Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until 

8:30 a.m. (EDT) Tuesday, May 10, 2011 

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

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

USDL-11-0677

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

U.S. import prices increased 2.2 percent in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, after 

rising 2.6 percent the previous month. Higher fuel and nonfuel prices contributed to the advances in each 

month. Prices for U.S. exports increased 1.1 percent in April following a 1.5 percent advance the previous 

month. 

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

 Percent change 

1.1

-0.8

-1.2

0.0

0.4

0.0

1.1

1.7

1.4 1.5

1.7

2.6

2.2

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

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

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

 Percent change

11.2

8.5

4.3

4.9

3.8 3.6 3.9 4.1

5.3 5.6

7.6

9.9

11.1

0

5

10

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

All Imports: Import prices rose 2.2 percent in April following a 2.6 percent advance in March, the first time 

import prices increased by more than two percent in consecutive months since June 2008. The price index 

for overall imports recorded an increase each month since October and rose 11.1 percent over the past year. 

The 12-month advance in April was the largest year-over-year increase since an 11.2 percent gain between 

April 2009 and April 2010. 

Fuel Imports: Import fuel prices advanced 6.7 percent in April and accounted for approximately 80 percent 

of the overall increase in import prices. In April, a 7.2 percent jump in petroleum prices more than offset a 

2.7 percent drop in natural gas prices. Prices for import fuel rose 34.8 percent for the year ended in April, 

driven by a 36.8 percent advance in petroleum prices. In contrast, natural gas prices ticked down 0.1 percent 

over the past 12 months. 

All Imports Excluding Fuel: Nonfuel import prices increased 0.6 percent in April. The price index for 

nonfuel industrial supplies and materials, up 1.7 percent in April was the largest contributor to both the 

monthly and yearly advances in nonfuel import prices. Each of the major finished goods categories also rose 

for the month. Prices for nonfuel imports recorded a second consecutive 12-month increase of 4.3 percent in 

April, the largest year-over-year advances since a 4.8 percent rise for the year ended in October 2008. 

Table A. Percent changes 

 

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

 Percent change 

1.1

0.5

-0.7

-0.2

0.8

0.6

0.8

1.5

0.7

1.3

1.4 1.5

1.1

-1

0

1

2

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

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

 Percent change

5.5 5.6

3.7 3.9 4.1

4.9

5.8

6.5 6.5 7.0

8.8

9.6 9.6

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

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

All Exports: U.S. export prices advanced 1.1 percent in April, after rising 1.5 percent and 1.4 percent, 

respectively, in March and February. Higher prices for agricultural exports and nonagricultural exports 

contributed to the increases in each of the three months. Export prices rose 9.6 percent over the past year, 

matching the 12-month advance in March; those were the largest year-over-year increases since export 

prices jumped 10.2 percent in July 2008. 

Agricultural Exports: Prices for agricultural exports rose 0.6 percent in April, the smallest monthly 

advance since the index last recorded a decline in July 2010. A 2.6 percent increase in corn prices and a 2.1 

percent rise in meat prices more than offset declining prices for nuts and a downturn in cotton prices. 

Agricultural prices increased 35.3 percent over the past year, the largest 12-month gain since the July 2007-

08 period. The increase for the year ended in April was led by a 96.3 percent advance in corn prices and a 

142.5 percent jump in cotton prices. 

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: The price index for nonagricultural exports rose 1.0 percent in April, 

led by a 2.5 percent increase in nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials prices. Each of the major 

finished goods categories also advanced in April. Nonagricultural export prices increased 6.9 percent for the 

year ended in April, the third consecutive month where the 12-month advance was greater than six percent. 

 

3
4

 

SELECTED APRIL HIGHLIGHTS 

Import Prices 

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

rose 1.7 percent in April following a 2.0 percent rise the previous month. Both increases were led by higher 

chemical and unfinished metals prices, which increased 2.4 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively, in April. 

The rise in chemical prices was driven by a 6.6 percent advance in plastics prices, and the largest 

contributors to the rise in unfinished metals prices were prices for gold and other precious metals. 

Finished Goods: Each of the major finished goods categories increased in April. Prices for consumer goods 

and automotive vehicles each rose 0.4 percent for the month. Capital goods prices ticked up 0.1 percent, as a 

0.5 percent decline in the price index for computers, peripherals, and semiconductors partially offset a 0.4 

percent increase in capital goods prices, excluding computers, peripherals, and semiconductors. 

 

Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Foods, feeds, and beverages prices advanced 1.8 percent in April after a 4.2 

percent rise in March. The April increase was driven by a 22.8 percent jump in coffee prices. 

Imports by Locality of Origin: Prices for imports from China advanced 0.4 percent in April, following a 

0.6 percent increase the previous month. Import prices from China rose 2.8 percent over the past year, the 

largest 12-month increase since a similar 2.8 percent advance in December 2008. Import prices from Japan 

increased 0.3 percent in April and 3.2 percent over the past 12 months. The price indexes for imports from 

Canada, Mexico, and the European Union all advanced in April, rising 2.4 percent, 2.5 percent, and 0.8 

percent, respectively; each index was led by higher petroleum prices. 

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares rose 1.2 percent in April, the first monthly advance 

since December. The April increase was led by a 2.8 percent advance in European fares and a 5.4 percent 

rise in Latin American/Caribbean fares. The overall index for import air passenger fares advanced 4.5 

percent for the year ended in April. Import air freight prices rose 1.2 percent in April and 9.0 percent over 

the past year. 

Export Prices 

 

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials 

prices increased 2.5 percent in April following a 3.2 percent rise in March. The April advance was driven by 

a 3.9 percent increase in fuel prices and a 2.9 percent rise in chemical prices. 

 

Finished Goods: Prices for capital goods rose 0.2 percent in April. Consumer goods prices increased 0.4 

percent, led by a 0.5 percent increase in the price index for medicinal, dental, and pharmaceutical prices. 

Prices for automotive vehicles ticked up 0.1 percent. 

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares advanced 2.4 percent in April, driven by a 10.2 

percent jump in European fares. The index for export air passenger fares rose 9.0 percent over the past year. 

Prices for export air freight increased 2.7 percent in April and 15.5 percent over the past 12 months. 

 

Import and Export Price Index data for May 2011 are scheduled for release on Friday, June 10, 2011 

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

2011

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Mar.

20111

Index Percent change

Mar.

2011

Apr.

2011

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2010

to Apr.

2011

Dec.

2010 to

Jan.

2011

Jan.

2011 to

Feb.

2011

Feb.

2011 to

Mar.

2011

Mar.

2011 to

Apr. 2011

All commodities..................................... 100.000 138.8 141.9 11.1 1.5 1.7 2.6 2.2

All imports excluding food and fuels (Dec.

2010=100).......................................... 67.755 101.4 101.9 – 0.6 0.5 0.3 0.5

All imports excluding petroleum................ 75.104 114.9 115.6 4.3 0.9 0.7 0.4 0.6

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)... 73.597 118.6 119.3 4.3 0.7 0.5 0.7 0.6

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 5.842 175.0 178.2 19.6 2.5 0.7 4.2 1.8

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 4.600 199.0 203.5 21.6 2.7 0.9 5.2 2.3

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 1.242 120.7 120.8 12.6 2.0 -0.1 0.9 0.1

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 39.460 254.4 267.2 26.8 3.4 4.0 6.3 5.0

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

petroleum..................................... 14.564 168.3 170.5 12.0 2.9 2.0 0.7 1.3

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

fuels (Dec. 2001=100)....................... 13.057 187.7 190.8 12.8 2.1 1.3 2.0 1.7

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 8.018 181.3 183.6 12.0 2.1 1.4 2.3 1.3

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable

excluding petroleum......................... 5.039 153.1 155.2 12.1 3.8 2.6 -1.2 1.4

Fuels & lubricants............................... 10 26.403 340.1 362.9 34.8 4.1 5.6 8.5 6.7

Petroleum & petroleum products........... 100 24.896 376.0 403.0 36.8 3.7 5.5 9.8 7.2

Crude.......................................... 10000 18.372 381.2 413.3 36.9 4.2 5.5 8.2 8.4

Fuels, n.e.s.-coals & gas.................... 101 1.130 131.5 128.6 -0.1 9.5 8.1 -11.7 -2.2

Gas-natural................................... 10110 1.009 116.7 113.6 -0.1 10.4 8.7 -12.8 -2.7

Paper & paper base stocks................... 11 0.636 116.3 119.5 9.1 0.2 -1.9 0.7 2.8

Materials associated with nondurable

supplies & materials......................... 12 4.466 165.7 169.4 14.6 2.3 1.6 1.5 2.2

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.076 131.5 131.8 1.3 2.0 0.3 1.2 0.2

Unfinished metals related to durable

goods.......................................... 14 3.921 290.0 294.9 19.6 3.1 1.9 3.8 1.7

Finished metals related to durable goods. .. 15 1.556 157.2 158.6 8.5 0.5 1.4 1.0 0.9

Nonmetals related to durable goods......... 16 1.402 112.1 113.2 5.4 1.6 0.9 0.6 1.0

Capital goods..................................... 2 21.143 92.3 92.4 1.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.1

Electric generating equipment................ 20 2.653 115.2 116.7 4.8 0.7 0.2 0.4 1.3

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 16.685 86.4 86.3 0.5 0.0 0.2 0.0 -0.1

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 1.805 123.0 123.2 1.4 0.1 0.8 0.0 0.2

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 9.168 110.1 110.5 1.8 0.2 0.1 0.4 0.4

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 24.387 104.7 105.1 0.6 0.3 0.4 -0.2 0.4

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 11.913 110.2 110.6 1.4 0.1 0.4 -0.6 0.4

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 11.478 99.1 99.5 -0.7 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.4

Nonmanufactured consumer goods.......... 42 0.995 107.8 109.5 7.4 2.2 1.2 0.5 1.6

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

5
Table 2. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2010 to April

2011

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Mar.

20111

Index Percent change

Mar.

2011

Apr.

2011

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2010

to Apr.

2011

Dec.

2010 to

Jan.

2011

Jan.

2011 to

Feb.

2011

Feb.

2011 to

Mar.

2011

Mar.

2011 to

Apr. 2011

All commodities..................................... 100.000 132.8 134.2 9.6 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.1

Agricultural commodities......................... 12.121 218.9 220.2 35.3 3.1 4.6 2.2 0.6

All exports excluding food and fuels (Dec.

2010=100).......................................... 80.556 102.2 103.0 – 0.6 1.0 0.6 0.8

Nonagricultural commodities.................... 87.879 126.6 127.9 6.9 1.0 1.0 1.4 1.0

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 10.547 207.0 208.8 28.4 3.3 3.0 1.7 0.9

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 9.902 212.2 213.8 29.9 3.3 3.7 1.7 0.8

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 0.645 158.1 161.4 9.2 3.5 -6.5 1.4 2.1

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 35.002 188.4 192.8 20.5 2.7 2.9 3.3 2.3

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 12.262 185.9 188.7 13.9 2.5 2.5 1.3 1.5

Industrial supplies & materials,

nondurable.................................... 22.740 190.7 195.9 24.5 2.7 3.2 4.4 2.7

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials... 10 2.219 258.8 258.3 64.4 2.2 8.6 4.5 -0.2

Nonagricultural industrial supplies &

materials........................................ 32.783 185.4 190.0 18.5 2.7 2.6 3.2 2.5

Fuels & lubricants............................... 11 8.897 277.1 287.9 37.6 4.7 3.7 9.1 3.9

Nonagricultural supplies & materials

excluding fuels & building materials. . . . . .. 12 23.024 173.8 177.3 13.5 2.1 2.3 1.2 2.0

Selected building materials.................... 13 0.862 115.5 116.2 -1.4 0.1 -0.5 -0.2 0.6

Capital goods..................................... 2 34.524 104.1 104.3 0.4 0.1 -0.1 0.2 0.2

Electrical generating equipment.............. 20 3.326 111.3 111.7 2.7 0.5 0.3 0.6 0.4

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 24.152 94.0 94.2 -0.8 -0.2 -0.2 0.0 0.2

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 7.046 144.2 144.1 3.4 1.1 0.6 0.1 -0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 6.689 109.7 109.8 1.2 0.1 0.0 0.5 0.1

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 13.238 114.1 114.5 3.2 -0.3 0.7 0.8 0.4

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 6.718 113.6 114.2 1.7 -1.0 0.2 0.4 0.5

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 5.413 113.0 112.6 4.2 0.1 0.8 1.0 -0.4

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

6
Table 3. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2010 to April

2011

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Mar.

20111

Index Percent change

Mar.

2011

Apr.

2011

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2010

to Apr.

2011

Dec.

2010 to

Jan.

2011

Jan.

2011 to

Feb.

2011

Feb.

2011 to

Mar.

2011

Mar.

2011 to

Apr. 2011

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 22.813 167.3 179.8 34.3 4.6 5.2 6.8 7.5

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 2.285 189.6 197.6 32.0 4.2 1.4 8.2 4.2

Crop production................................. 111 1.665 197.0 206.1 33.2 3.6 0.4 11.0 4.6

Mining.............................................. 21 20.528 164.8 177.7 34.6 4.6 5.5 6.7 7.8

Mining (except oil and gas) (Dec.

2006=100)..................................... 212 0.362 146.7 153.0 15.7 3.3 0.6 0.4 4.3

Manufactured articles.............................. 76.691 115.8 116.6 5.5 0.8 0.8 1.4 0.7

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 10.731 118.5 119.8 10.3 1.4 0.7 1.6 1.1

Food manufacturing............................ 311 3.250 151.3 153.1 22.9 2.9 0.8 2.8 1.2

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.897 110.4 111.0 1.6 -0.4 0.1 0.4 0.5

Textile product mills............................ 314 0.856 114.1 115.2 14.3 1.0 0.9 5.0 1.0

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 3.931 105.7 106.9 5.3 1.0 0.6 0.8 1.1

Leather and allied product manufacturing. .. 316 1.433 109.9 111.5 4.6 0.6 0.5 0.2 1.5

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 18.834 136.3 138.4 11.7 1.3 1.7 3.8 1.5

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.668 110.6 110.9 1.8 3.4 0.2 1.8 0.3

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.163 110.8 112.6 7.3 0.5 -0.7 0.4 1.6

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 5.381 174.8 179.5 35.0 1.7 5.2 16.2 2.7

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 9.046 130.4 131.6 3.8 0.9 0.8 -1.0 0.9

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 1.702 120.1 122.0 7.0 2.1 0.6 0.4 1.6

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 0.779 126.2 126.8 5.1 1.6 0.2 0.3 0.5

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 47.126 108.9 109.2 2.3 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.3

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 4.635 186.9 189.6 16.8 2.6 1.9 3.0 1.4

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.452 123.3 124.0 5.4 0.5 0.2 0.8 0.6

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 5.361 117.2 117.7 4.0 0.9 0.9 0.3 0.4

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 14.838 84.4 84.1 -4.0 -0.7 0.1 -0.2 -0.4

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.458 114.2 115.4 2.8 0.3 0.2 0.1 1.1

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 10.250 106.9 107.1 1.2 0.0 0.2 0.3 0.2

Furniture and related product

manufacturing................................ 337 1.193 109.0 110.1 4.1 0.2 0.7 0.6 1.0

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 4.939 118.5 119.9 7.0 2.5 0.8 0.3 1.2

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

7
Table 4. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2010 to April

2011

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Mar.

20111

Index Percent change

Mar.

2011

Apr.

2011

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2010

to Apr.

2011

Dec.

2010 to

Jan.

2011

Jan.

2011 to

Feb.

2011

Feb.

2011 to

Mar.

2011

Mar.

2011 to

Apr. 2011

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 9.722 185.8 186.7 46.0 5.9 3.8 2.3 0.5

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 7.372 218.6 218.2 55.2 5.4 6.6 2.6 -0.2

Crop production................................. 111 6.980 229.4 228.3 58.5 5.6 6.7 2.8 -0.5

Mining.............................................. 21 2.350 117.3 120.5 24.5 6.9 -4.0 1.2 2.7

Mining (except oil and gas).................... 212 1.549 135.6 137.7 27.3 1.4 1.5 0.9 1.5

Manufactured articles.............................. 86.480 118.7 120.0 6.8 0.7 0.9 1.5 1.1

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 7.255 141.6 143.8 14.9 1.3 1.5 1.9 1.6

Food manufacturing............................ 311 4.975 157.5 160.6 14.4 0.7 1.0 1.8 2.0

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.545 115.2 115.5 11.6 -0.5 0.3 0.6 0.3

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 0.399 110.6 110.6 8.2 2.6 2.8 0.2 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 26.504 132.9 136.2 13.6 1.0 2.3 3.2 2.5

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.406 121.0 122.1 6.2 -2.6 4.9 1.9 0.9

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.974 125.2 127.1 10.2 1.3 0.6 0.1 1.5

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 6.117 172.0 179.0 39.8 3.4 6.4 11.8 4.1

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 15.401 129.1 132.2 8.4 0.6 1.3 1.1 2.4

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 1.916 109.1 110.2 4.1 0.3 1.0 0.1 1.0

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 0.690 110.3 110.7 -2.8 -1.6 -0.2 -0.2 0.4

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 52.721 110.9 111.3 2.8 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.4

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 4.949 170.7 176.0 23.2 3.0 1.3 2.0 3.1

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.454 126.0 127.3 4.9 1.2 1.1 0.6 1.0

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 10.329 116.0 116.4 1.4 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.3

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 13.889 90.5 90.0 -3.1 -0.3 -0.5 -0.2 -0.6

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.032 110.8 111.4 3.2 0.3 0.2 0.6 0.5

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 12.905 113.5 113.5 2.3 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.0

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 4.861 115.7 116.9 5.8 -0.3 1.2 1.6 1.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

8
Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2010 to April

2011

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Mar.

20111

Index Percent change

Mar.

2011

Apr.

2011

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2010

to Apr.

2011

Dec.

2010 to

Jan.

2011

Jan.

2011 to

Feb.

2011

Feb.

2011 to

Mar.

2011

Mar.

2011 to

Apr. 2011

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.347 167.0 169.3 20.4 2.8 2.1 1.8 1.4

Meat and edible meat offal....................... 02 0.319 211.9 219.4 21.6 3.5 3.7 2.4 3.5

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.702 122.8 123.0 18.4 2.3 -0.7 1.2 0.2

Vegetable products................................ II 1.904 215.2 226.7 31.6 3.1 0.0 10.2 5.3

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers............ 07 0.410 396.8 416.1 26.5 1.7 -11.4 35.4 4.9

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.567 130.0 129.4 15.3 4.6 4.1 4.6 -0.5

Coffee, tea, mate and spices.................... 09 0.429 247.6 295.9 72.5 3.6 3.1 6.2 19.5

Animal or vegetable fats and oils (Dec.

2009=100).......................................... III 0.353 157.9 152.9 46.5 11.3 4.7 0.4 -3.2

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.575 154.0 153.5 9.6 0.6 0.3 2.3 -0.3

Cocoa and cocoa preparations (Dec.

2009=100)....................................... 18 0.238 107.3 99.7 -0.5 2.6 4.7 3.9 -7.1

Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk;

bakers’ wares (Dec. 2007=100).............. 19 0.260 125.4 123.7 10.0 -1.9 -2.8 -1.1 -1.4

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts, or other

parts of plants................................... 20 0.360 153.2 155.8 20.2 2.1 0.7 0.7 1.7

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar.................. 22 0.868 120.4 121.0 1.9 -0.4 -0.1 0.4 0.5

Mineral products.................................... V 25.922 340.7 363.7 34.1 4.0 5.5 8.5 6.8

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 25.606 337.2 360.0 34.2 4.0 5.6 8.6 6.8

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 8.722 144.9 145.5 3.6 1.0 0.8 -1.0 0.4

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 1.094 363.2 374.5 34.1 4.5 3.0 3.3 3.1

Organic chemicals................................. 29 2.805 135.1 136.1 1.0 -0.5 0.7 -1.3 0.7

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 3.158 112.6 111.6 -5.5 0.3 0.2 -3.1 -0.9

Fertilizers (Dec. 2009=100)...................... 31 0.251 121.6 123.1 15.6 7.5 0.5 0.4 1.2

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec.

2001=100)....................................... 33 0.420 123.6 124.3 3.9 -0.3 0.3 -0.1 0.6

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 0.501 107.4 107.9 14.1 4.8 1.4 0.7 0.5

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 2.874 147.0 150.6 10.4 1.7 1.1 0.7 2.4

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 1.766 136.4 139.2 5.7 0.6 0.7 0.4 2.1

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 1.108 167.3 172.7 18.5 3.6 1.8 1.0 3.2

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.520 117.2 120.2 5.3 0.7 0.4 0.3 2.6

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

various materials................................ 42 0.491 117.3 120.6 5.0 0.7 0.5 0.3 2.8

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.700 133.0 133.0 1.1 3.2 0.4 1.7 0.0

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 1.275 113.8 115.6 6.1 0.2 -0.9 0.3 1.6

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 0.850 107.4 108.1 5.4 0.5 0.0 0.1 0.7

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 5.072 109.8 111.0 7.8 1.2 0.8 1.5 1.1

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

knitted or crocheted............................ 61 1.965 102.6 103.0 4.6 1.0 0.7 0.1 0.4

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

not knitted or crocheted........................ 62 1.841 107.6 109.6 6.2 0.9 0.7 1.3 1.9

Made-up or worn textile articles................. 63 0.647 109.7 110.8 19.9 1.1 1.0 6.9 1.0

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.. .. XII 1.197 110.1 110.9 4.3 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.7

See footnotes at end of table.

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

2011 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Mar.

20111

Index Percent change

Mar.

2011

Apr.

2011

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2010

to Apr.

2011

Dec.

2010 to

Jan.

2011

Jan.

2011 to

Feb.

2011

Feb.

2011 to

Mar.

2011

Mar.

2011 to

Apr. 2011

Footwear and parts of such articles............ 64 1.019 109.0 109.7 4.0 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.6

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc........................................... XIII 0.709 128.0 128.2 3.3 0.4 0.3 0.5 0.2

Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, or

mica (Dec. 2001=100)......................... 68 0.242 120.2 120.4 2.5 0.3 0.5 -0.1 0.2

Ceramic products.................................. 69 0.208 141.2 141.2 0.9 0.1 0.1 1.4 0.0

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.260 122.0 122.3 6.3 0.7 0.3 0.2 0.2

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 2.912 185.1 191.9 21.4 2.8 0.0 2.2 3.7

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 5.210 199.3 199.7 9.5 1.6 2.0 2.3 0.2

Iron and steel...................................... 72 0.956 255.9 259.7 11.2 3.1 3.2 4.0 1.5

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.523 155.5 156.9 7.2 0.3 0.5 0.8 0.9

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.633 424.3 410.7 18.1 5.7 3.9 1.7 -3.2

Nickel and articles thereof (Dec. 2009=100). .. 75 0.193 152.1 146.3 12.2 2.1 5.5 10.3 -3.8

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.902 152.1 154.1 10.4 0.7 2.8 1.9 1.3

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.317 122.1 122.3 3.6 1.2 0.1 -0.2 0.2

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.360 128.7 129.0 1.6 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.2

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 23.450 85.8 85.7 -1.2 -0.2 0.2 0.0 -0.1

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 11.614 88.4 88.3 0.3 -0.1 0.3 -0.2 -0.1

Electrical machinery and equip, sound and TV

recorders & reproducers, parts............... 85 11.836 83.2 83.2 -2.7 -0.2 0.0 0.2 0.0

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 8.555 111.4 111.7 1.6 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.3

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 7.590 110.4 110.7 1.7 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.3

Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof (Dec.

2002=100)....................................... 88 0.882 115.3 115.4 1.1 0.0 1.3 -0.2 0.1

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 3.148 104.4 104.7 3.6 2.3 0.1 0.2 0.3

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical

instruments...................................... 90 2.908 102.1 102.4 3.5 2.4 0.2 0.1 0.3

Clocks and watches and parts thereof. . . . . . . .. 91 0.177 124.9 125.5 2.5 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.5

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 3.474 108.3 108.9 2.4 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.6

Furniture & stuffed furnishings; lamps &

lighting fittings, nesoi; prefab bldgs........... 94 1.702 111.4 112.0 2.5 -0.1 0.5 0.5 0.5

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 1.571 102.0 102.6 1.8 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.6

Miscellaneous manufactured articles........... 96 0.201 128.4 128.4 7.9 2.2 0.2 0.3 0.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

10
Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: April 2010 to April

2011

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Mar.

20111

Index Percent change

Mar.

2011

Apr.

2011

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2010

to Apr.

2011

Dec.

2010 to

Jan.

2011

Jan.

2011 to

Feb.

2011

Feb.

2011 to

Mar.

2011

Mar.

2011 to

Apr. 2011

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.907 190.8 198.8 18.1 1.1 2.1 3.6 4.2

Meat & edible meat offal (Dec. 2006=100). . .. 02 1.181 157.3 161.1 15.4 0.7 4.1 3.7 2.4

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.369 169.2 175.4 14.7 6.3 -9.8 1.8 3.7

Vegetable products................................ II 6.210 253.4 253.7 43.2 6.1 4.5 1.4 0.1

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 1.006 136.5 131.4 -1.4 4.0 0.1 1.7 -3.7

Cereals.............................................. 10 2.477 309.7 313.8 83.6 8.2 6.9 4.6 1.3

Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds, fruits,

plants, straw and fodder....................... 12 2.175 264.7 265.6 37.6 5.1 3.1 -2.6 0.3

Animal or vegetable fats and oils (Dec.

2009=100).......................................... III 0.540 158.4 162.0 51.7 7.6 4.2 0.8 2.3

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.623 148.4 148.6 8.2 -0.4 0.6 0.6 0.1

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other

parts of plants (Dec. 2009=100).............. 20 0.338 106.4 107.0 2.6 -0.2 0.8 1.2 0.6

Miscellaneous edible preparations.............. 21 0.438 117.7 117.8 -0.1 -0.5 -0.3 -0.5 0.1

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar (Dec.

2008=100)....................................... 22 0.333 105.0 105.3 2.4 -0.8 0.3 0.8 0.3

Residues and waste from the food industries;

prepared animal feed........................... 23 0.712 222.1 219.6 28.5 -1.3 0.8 1.5 -1.1

Mineral products.................................... V 8.817 326.9 341.2 37.7 4.6 3.3 8.8 4.4

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 8.191 322.3 336.8 38.9 4.9 3.6 9.5 4.5

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 12.764 151.9 153.7 5.8 0.3 1.3 0.9 1.2

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 1.049 202.9 209.0 20.2 1.5 1.3 1.8 3.0

Organic chemicals................................. 29 3.289 164.3 167.3 6.7 1.2 2.9 2.2 1.8

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 3.880 125.0 125.6 1.9 -1.4 0.0 0.6 0.5

Tanning or dyeing extracts, dyes, paints,

varnish, putty, & inks........................... 32 0.549 122.5 123.2 6.0 0.3 3.1 0.3 0.6

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery

cosmetic or toilet preparations................ 33 0.735 127.9 127.9 3.1 0.2 0.9 0.2 0.0

Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or scouring

products; candles, pastes..................... 34 0.469 122.5 125.4 7.2 0.1 1.7 -0.4 2.4

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 1.775 145.1 146.5 4.0 0.6 0.5 0.0 1.0

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 5.051 143.9 149.2 8.2 1.1 1.0 0.5 3.7

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 4.106 137.3 141.3 7.1 1.1 1.0 0.4 2.9

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 0.945 173.5 185.7 13.0 0.9 0.7 1.1 7.0

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.423 132.6 139.3 15.8 1.5 2.4 3.0 5.1

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.509 109.7 110.1 0.0 -0.7 0.8 -0.1 0.4

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 2.719 127.2 128.1 11.0 1.4 1.4 0.0 0.7

Woodpulp and recovered paper................. 47 0.954 154.0 156.5 25.2 2.1 3.3 -0.4 1.6

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 1.280 119.7 120.0 7.0 1.2 0.4 0.3 0.3

Printed material.................................... 49 0.484 118.0 118.0 1.2 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.0

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 2.567 164.9 164.1 44.1 2.0 7.1 5.2 -0.5

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics

thereof............................................ 52 1.308 292.2 286.8 124.9 2.4 14.9 10.5 -1.8

See footnotes at end of table.

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

2011 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Mar.

20111

Index Percent change

Mar.

2011

Apr.

2011

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2010

to Apr.

2011

Dec.

2010 to

Jan.

2011

Jan.

2011 to

Feb.

2011

Feb.

2011 to

Mar.

2011

Mar.

2011 to

Apr. 2011

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc. (Dec. 2008=100)..................... XIII 0.678 115.5 115.8 -0.9 -0.4 0.0 0.0 0.3

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.381 99.0 99.3 0.6 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.3

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 4.886 250.9 257.8 26.1 2.1 0.9 3.0 2.8

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 5.975 186.8 188.6 12.9 4.5 4.8 1.6 1.0

Iron and steel...................................... 72 2.000 244.8 249.8 21.2 7.9 11.8 2.0 2.0

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.248 167.0 169.5 7.0 1.9 0.9 1.6 1.5

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.757 285.8 285.2 18.3 7.4 2.3 0.5 -0.2

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.969 138.5 137.8 6.9 2.7 2.6 1.9 -0.5

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.334 125.4 125.4 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.306 134.7 134.7 8.3 1.7 2.0 4.1 0.0

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 26.365 95.9 96.1 0.1 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.2

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 15.425 107.6 108.0 0.5 0.3 -0.1 0.4 0.4

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts

and accessories thereof....................... 85 10.940 83.3 83.1 -0.6 0.1 0.1 -0.4 -0.2

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 10.650 123.1 123.0 1.4 0.2 0.2 0.2 -0.1

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 5.950 109.2 109.3 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.1

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 5.803 105.5 105.6 -0.8 -1.1 -0.6 0.0 0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 1.374 108.0 107.4 -0.5 0.2 0.3 0.3 -0.6

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and

lighting fittings nesoi;........................... 94 0.659 119.4 117.9 -0.3 0.1 0.3 0.5 -1.3

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 0.608 91.9 91.9 -1.4 -0.1 0.3 0.1 0.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

12
Table 7. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes by locality of origin: April 2010 to April 2011

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Percent of

U.S.

imports1

Index Percent change

Mar.

2011

Apr.

2011

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2010

to Apr.

2011

Dec. 2010

to Jan.

2011

Jan. 2011

to Feb.

2011

Feb. 2011

to Mar.

2011

Mar. 2011

to Apr.

2011

Industrialized Countries2

..................... 39.494 129.5 131.5 4.2 -0.2 0.9 0.3 1.5

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 4.457 221.8 234.5 12.8 2.9 0.5 -1.8 5.7

Manufactured articles......................... 34.670 122.0 123.0 2.8 -0.7 1.0 0.7 0.8

Other Countries3

............................... 60.506 138.2 141.9 12.7 1.7 2.2 3.1 2.7

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 12.079 346.6 375.1 38.8 5.0 6.2 7.6 8.2

Manufactured articles......................... 48.226 109.9 110.4 4.4 0.7 0.7 1.5 0.5

Canada............................................ 14.271 152.4 156.0 8.1 1.1 1.3 0.4 2.4

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 3.991 213.6 225.4 11.7 3.2 0.6 -2.6 5.5

Manufactured articles......................... 10.005 140.5 141.8 6.5 0.1 1.6 1.9 0.9

European Union4

............................... 17.186 132.4 133.5 3.7 1.0 0.6 0.9 0.8

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 0.256 280.5 298.1 14.4 2.1 0.1 0.1 6.3

Manufactured articles......................... 16.854 129.6 130.5 3.5 0.9 0.6 0.9 0.7

France (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 1.995 118.5 119.1 -2.1 0.3 0.4 -3.1 0.5

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)..................... 4.510 114.6 115.7 2.5 0.2 1.1 0.6 1.0

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)........... 2.795 130.4 131.2 4.2 1.6 0.5 -0.5 0.6

Latin America5

.................................. 18.406 178.4 184.7 15.4 2.1 2.0 4.5 3.5

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 5.479 375.6 406.0 38.3 3.9 4.4 10.1 8.1

Manufactured articles......................... 12.844 136.0 136.9 3.7 1.1 0.7 1.3 0.7

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 11.380 147.7 151.4 8.3 1.4 1.2 2.9 2.5

Nonmanufactured articles (Dec.

2008=100)................................... 1.900 200.8 215.7 34.4 4.7 2.6 11.2 7.4

Manufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100). . .. 9.437 97.3 98.3 1.4 0.5 0.7 0.4 1.0

Pacific Rim (Dec. 2003=100)6

................ 34.852 103.7 104.1 3.5 0.4 0.5 0.8 0.4

China (Dec. 2003=100)......................... 19.595 102.7 103.1 2.8 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.4

Japan.............................................. 6.198 101.1 101.4 3.2 0.6 0.5 0.2 0.3

Asian NICs7

..................................... 5.555 91.1 92.3 5.8 0.7 0.6 1.7 1.3

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)8

..................... 5.987 104.4 104.6 8.6 2.0 1.0 1.0 0.2

Asia Near East (Dec. 2003=100)9........... 3.795 251.5 266.7 24.6 4.1 5.6 2.4 6.0

1 Percentage of trade figures are based on 2009 trade values.

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

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

4 Includes European Union countries.

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

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

Countries.

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

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

Vietnam.

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

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

Regions are not mutually exclusive.

Dash = Not available

13
Table 8. U.S. international price indexes and percent changes for selected transportation services: April 2010

to April 2011

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Relative

importance

Mar.

20111

Index Percent change

Mar.

2011

Apr.

2011

Annual Monthly

Apr. 2010

to Apr.

2011

Dec. 2010

to Jan.

2011

Jan. 2011

to Feb.

2011

Feb. 2011

to Mar.

2011

Mar. 2011

to Apr.

2011

Air Freight

Import Air Freight..................................... 100.000 172.8 174.8 9.0 -1.7 2.5 0.8 1.2

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 22.773 148.8 159.2 20.0 -0.6 1.8 3.1 7.0

Asia.................................................... 73.682 157.7 156.7 5.5 -2.0 2.7 0.2 -0.6

Export Air Freight..................................... 100.000 138.9 142.7 15.5 3.5 2.0 2.7 2.7

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)............................ 38.836 125.8 129.4 13.5 3.0 0.9 3.3 2.9

Inbound Air Freight................................... 100.000 157.0 159.2 9.9 -0.5 1.5 1.3 1.4

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 23.181 138.8 146.1 18.4 0.1 1.4 3.2 5.3

Asia.................................................... 64.945 142.8 142.7 6.4 -0.8 1.8 0.3 -0.1

Outbound Air Freight................................. 100.000 135.9 139.5 17.0 2.9 1.8 2.8 2.6

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 36.815 154.8 158.0 13.7 1.4 1.3 2.7 2.1

Asia.................................................... 44.639 126.5 130.8 21.2 4.4 2.8 3.1 3.4

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 161.2 163.2 4.5 -2.6 -2.4 -0.2 1.2

Europe................................................. 37.600 166.1 170.8 -0.1 3.6 -2.7 -3.5 2.8

Asia.................................................... 25.747 137.8 136.0 3.9 -9.4 -5.2 2.3 -1.3

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 15.178 163.1 171.9 18.2 -7.8 0.5 2.9 5.4

Export Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 172.8 177.0 9.0 5.6 -9.6 7.1 2.4

Europe................................................. 27.127 182.4 201.0 -2.2 -2.3 -1.6 0.2 10.2

Asia.................................................... 31.235 163.2 158.5 11.0 11.7 -16.4 10.8 -2.9

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 20.822 185.6 189.7 13.5 4.7 -10.9 5.2 2.2

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

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