1.5 0.2 1.0 -0.2

Tanning or dyeing extracts, dyes, paints,

varnish, putty, & inks........................... 32 0.542 116.2 116.2 3.5 1.1 0.0 2.0 0.0

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery

cosmetic or toilet preparations................ 33 0.717 124.1 124.8 1.2 0.6 -1.2 0.6 0.6

Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or scouring

products; candles, pastes..................... 34 0.429 116.8 118.7 4.0 0.3 -0.5 1.0 1.6

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 2.061 140.6 140.6 9.3 0.7 1.5 0.9 0.0

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 5.092 137.9 138.8 7.6 1.5 0.3 1.7 0.7

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 4.143 131.9 132.7 7.2 2.1 0.3 2.2 0.6

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 0.949 164.3 165.8 9.6 -0.9 0.4 -0.2 0.9

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.376 120.3 121.9 60.4 3.8 3.2 3.1 1.3

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.561 110.1 110.8 8.6 1.5 -0.6 1.9 0.6

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 2.456 115.1 117.6 11.2 0.3 1.2 1.0 2.2

Woodpulp and recovered paper................. 47 0.670 125.0 132.1 49.1 2.0 3.8 0.6 5.7

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 1.283 111.7 113.0 1.1 -0.5 0.5 1.4 1.2

Printed material.................................... 49 0.503 116.6 116.8 1.7 0.1 -0.1 0.4 0.2

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 1.997 114.1 114.3 11.2 -0.3 2.8 1.5 0.2

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics

thereof............................................ 52 0.657 127.5 128.6 35.9 -0.7 8.6 3.0 0.9

See footnotes at end of table.

11
Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: May 2009 to May

2010 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Apr.

20101

Index Percent change

Apr.

2010

May

2010

Annual Monthly

May

2009 to

May

2010

Jan.

2010 to

Feb.

2010

Feb.

2010 to

Mar.

2010

Mar.

2010 to

Apr. 2010

Apr. 2010

to May

2010

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc. (Dec. 2008=100)..................... XIII 0.797 116.8 116.1 0.3 -0.3 -0.3 0.0 -0.6

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.423 98.7 97.7 -2.5 0.0 -0.8 -0.5 -1.0

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 4.834 203.3 207.8 24.6 0.1 -0.2 2.8 2.2

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 6.076 167.1 167.0 15.9 0.6 1.3 4.0 -0.1

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.868 206.1 208.5 37.1 2.8 2.4 8.4 1.2

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.513 158.2 158.1 -3.5 0.3 -0.4 1.0 -0.1

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.618 241.0 227.0 28.9 -3.7 6.6 4.7 -5.8

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.929 128.9 129.1 30.0 0.0 -0.2 4.6 0.2

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.412 124.2 124.2 1.9 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.314 124.5 124.5 2.0 0.9 0.7 0.1 0.0

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 30.428 96.4 96.1 0.8 -0.1 0.3 0.3 -0.3

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 17.912 108.0 107.6 2.4 0.2 0.6 0.7 -0.4

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts

and accessories thereof....................... 85 12.516 83.8 83.7 -1.2 -0.2 -0.1 -0.4 -0.1

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 13.257 121.3 121.4 0.9 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 8.533 108.4 108.5 0.7 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.1

Ships, boats and floating structures (Dec.

2009=100)....................................... 89 0.292 100.1 100.0 – 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.1

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 5.934 106.3 106.3 -1.0 -0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 1.518 107.9 108.1 1.1 -0.1 -0.7 0.2 0.2

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and

lighting fittings nesoi;........................... 94 0.755 118.2 118.6 1.9 -0.2 0.4 0.4 0.3

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 0.650 93.2 93.2 0.2 0.0 -2.1 0.0 0.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

12
Table 7. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes by locality of origin: May 2009 to May 2010

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Percent of

U.S.

imports1

Index Percent change

Apr.

2010

May

2010

Annual Monthly

May 2009

to May

2010

Jan. 2010

to Feb.

2010

Feb. 2010

to Mar.

2010

Mar. 2010

to Apr.

2010

Apr. 2010

to May

2010

Industrialized Countries2

..................... 41.082 126.1 125.9 7.1 0.2 0.0 0.3 -0.2

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 5.687 206.5 196.2 27.5 2.1 -2.0 -1.5 -5.0

Manufactured articles......................... 34.943 119.6 120.2 5.3 -0.1 0.2 0.6 0.5

Other Countries3

............................... 58.918 125.9 124.5 8.2 -0.4 0.9 1.3 -1.1

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 15.714 269.7 256.0 27.8 -1.6 3.2 3.4 -5.1

Manufactured articles......................... 43.010 105.8 105.9 3.1 0.0 0.2 0.6 0.1

Canada............................................ 15.923 144.5 143.6 14.3 0.7 0.0 0.6 -0.6

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 5.257 200.6 190.0 29.0 2.2 -2.0 -2.0 -5.3

Manufactured articles......................... 10.335 133.6 135.2 10.5 0.1 0.8 1.4 1.2

European Union4

............................... 16.799 129.0 129.1 4.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.1

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 0.211 263.9 252.6 22.3 0.7 1.4 4.6 -4.3

Manufactured articles......................... 16.491 126.4 126.6 4.1 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.2

France (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 1.948 121.7 121.6 1.5 -1.6 -0.4 0.1 -0.1

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)..................... 4.572 112.7 112.5 4.0 -0.5 -0.6 -0.1 -0.2

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)........... 2.566 125.9 125.9 5.8 -0.2 0.6 0.2 0.0

Latin America5

.................................. 17.999 159.9 157.4 11.1 -1.1 1.3 1.4 -1.6

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 6.186 290.9 277.6 20.0 -3.1 3.3 1.7 -4.6

Manufactured articles......................... 11.730 132.4 132.3 6.8 -0.2 0.3 1.2 -0.1

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 10.275 139.6 138.2 4.9 -1.1 1.2 1.2 -1.0

Nonmanufactured articles (Dec.

2008=100)................................... 2.141 159.4 152.3 19.4 -4.2 5.2 3.2 -4.5

Manufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100). . .. 8.085 97.0 97.0 0.7 -0.3 0.2 0.6 0.0

Pacific Rim (Dec. 2003=100)6

................ 31.500 100.6 101.0 1.8 -0.1 0.0 0.3 0.4

China (Dec. 2003=100)......................... 16.449 100.3 100.6 0.2 -0.1 -0.1 0.2 0.3

Japan.............................................. 6.678 97.8 97.9 1.8 -0.1 0.3 -0.3 0.1

Asian NICs7

..................................... 5.003 87.2 87.9 3.5 -0.2 -0.1 0.2 0.8

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)8

..................... 5.274 96.4 96.2 0.0 -0.1 -1.1 0.8 -0.2

Asia Near East (Dec. 2003=100)9........... 5.380 215.9 204.9 19.4 1.5 0.3 4.0 -5.1

1 Percentage of trade figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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

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

4 Includes European Union countries.

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

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

Countries.

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

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

Vietnam.

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

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

Regions are not mutually exclusive.

Dash = Not available

13
Table 8. U.S. international price indexes and percent changes for selected transportation services: May 2009 to

May 2010

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Relative

importance

Apr.

20101

Index Percent change

Apr.

2010

May

2010

Annual Monthly

May 2009

to May

2010

Jan. 2010

to Feb.

2010

Feb. 2010

to Mar.

2010

Mar. 2010

to Apr.

2010

Apr. 2010

to May

2010

Air Freight

Import Air Freight..................................... 100.000 160.1 163.4 25.8 -0.3 1.3 1.2 2.1

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 21.060 132.0 133.3 8.1 -1.0 -3.6 0.0 1.0

Asia.................................................... 72.072 148.5 150.7 32.2 -0.6 3.3 1.6 1.5

Export Air Freight..................................... 100.000 123.6 124.9 5.1 0.2 0.6 -0.3 1.1

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)............................ 33.310 114.0 114.9 6.3 -0.3 1.1 -0.2 0.8

Inbound Air Freight................................... 100.000 144.7 146.7 18.0 -0.6 0.8 0.3 1.4

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 22.507 123.1 124.3 4.5 -1.1 -3.0 -0.4 1.0

Asia.................................................... 67.146 134.1 135.9 25.4 -0.6 1.7 0.7 1.3

Outbound Air Freight................................. 100.000 119.2 121.3 7.6 0.7 1.5 0.9 1.8

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 41.526 139.0 140.8 6.6 0.4 1.3 2.1 1.3

Asia.................................................... 41.804 107.9 110.0 9.3 1.0 1.4 -0.5 1.9

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 156.1 160.5 23.2 -3.5 5.3 4.2 2.8

Europe................................................. 42.758 171.0 177.4 42.0 -3.6 9.9 5.2 3.7

Asia.................................................... 27.109 130.9 139.5 9.4 -7.6 2.9 3.6 6.6

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 13.409 145.8 137.5 21.8 1.1 2.7 7.3 -5.7

Export Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 162.0 160.9 20.2 -1.7 1.7 2.8 -0.7

Europe................................................. 34.034 205.5 206.6 37.1 4.6 0.9 4.5 0.5

Asia.................................................... 29.378 141.6 151.4 24.7 -0.4 6.3 -0.8 6.9

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 21.829 167.1 155.5 16.7 -9.6 1.4 3.3 -6.9

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

14
TECHNICAL NOTE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Index) to produce the NAICS primary products indexes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Agriculture. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Publications."

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

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

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

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

NAICS 31-33. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

(mxpinfo@bls.gov). 

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

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

16