Technical Information:
  Jim Thomas      (202) 606-7155                      USDL-98-202
  Bill Alterman    (202) 606-7108                     Transmission of this
Media contact:                                        Material is Embargoed
  Kathryn Hoyle      (202) 606-5902                   Until: 10:00 A.M. E.D.T.
Internet Address:   http://stats.bls.gov/ipphome.htm  Tuesday, May 12, 1998
                                  
                    U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES
                                -APRIL 1998-
                                  
     The U.S. Import Price Index decreased 0.1 percent in April, the Bureau
of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  The
decrease was attributable to the continued decline in nonpetroleum import
prices.   The U.S. Export Price Index fell 0.3 percent in April, the same as
in the previous two months.

              Percent changes in import and export price indexes
                             by End Use category
                         - not seasonally adjusted -
                                  
                      IMPORTS                     EXPORTS          
                                                                 
  Month                               Non-              Agri-    Nonagri-
                 All     Petroleum  Petroleum   All    cultural  cultural
               Imports    Imports    Imports  Exports  Exports   Exports     
                                                                 
                                                                 
1997                                                             
April            -1.1      -7.3       -0.5      0.0      -0.4       0.0 
May               0.0       1.1       -0.1     -0.3      -1.2       0.0 
June             -0.1      -2.0        0.1     -0.1      -2.0       0.1 
July             -0.2      -1.3       -0.2      0.0      -1.1       0.0 
August           -0.1       2.3       -0.3      0.0       0.1       0.0 
September        -0.1       0.2        0.0     -0.3      -0.1      -0.3 
October           0.2       5.6       -0.3     -0.4      -1.8      -0.2 
November         -0.4      -3.5       -0.2      0.0       0.7      -0.1 
December         -1.0      -6.8       -0.4     -0.4      -0.8      -0.4 
1998                                                             
January          -1.3     -10.0 r     -0.6     -0.7      -2.7      -0.4 
February         -0.8      -6.5 r     -0.4     -0.3      -1.5      -0.1 
March            -1.0      -9.1 r     -0.2     -0.3 r    -0.6      -0.3 
April            -0.1       2.5       -0.3     -0.3      -1.3      -0.3 
                                                                 
April 1996-97    -3.5     -14.0       -2.5     -1.5     -10.7      -0.2 
April 1997-98    -4.9     -25.3       -3.0     -3.1     -11.7      -2.0

r = revised to reflect late reports and corrections by respondents.
                                  
                                  
                            Import Goods
                                  
     The import price index fell for the sixth consecutive month and was
down 4.9 percent for the year ended in April.  The drop in import prices in
April was smaller on average than the monthly declines recorded over the
prior five months, as an upturn in petroleum import prices partially offset
a decrease in nonpetroleum import prices.  Nonpetroleum import prices fell
0.3 percent in April.  The decline continued a downward trend for this index,
which dropped 3.0 percent over the past 12 months and 2.5 percent over the
April 1996-97 period.  Petroleum prices, however, posted an upturn of 2.5
percent in April, after falling for five consecutive months.   Despite the
April increase, the petroleum import index was down 25.3 percent for the year.
                                  
     The index for imported capital goods continued to lead the drop in
nonpetroleum import prices.  Import prices for capital goods fell 0.5 percent
in April, the same as in the previous month.  The index fell 6.3 percent for
the year ended in April and has steadily declined over the past three years.
Import prices for consumer goods also fell last month, declining 0.4 percent
after a 0.5 percent fall in March. The indexes for industrial supplies and
materials excluding petroleum and for automotive vehicles, parts, and engines
each edged down 0.1 percent in April.  Import prices for industrial supplies
and materials excluding petroleum dropped 4.1 percent over the previous four
months, while the auto index has not moved by more than 0.1 percent over the
past six months.
                                  
     Import prices for foods, feeds, and beverages were unchanged in April.
The index had decreased in each of the previous three months.
                                  
                                Export Goods
                                  
     For the fifth consecutive month, declines for both nonagricultural and
agricultural prices contributed to the decline in overall export prices.
Export prices have fallen 3.1 percent over the past 12 months and 1.5 percent
for the April 1996-97 period.  The price index of agricultural exports fell
1.3 percent in April, led by falling prices for grains and oilseeds.  For
the year ended in April, the index was down 11.7 percent.  Prices of
nonagricultural exports also fell in April, decreasing 0.3 percent for the
second consecutive month.  The index for nonagricultural exports, which has
declined for eight consecutive months, decreased 2.0 percent for the year
ended in April.
                                  
     The export price indexes for capital goods, consumer goods, and
nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials each fell 0.3 percent in
April.  Prices for both capital goods and consumer goods were stable in
March, posting monthly movements of 0.1 percent and no change, respectively.
The index for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials, which has
decreased for nine consecutive months, was down 1.0 percent in March.
                                  
     Export prices for automotive vehicles, parts, and engines were unchanged
for the fifth consecutive month.  The index has posted little or no monthly
movement over the past 12 months, edging up 0.1 percent for the year ended
in April.
                                  


                    Imports by Locality of Origin
                                  
     The index of imports from the Asian Newly Industrialized Countries
continued to decline, falling 1.0 percent in April.  The index has posted
declines of 0.5 percent or more in 10 of the past 12 months and was down
7.8 percent during the period.
                                  
     Prices for imports from Japan resumed a three-year downward trend,
falling 0.4 percent in April after gaining 0.2 percent the previous month.
(See table 7.)   For the April 1997-98 period, the index was down 4.3
percent.
                                  
     Import prices from Latin America and the European Union also declined
in April, decreasing 1.2 and 0.4 percent, respectively.  Both indexes have
dropped for four consecutive months.
                                  
     In contrast, the price index for imports from Canada rose 0.3 percent
in April.  Despite the upturn, the index was down 2.3 percent over the past
12 months.
                                  
                                  
                                  
                         CONTENTS OF RELEASE
                                  
This news release includes the following tables:

Table 1   Import Price Indexes, by End Use.....page  4
Table 2   Export Price Indexes, by End Use.....page  5
Table 3   Import Price Indexes, by SITC.....pages 6-7
Table 4   Export Price Indexes, by SITC.....pages  8-9
Table 5   Import Price Indexes, by Harmonized System.....pages 10-11
Table 6   Export Price Indexes, by Harmonized System.....pages 12-13
Table 7   Import Price Indexes, by Locality of Origin.....page  14
Table 8   U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes for Services.....page 15
Table 9   U.S. International Price Indexes for Services.....page  16
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Import and Export Price Index data for May are scheduled for release
on June 11 at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).



Table 1      U.S. Import Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, April 1997-April 1998                                 
                 1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                            
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
                                                         ance                           April   Dec.      Jan.      Feb.      March
END       Description                                                                   1997    1997      1998      1998      1998 
USE                                                     March      March       April    to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1998       1998        1998     April   Jan.      Feb.      March     April
                                                        1/         2/                   1998    1998      1998      1998      1998 
                                                                                                                                   
          ALL COMMODITIES                               100.000     93.6        93.5     -4.9    -1.3      -0.8      -1.0      -0.1
          ALL IMPORTS EXCLUDING PETROLEUM                93.594     94.7        94.4     -3.0    -0.6      -0.4      -0.2      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
0          FOODS, FEEDS, & BEVERAGES                      4.834     96.6        96.6     -3.0    -0.4      -1.0      -0.1       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
00          Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,                                                                                 
                excluding distilled beverages             3.405     93.4        93.1     -6.0    -0.4      -1.8      -0.2      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
01          Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled                                                                                 
                beverages)                                1.429    104.9       105.7      4.8    -0.2       0.8       0.2       0.8
                                                                                                                                   
1          INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS               25.147     89.8        90.2    -10.2    -4.1      -2.5      -2.6       0.4
             INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS                                                                                       
                 EXCLUDING PETROLEUM                     18.740     94.5        94.4     -3.2    -1.5      -0.8      -0.3      -0.1
             INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS,                                                                                      
                 DURABLE                                  9.927     95.8        95.7     -3.8    -1.5      -0.4       0.0      -0.1
             INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS,                                                                                      
                 NONDURABLE EXCLUDING PETROLEUM           8.814     93.0        92.9     -2.5    -1.5      -1.5      -0.6      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
10          Fuels & lubricants                            7.591     81.0        82.5    -22.0    -9.1      -6.4      -7.8       1.9
                                                                                                                                   
100          Petroleum & petroleum products               6.407     76.8        78.7    -25.3   -10.0      -6.5      -9.1       2.5
                                                                                                                                   
10000          Crude                                      4.901     74.0        77.0    -26.5   -10.5      -7.6      -9.1       4.1
                                                                                                                                   
11          Paper & paper base stocks                     1.853     81.6        82.0      2.4    -1.1      -1.3       0.4       0.5
                                                                                                                                   
12          Materials associated with nondurable                                                                                   
                supplies & materials                      5.987     91.5        91.3     -5.0    -1.2      -0.6      -0.7      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
13          Selected building materials                   2.132    104.5       104.6     -8.0    -2.4      -0.3      -0.2       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
14          Unfinished metals associated with                                                                                      
                durable goods                             4.611     94.0        94.1     -1.8    -1.6      -0.2       0.2       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
15          Finished metals associated with durable                                                                                
                goods                                     1.473     94.2        93.6     -3.5    -1.3      -0.5      -0.4      -0.6
                                                                                                                                   
16          Nonmetals associated with durable goods       1.500     92.6        91.8     -4.4    -0.5      -1.2       0.0      -0.9
                                                                                                                                   
2          CAPITAL GOODS                                 28.575     87.2        86.8     -6.3    -0.9      -0.7      -0.5      -0.5
                                                                                                                                   
20          Electric & electrical generating                                                                                       
                equipment                                 3.437     95.5        94.7     -3.0    -0.5       0.3      -0.3      -0.8
                                                                                                                                   
21          Nonelectrical machinery                      23.362     84.5        84.0     -7.4    -0.9      -0.9      -0.5      -0.6
                                                                                                                                   
3          AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES, PARTS & ENGINES          18.599    101.4       101.3      0.7     0.0       0.0       0.1      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
4          CONSUMER GOODS, EXCLUDING                                                                                               
               AUTOMOTIVES                               22.846     98.6        98.2     -1.4    -0.2       0.1      -0.5      -0.4
                                                                                                                                   
40          Nondurables, manufactured                    11.352    100.9       100.6     -0.2     0.0      -0.1       0.0      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
41          Durables, manufactured                       10.381     96.3        95.7     -2.7    -0.3      -0.3      -0.3      -0.6
                                                                                                                                   
42          Nonmanufactured consumer goods                1.113     98.1        97.5     -1.4    -0.5       7.0      -7.3      -0.6
                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                       n.a.      Not available         
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for January, February and March 1998                                                                                      
            have been revised to reflect the availability                                                                                 
            of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                                                               
            All data are subject to revision in each of                                                                                   
            the three months after original publication.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                          
        NOTE:  Published categories may include price data not shown separately                                                           
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
Table 2      U.S. Export Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, April 1997-April 1998                                 
                 1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                            
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
                                                         ance                           April   Dec.      Jan.      Feb.      March
END       Description                                                                   1997    1997      1998      1998      1998 
USE                                                     March      March       April    to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1998       1998        1998     April   Jan.      Feb.      March     April
                                                        1/         2/                   1998    1998      1998      1998      1998 
                                                                                                                                   
          ALL COMMODITIES                               100.000     96.9        96.6     -3.1    -0.7      -0.3      -0.3      -0.3
          AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES                       10.044     93.6        92.4    -11.7    -2.7      -1.5      -0.6      -1.3
          NONAGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES                    89.957     97.3        97.0     -2.0    -0.4      -0.1      -0.3      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
0          FOODS, FEEDS, & BEVERAGES                      9.022     94.4        93.2    -11.9    -2.4      -2.0      -0.6      -1.3
                                                                                                                                   
00          Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,                                                                                 
                excluding distilled beverages             8.327     95.3        94.0    -12.5    -2.4      -1.4      -0.9      -1.4
                                                                                                                                   
01          Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled                                                                                 
                beverages)                                0.695     86.2        85.8     -4.0    -3.4      -7.8       2.9      -0.5
                                                                                                                                   
1          INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS               24.857     91.4        91.0     -4.5    -1.5      -0.2      -0.8      -0.4
             INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS,                                                                                      
                 DURABLE                                  9.661     92.1        92.2     -4.2    -1.1       0.1      -0.2       0.1
             INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS,                                                                                      
                 NONDURABLE                              15.196     90.9        90.3     -4.6    -1.8      -0.5      -1.1      -0.7
                                                                                                                                   
10          Agricultural industrial supplies &                                                                                     
                materials                                 1.717     88.0        87.1     -7.4    -4.7      -1.4       1.0      -1.0
                                                                                                                                   
            NONAGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES &                                                                                  
              MATERIALS                                  23.140     91.6        91.3     -4.3    -1.2      -0.2      -1.0      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
11          Fuels & lubricants                            2.325    103.4       102.1     -7.4    -2.8      -0.8      -2.6      -1.3
                                                                                                                                   
12          Nonagricultural supplies & materials                                                                                   
                excluding fuels & building materials     19.328     89.7        89.4     -3.7    -1.1      -0.1      -0.7      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
13          Selected building materials                   1.487     88.0        87.7     -8.2    -0.2      -0.7      -0.6      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
2          CAPITAL GOODS                                 44.257     98.7        98.4     -1.9    -0.1       0.0      -0.1      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
20          Electric & electrical generating                                                                                       
                Equipment                                 4.473    101.3       100.8      0.1    -0.5      -0.6       0.2      -0.5
                                                                                                                                   
21          Nonelectrical machinery                      34.287     95.7        95.4     -2.9    -0.1       0.0      -0.1      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
3          AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES, PARTS & ENGINES           9.833    102.3       102.3      0.1     0.0       0.0       0.0       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
4          CONSUMER GOODS, EXCLUDING                                                                                               
               AUTOMOTIVES                               12.032    102.5       102.2      0.4    -0.2       0.0       0.0      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
40          Nondurables, manufactured                     6.354    102.3       102.1      1.0     0.1       0.0       0.1      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
41          Durables, manufactured                        5.099    101.3       101.0     -1.0    -0.3      -0.1      -0.3      -0.3
                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                       n.a.      Not available         
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for January, February and March 1998                                                                                      
            have been revised to reflect the availability                                                                                 
            of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                                                               
            All data are subject to revision in each of the                                                                               
            three months after original publication.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                          
        NOTE:  Published categories may include price data not shown separately                                                           
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
Table 3       U.S. Import Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, April 1997-April 1998                                 
                  1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                            
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
                                                         ance                           April   Dec.      Jan.      Feb.      March
SITC      Description                                                                   1997    1997      1998      1998      1998 
Rev. 3                                                  March      March       April    to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1998       1998        1998     April   Jan.      Feb.      March     April
                                                        1/         2/                   1998    1998      1998      1998      1998 
                                                                                                                                   
          ALL COMMODITIES                               100.000     93.6        93.5     -4.9    -1.3      -0.8      -1.0      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
0          FOOD AND LIVE ANIMALS                          4.142     97.9        98.2     -1.3    -0.4      -1.7       0.4       0.3
01          Meat and meat preparations                    0.362    101.2       101.7     -2.9    -2.8       0.0      -0.1       0.5
03          Fish, crustaceans, aquatic invertebrates                                                                               
               and preparations thereof                   1.099    107.1       107.5      7.1    -0.2       0.9       0.7       0.4
05          Vegetables, fruit and nuts,                                                                                            
               fresh or dried                             1.048     95.7        95.9     -5.5     0.4      -8.8       2.0       0.2
07          Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and                                                                                         
               manufactures thereof                       0.685     94.0        93.1     -5.1     2.8       2.5      -3.2      -1.0
       3/ Other food and live animals (9612=100)          0.947     96.6        97.9     -2.0    -2.4      -0.2       1.0       1.3
                                                                                                                                   
1          BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO                          0.891    109.2       109.2      1.9     0.4       0.5      -0.3       0.0
11          Beverages                                     0.750    105.8       105.8      2.1     0.2       0.5      -0.1       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
2          CRUDE MATERIALS, INEDIBLE, EXCEPT FUELS        2.932     91.1        89.8     -8.0    -2.2       4.0      -4.2      -1.4
23          Crude rubber (including synthetic and                                                                                  
               reclaimed)                                 0.220     63.6        59.5    -29.8    -9.7       5.1      -3.0      -6.4
24          Cork and wood                                 1.051    110.6       110.8    -11.3    -3.0       0.3       0.5       0.2
25          Pulp and waste paper                          0.371     64.2        63.7     -0.2    -0.6      -5.6      -0.5      -0.8
28          Metalliferous ores and metal scrap            0.640    100.4       100.6     -5.1    -2.0      -0.3       0.4       0.2
29          Crude animal and vegetable materials,                                                                                  
               n.e.s. (9612=100)                          0.296    110.0       102.0      8.2     1.5      45.7     -30.5      -7.3
       3/ Other crude materials, inedible, except                                                                                  
             fuels (9612=100)                             0.353     94.4        92.9     -4.7    -0.9      -0.8       0.0      -1.6
                                                                                                                                   
3          MINERAL FUELS, LUBRICANTS AND RELATED                                                                                   
              MATERIALS                                   7.269     80.2        81.8    -22.3    -9.5      -6.7      -8.0       2.0
33          Petroleum, petroleum products and                                                                                      
               related materials                          6.035     76.0        78.1    -25.5   -10.4      -6.7      -9.2       2.8
34          Gas, natural and manufactured                 1.105    114.8       112.4     -1.1    -4.5      -7.9      -2.1      -2.1
                                                                                                                                   
5          CHEMICALS AND RELATED PRODUCTS, N.E.S.         5.624     93.1        92.8     -3.9    -1.1      -0.4      -0.7      -0.3
51          Organic chemicals                             1.570     91.0        89.2     -7.6    -1.7      -1.4      -1.5      -2.0
52          Inorganic chemicals                           0.672     94.5        95.6     -5.4    -3.3      -0.1       0.5       1.2
53          Dyeing, tanning and coloring materials        0.294     94.9        94.6     -2.6    -1.7      -0.4       0.0      -0.3
54          Medicinal and pharmaceutical products         0.942     95.8        95.5     -0.5    -0.4      -0.6       0.0      -0.3
55          Essential oils; polishing and cleansing                                                                                
               preps                                      0.324     94.4        94.1     -4.8    -1.3       0.1      -2.0      -0.3
57          Plastics in primary forms                     0.392     94.4        94.1      5.0     0.4       4.4      -2.2      -0.3
58          Plastics in nonprimary forms                  0.538     81.5        81.9     -5.0    -0.2       0.0      -1.3       0.5
59          Chemical materials and products, n.e.s.       0.672    101.7       101.2     -2.9    -0.2      -1.5       0.3      -0.5
                                                                                                                                   
6          MANUFACTURED GOODS CLASSIFIED CHIEFLY                                                                                   
              BY MATERIAL                                12.837     94.6        94.8     -1.1    -0.8      -0.4      -0.2       0.2
62          Rubber manufactures, n.e.s.                   0.745     95.1        95.2     -2.4    -0.3       0.0      -0.1       0.1
63          Cork and wood manufactures other than                                                                                  
               furniture                                  0.546     93.0        91.7     -8.0    -1.8      -3.0      -1.5      -1.4
64          Paper, paperboard, and articles of                                                                                     
               paper pulp, paper or paper board           1.662     87.9        88.8      3.7    -1.0      -0.1       0.5       1.0
65          Textile yarn, fabrics, made-up                                                                                         
               articles, n.e.s., and related product      1.442     97.8        97.9     -2.8    -0.4      -1.1       0.0       0.1
66          Nonmetallic mineral manufactures,                                                                                      
               n.e.s.                                     2.189    100.6       101.2     -1.6    -0.4      -0.6      -0.1       0.6
67          Iron and steel                                2.092     94.8        94.5     -2.2    -0.3      -0.2      -1.0      -0.3
68          Nonferrous metals                             1.964     91.2        91.8      1.3    -1.7       0.1       0.7       0.7
69          Manufactures of metals, n.e.s.                2.033     97.3        96.9     -2.1    -0.6      -0.4      -0.2      -0.4
                                                                                                                                   
7          MACHINERY AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT             47.835     93.1        92.7     -3.4    -0.4      -0.3      -0.2      -0.4
71          Power generating machinery and                                                                                         
               equipment (9612=100)                       3.129     99.8        97.7     -1.8     0.9      -0.1       0.0      -2.1
72          Machinery specialized for particular                                                                                   
               industries                                 2.773     98.1        97.6     -1.6    -0.4      -0.6       0.0      -0.5
73          Metalworking machinery                        0.853     97.6        97.0     -0.9    -0.6      -0.7       0.2      -0.6
74          General industrial machinery and equip-                                                                                
               ment, n.e.s. and machine parts, n.e.s      3.520     96.5        96.0     -2.1    -0.2      -0.6       0.0      -0.5
75          Computer equipment and office machines        6.911     73.6        72.8    -12.5    -1.7      -1.5      -1.1      -1.1
76          Telecommunications & sound recording                                                                                   
               & reproducing apparatus & equipment        4.640     90.7        90.6     -3.3    -0.3      -0.5      -0.2      -0.1
77          Electrical machinery and equipment            9.644     86.0        85.6     -5.0    -0.5       0.0      -0.2      -0.5
78          Road vehicles                                15.275    101.5       101.5      0.9    -0.1      -0.1       0.2       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
8          MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES           18.031     99.2        98.7     -1.6    -0.1      -0.3      -0.1      -0.5
81          Prefabricated buildings; plumbing, heat                                                                                
               & lighting fixtures, n.e.s.                0.399     95.8        94.7     -1.5    -0.3      -0.6       0.4      -1.1
82          Furniture and parts thereof                   1.316    102.9       102.8     -0.7     0.2      -0.2      -0.2      -0.1
83          Travel goods, handbags and similar                                                                                     
               containers                                 0.516     99.5        99.5     -1.8     1.0      -0.6      -1.3       0.0
84          Articles of apparel and clothing                                                                                       
               accessories                                6.076    102.7       102.6      0.1     0.1      -0.1      -0.1      -0.1
85          Footwear                                      1.838    100.7       100.6     -0.4     0.0      -0.1      -0.4      -0.1
87          Professional, scientific and controlling                                                                               
               instruments and apparatus, n.e.s.          1.625     95.0        94.6     -2.5    -0.6      -0.3      -0.4      -0.4
88          Photographic apparatus, equipment and                                                                                  
               supplies and optical goods, n.e.s.;        1.365     91.7        91.6     -4.2    -0.9      -0.2      -0.4      -0.1
89          Miscellaneous manufactured articles,                                                                                   
               n.e.s.                                     4.896     97.5        96.2     -3.5    -0.3      -0.5       0.2      -1.3
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                       n.a.      Not available.        
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for January, February and March 1998                                                                                      
            have been revised to reflect the availability                                                                                 
            of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                                                               
            All data are subject to revision in each of the                                                                               
            three months after original publication.                                                                                      
        3  Product categories included in this group                                                                                      
            have been modified due to concordance                                                                                         
            or coverage limitations.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                          
        NOTE:   Published categories may include price data not shown separately                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
Table 4       U.S. Export Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, April 1997-April 1998                                 
                  1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                            
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
                                                         ance                           April   Dec.      Jan.      Feb.      March
SITC      Description                                                                   1997    1997      1998      1998      1998 
Rev. 3                                                  March      March       April    to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1998       1998        1998     April   Jan.      Feb.      March     April
                                                        1/         2/                   1998    1998      1998      1998      1998 
                                                                                                                                   
          ALL COMMODITIES                               100.000     96.9        96.6     -3.1    -0.7      -0.3      -0.3      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
0          FOOD AND LIVE ANIMALS                          7.292     92.5        91.2    -11.5    -1.9      -2.5       0.0      -1.4
01          Meat and meat preparations                    1.116     92.1        92.3     -4.6    -3.4      -0.5       1.3       0.2
03          Fish, crustaceans, aquatic invertebrates                                                                               
               and preparations thereof                   0.512     83.0        82.8     -5.4    -3.8      -9.9       2.9      -0.2
04          Cereals and cereal preparations               2.714     90.4        86.2    -17.5    -5.8       2.9      -1.2      -4.6
05          Vegetables, fruit and nuts,                                                                                            
               fresh or dried                             1.322     91.7        94.8     -5.3     8.5     -11.2       3.5       3.4
08          Feeding stuff for animals (not                                                                                         
               including unmilled cereals)                0.718    101.1        97.5    -22.7    -4.9      -2.8      -3.6      -3.6
09          Miscellaneous edible products and                                                                                      
               preparations                               0.395    104.8       104.9      1.5     0.0      -0.1       0.0       0.1
       3/ Other food and live animals (9612=100)          0.514     95.5        96.7     -6.2     1.5      -4.3      -2.9       1.3
                                                                                                                                   
1          BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO                          1.513    100.2       100.0     -0.2    -0.6       0.2       0.0      -0.2
12          Tobacco and tobacco manufactures              1.248    100.2        99.9     -0.1    -0.7       0.2       0.3      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
2          CRUDE MATERIALS, INEDIBLE, EXCEPT FUELS        5.530     84.2        83.4     -9.9    -3.5       0.5      -1.1      -1.0
21          Hides, skins and furskins, raw                0.298     90.1        87.9    -22.8   -21.2       3.0       8.2      -2.4
22          Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits               1.195    108.4       105.4    -21.3    -4.9       2.1      -4.2      -2.8
24          Cork and wood                                 0.887     84.1        84.0    -10.8     0.2      -0.7      -1.3      -0.1
25          Pulp and waste paper                          0.764     65.3        64.6      9.7    -4.5       1.9       0.5      -1.1
26          Textile fibers and their waste                0.780     77.6        76.4     -8.5    -2.2      -0.3      -0.5      -1.5
27          Crude fertilizers and crude minerals          0.336     97.1        97.1      0.2     0.1      -0.3      -0.1       0.0
28          Metalliferous ores and metal scrap            0.834     79.7        80.9     -9.5    -2.1      -0.9      -2.1       1.5
       3/ Other crude materials, inedible, except                                                                                  
             fuels (9612=100)                             0.435    101.7       100.5     -0.5     0.8      -1.4       1.1      -1.2
                                                                                                                                   
3          MINERAL FUELS, LUBRICANTS AND RELATED                                                                                   
              MATERIALS                                   2.085    106.5       104.6     -5.5    -3.0      -0.7      -1.9      -1.8
32          Coal, coke and briquettes                     0.698    101.3       100.0     -2.4    -0.3       0.3       0.0      -1.3
33          Petroleum, petroleum products and                                                                                      
               related materials                          1.222    110.5       108.6     -9.4    -2.5      -1.5      -3.3      -1.7
                                                                                                                                   
4          ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE OILS, FATS AND                                                                                     
              WAXES                                       0.480    100.8       101.4      8.6    -1.9      -3.1      -0.5       0.6
                                                                                                                                   
5          CHEMICALS AND RELATED PRODUCTS, N.E.S.        10.721     93.5        93.2     -3.5     0.0      -0.4      -1.1      -0.3
51          Organic chemicals                             2.424     79.1        77.8     -8.6    -1.7      -1.1      -2.6      -1.6
52          Inorganic chemicals                           0.868    102.0       102.0      2.4     3.4       0.8      -1.4       0.0
53          Dyeing, tanning and coloring materials        0.500    102.1       102.1      0.1    -0.5      -0.1       0.0       0.0
54          Medicinal and pharmaceutical products         1.253    102.3       101.6      0.0     1.0      -0.3       0.7      -0.7
55          Essential oils; polishing and cleansing                                                                                
               preps                                      0.755    101.5       101.2     -1.0    -0.6       0.7      -0.5      -0.3
56          Fertilizers (9612=100)                        0.547     92.0        94.0     -0.3    -0.5      -3.0       1.2       2.2
57          Plastics in primary forms                     1.809     91.6        90.6     -7.4    -0.2      -0.5      -0.9      -1.1
58          Plastics in nonprimary forms                  0.842     99.7        99.8      1.3     1.6      -0.1      -0.5       0.1
59          Chemical materials and products, n.e.s.       1.724    100.6       101.7     -2.2     0.0       0.0      -1.3       1.1
                                                                                                                                   
6          MANUFACTURED GOODS CLASSIFIED CHIEFLY                                                                                   
              BY MATERIAL                                 9.828     98.4        98.3      0.5    -0.4       0.4      -0.1      -0.1
62          Rubber manufactures, n.e.s.                   0.673    102.1       102.0     -1.0    -0.3       0.0       0.3      -0.1
63          Cork and wood manufactures other than                                                                                  
               furniture                                  0.296     92.2        91.0      0.3    -1.0       0.1       1.2      -1.3
64          Paper, paperboard, and articles of                                                                                     
               paper pulp, paper or paperboard            1.544     84.7        84.6      2.8    -0.5       0.4      -0.4      -0.1
65          Textile yarn, fabrics, made-up                                                                                         
               articles, n.e.s., and related product      1.432    103.6       103.7      0.0     0.5      -0.2       0.2       0.1
66          Nonmetallic mineral manufactures,                                                                                      
               n.e.s.                                     1.343    107.0       107.1      3.0    -0.4       0.6      -0.3       0.1
67          Iron and steel                                1.093    100.8       100.7     -2.4    -0.7       0.0      -1.6      -0.1
68          Nonferrous metals                             1.283     91.3        91.6     -0.4    -1.6       2.0       0.0       0.3
69          Manufactures of metals, n.e.s.                2.008    105.0       104.8      0.8     0.4       0.3      -0.1      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
7          MACHINERY AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT             50.531     99.4        99.2     -1.4    -0.2       0.0      -0.2      -0.2
71          Power generating machinery and                                                                                         
               equipment                                  4.324    106.8       106.9      0.9     0.6      -0.1       0.1       0.1
72          Machinery specialized for particular                                                                                   
               industries                                 4.735    105.0       104.8      1.0    -0.3       0.5      -0.1      -0.2
73          Metalworking machinery                        0.994    107.8       107.8      3.1     0.8       0.8       0.4       0.0
74          General industrial machinery and equip-                                                                                
               ment, n.e.s. and machine parts, n.e.s      5.077    105.8       105.8      1.1     0.2       0.0       0.2       0.0
75          Computer equipment and office machines        6.339     79.8        79.2     -8.2    -1.0      -0.4      -0.9      -0.8
76          Telecommunications & sound recording                                                                                   
               & reproducing apparatus & equipment        3.799     98.7        98.4     -1.5    -0.1      -0.2       0.3      -0.3
77          Electrical machinery and equipment           11.623     93.5        92.9     -4.1    -0.4      -0.4      -0.1      -0.6
78          Road vehicles                                 9.148    101.9       101.9      0.0     0.0       0.0      -0.1       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
8          MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES           11.285    101.4       101.3     -0.1    -0.5       0.1       0.0      -0.1
82          Furniture and parts thereof                   0.643    104.4       104.5      1.9     0.1       0.4       0.1       0.1
84          Articles of apparel and clothing                                                                                       
               accessories                                1.291    103.8       103.8      2.4     0.1       0.0       0.2       0.0
87          Professional, scientific and controlling                                                                               
               instruments and apparatus, n.e.s.          3.737    103.6       103.6      0.5     0.0       0.1       0.0       0.0
88          Photographic apparatus, equipment and                                                                                  
               supplies and optical goods, n.e.s.         0.923     95.5        95.3     -2.3    -3.9      -0.1       1.5      -0.2
89          Miscellaneous manufactured articles,                                                                                   
               n.e.s.                                     4.227     99.4        99.1     -1.4    -0.3      -0.1      -0.4      -0.3
       3/ Other miscellaneous manufactured                                                                                         
             articles (9612=100)                          0.465    102.1       102.6      1.8     0.0       0.7       0.0       0.5
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                     n.a.      Not available.          
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for January, February and March 1998                                                                                      
            have been revised to reflect the availability                                                                                 
            of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                                                               
            All data are subject to revision in each of the                                                                               
            three months after original publication.                                                                                      
        3  Product categories included in this group                                                                                      
            have been modified due to concordance                                                                                         
            or coverage limitations.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                          
        NOTE:  Published categories may include price data not shown separately                                                           
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
Table 5       U.S. Import Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, April 1997-April 1998                                 
                 1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                             
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
Harmo-                                                   ance                           April   Dec.      Jan.      Feb.      March
nized     Description                                                                   1997    1997      1998      1998      1998 
System                                                  March      March       April    to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1998       1998        1998     April   Jan.      Feb.      March     April
                                                        1/         2/                   1998    1998      1998      1998      1998 
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
I          LIVE ANIMALS; ANIMAL PRODUCTS                  1.657    103.6       104.3      4.1    -0.3       0.5       0.8       0.7
02          Meat and edible meat offal                    0.284     97.6        99.3     -0.7    -2.9      -0.2       0.1       1.7
03          Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and                                                                                     
               other aquatic invertebrates                0.966    107.7       107.0      6.0     0.7       0.7       0.0      -0.6
       3/ Other live animals and animal                                                                                            
             products (9612=100)                          0.407    101.2       104.2      3.1    -0.8       0.2       3.4       3.0
                                                                                                                                   
II         VEGETABLE PRODUCTS                             1.581     88.4        87.6     -4.1    -0.1      -0.9      -3.7      -0.9
07          Edible vegetables and certain roots and                                                                                
               tubers                                     0.276     98.3        97.4     -0.4    -4.7     -26.5       9.3      -0.9
08          Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus                                                                                  
               fruit or melons                            0.449     96.2        96.1     -8.0     2.5       0.6      -0.3      -0.1
09          Coffee, tea, mate and spices                  0.442     87.6        88.8      0.9     1.2      -0.2       0.1       1.4
       3/   Other vegetable products                      0.414     91.9        88.2     -7.0    -0.2      17.9     -16.9      -4.0
                                                                                                                                   
IV         PREPARED FOODSTUFFS, BEVERAGES, AND                                                                                     
              TOBACCO                                     2.133    100.7       101.1     -0.2    -0.6      -0.2      -0.3       0.4
20          Preparations of vegetables, fruit,                                                                                     
               nuts, or other parts of plants             0.272     87.3        88.0     -5.4     0.3      -1.0      -1.2       0.8
22          Beverages, spirits, and vinegar               0.776    104.1       103.6      0.3     0.0       0.4      -0.4      -0.5
       3/   Other prepared foodstuffs (9612=100)          1.085     99.8       100.6      0.7    -1.3      -0.3       0.0       0.8
                                                                                                                                   
V          MINERAL PRODUCTS                               7.938     81.9        83.3    -20.7    -8.8      -6.3      -7.4       1.7
26          Ores, slag and ash                            0.305    102.1       102.4     -1.3    -0.5       0.0       0.2       0.3
27          Mineral fuels, oils and residuals,                                                                                     
               bituminous substances and mineral wax      7.395     80.6        82.1    -21.9    -9.2      -6.7      -7.9       1.9
                                                                                                                                   
VI         PRODUCTS OF THE CHEMICAL OR ALLIED                                                                                      
              INDUSTRIES                                  5.283     96.1        95.9     -4.2    -1.3      -0.8      -0.3      -0.2
28          Inorganic chemicals                           0.850     98.8        99.5     -5.7    -3.3      -0.6       0.8       0.7
29          Organic chemicals                             2.010     92.5        91.5     -5.1    -1.5      -1.0      -0.8      -1.1
30          Pharmaceutical products                       0.571    101.2       101.0     -0.7    -0.4      -1.9       0.1      -0.2
32          Tanning & dyeing extracts; dye &                                                                                       
               pigments; varnish & paints; putty          0.291     93.1        92.7     -3.5    -2.1      -0.6       0.0      -0.4
37          Photographic or cinematographic goods         0.361     96.2        96.2     -4.5    -1.2      -0.4      -0.3       0.0
38          Miscellaneous chemical products                                                                                        
               (9612=100)                                 0.422     95.9        95.3     -3.8     0.1      -2.1      -0.6      -0.6
       3/   Other products of the chemical or                                                                                      
             allied industries (9612=100)                 0.777     95.6        96.7     -3.5     0.0       0.3      -0.6       1.2
                                                                                                                                   
VII        PLASTICS AND ARTICLES THEREOF; RUBBER                                                                                   
              AND ARTICLES THEREOF                        2.822     89.3        88.7     -4.8    -0.6       0.7      -1.2      -0.7
39          Plastics and articles thereof                 1.770     92.8        92.5     -1.9     0.0       0.4      -1.1      -0.3
40          Rubber and articles thereof                   1.052     84.1        82.9     -9.5    -1.3       0.9      -1.4      -1.4
                                                                                                                                   
VIII       RAW HIDES, SKINS, LEATHER, FURSKINS,                                                                                    
              TRAVEL GOODS, ETC                           1.026    101.3       101.1     -2.2     0.4      -0.5      -1.4      -0.2
42          Articles of leather; travel goods, bags,                                                                               
               etc. of various materials                  0.829     99.9        99.9     -1.6     0.5      -0.5      -0.9       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
IX         WOOD, WOOD CHARCOAL, CORK, STRAW, BASKET                                                                                
              AND WICKER                                  1.649    102.9       102.9     -9.3    -2.8      -0.4       0.0       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
X          WOOD PULP, WASTE AND SCRAP PAPER, PAPER                                                                                 
              AND ARTICLES THEREOF                        2.424     84.1        84.2      1.7    -0.8      -1.1       0.6       0.1
47          Pulp wood or other fibrous cellulosic                                                                                  
               material; waste paper/paperboard           0.372     64.8        64.0     -0.9    -0.7      -5.7      -0.5      -1.2
48          Paper and paperboard; articles of paper                                                                                
               pulp, paper or paperboard                  1.679     88.7        89.5      3.0    -0.9      -0.1       0.5       0.9
49          Printed matter                                0.373    101.4        99.7     -1.0    -1.1      -0.4       2.5      -1.7
                                                                                                                                   
XI         TEXTILE AND TEXTILE ARTICLES                   7.153    101.2       101.0     -0.7     0.1      -0.4      -0.1      -0.2
61          Articles of apparel and clothing                                                                                       
               accessories, knitted or crocheted          2.129    101.9       101.9      0.4     0.4       0.0       0.0       0.0
62          Articles of apparel and clothing                                                                                       
               accessories, not knitted or crocheted      3.450    103.4       103.2     -0.2     0.0      -0.2      -0.2      -0.2
63          Made-up or worn textile articles and                                                                                   
               clothing; needlecraft sets; rags           0.341     93.5        94.0     -4.2    -0.3      -0.6      -0.3       0.5
       3/   Other textile & textile                                                                                                
             articles (9612=100)                          1.232     98.7        98.2     -2.9    -0.5      -1.3      -0.1      -0.5
                                                                                                                                   
XII        FOOTWEAR, HEADGEAR, UMBRELLAS, WHIPS,                                                                                   
              ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS, ETC.                    2.150    100.9       100.8     -0.3     0.0      -0.2      -0.3      -0.1
64          Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts                                                                                  
               of such articles                           1.849    100.4       100.3     -0.5     0.0      -0.2      -0.5      -0.1
       3/ Other footwear, headgear, umbrellas,                                                                                     
             whips, art. flowers, etc. (9612=100)         0.301    101.8       101.9      0.6    -0.6       0.0       0.3       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
XIII       STONE, PLASTER, CEMENT, ASBESTOS,CERAMIC                                                                                
              GLASS ETC.                                  1.176    101.1       101.5     -1.7    -0.2      -0.8       0.3       0.4
69          Ceramic products                              0.445     98.0        97.9     -3.1     0.0      -1.4       0.3      -0.1
70          Glass and glassware                           0.454    100.8       102.3     -2.4    -0.2      -0.3       0.2       1.5
                                                                                                                                   
XIV        PEARLS, STONES, PRECIOUS METALS,                                                                                        
              IMITATION JEWELRY, AND COINS                2.296     99.0       100.2      3.0    -0.7       1.1       2.1       1.2
                                                                                                                                   
XV         BASE METALS AND ARTICLES OF BASE METAL         5.887     91.5        91.2     -4.2    -1.4      -0.5      -0.9      -0.3
72          Iron and steel                                1.800     94.0        93.7     -2.0    -0.2      -0.1      -1.1      -0.3
73          Articles of iron or steel                     1.313     95.2        95.1     -3.3    -0.6      -0.3      -0.9      -0.1
74          Copper and articles thereof                   0.405     72.1        71.5    -16.8    -3.6      -1.1      -1.8      -0.8
76          Aluminum and articles thereof                 0.973     89.4        88.7     -4.0    -2.4      -1.4      -1.0      -0.8
83          Miscellaneous articles of base metal          0.431    101.9       100.3     -2.9    -1.8       0.0       1.1      -1.6
       3/   Miscellaneous nonferrous metals and                                                                                    
             articles, including scrap (9612=100)         0.505     96.8        98.4     -8.4    -4.2      -1.1      -1.6       1.7
                                                                                                                                   
XVI        MACHINERY, ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, TV                                                                                     
              IMAGE & SOUND RECORDERS, PARTS, ETC.       30.550     87.0        86.4     -6.5    -0.9      -0.6      -0.3      -0.7
84          Specialized machinery & computer                                                                                       
               equipment                                 15.918     87.4        86.6     -7.7    -1.2      -0.9      -0.3      -0.9
85          Electrical machinery and equip, sound                                                                                  
               and TV recorders & reproducers, parts     14.632     86.5        86.1     -5.2    -0.5      -0.3      -0.2      -0.5
                                                                                                                                   
XVII       VEHICLES, AIRCRAFT, VESSELS AND                                                                                         
              ASSOCIATED TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT             16.538    101.5       101.5      0.7    -0.1       0.0       0.1       0.0
87          Motor vehicles and their parts               15.618    101.2       101.2      0.6    -0.2       0.0       0.1       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
XVIII      OPTICAL, PHOTO, MEASURING, MEDICAL &                                                                                    
              MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; & TIMEPIECES           3.639     92.7        92.5     -2.3    -0.5      -0.3      -0.2      -0.2
90          Optical, photographic, measuring and                                                                                   
               medical instruments                        3.105     92.5        92.3     -2.5    -0.5      -0.4      -0.2      -0.2
91          Clocks and watches and parts thereof          0.387     93.3        93.0     -1.8    -0.3       0.3      -0.7      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
XX         MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES            3.845     99.3        98.5     -1.7    -0.2      -0.2      -0.1      -0.8
94          Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps                                                                                  
               and lighting fittings nes;                 1.661    100.1        99.7     -0.9     0.0      -0.2       0.0      -0.4
95          Toys, games and sports equipment; parts                                                                                
               and accessories thereof                    1.890     99.7        98.3     -2.5    -0.2      -0.2      -0.2      -1.4
96          Miscellaneous manufactured articles           0.294     93.2        93.2     -1.8    -0.7      -0.3       0.1       0.0
                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                       n.a.      Not available         
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for January, February and March 1998                                                                                      
            have been revised to reflect the availability                                                                                 
            of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                                                               
            All data are subject to revision in each of                                                                                   
            the three months after original publication.                                                                                  
        3  Product categories included in this group                                                                                      
            have been modified due to concordance                                                                                         
            or coverage limitations.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                          
        NOTE:  Published categories may include price data not shown separately                                                           
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
Table 6       U.S. Export Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, April 1997-April 1998                                 
                  1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                            
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
Harmo-                                                   ance                           April   Dec.      Jan.      Feb.      March
nized     Description                                                                   1997    1997      1998      1998      1998 
System                                                  March      March       April    to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1998       1998        1998     April   Jan.      Feb.      March     April
                                                        1/         2/                   1998    1998      1998      1998      1998 
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
I          LIVE ANIMALS; ANIMAL PRODUCTS                  1.819     89.8        89.8     -6.0    -3.2      -4.1       1.5       0.0
02          Meat & edible meat offal                      1.031     89.5        89.3     -5.7    -3.9       0.0       1.4      -0.2
03          Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and                                                                                     
               other aquatic invertebrates                0.452     80.5        80.1     -6.1    -4.9     -12.2       4.8      -0.5
       3/ Other live animals and animal                                                                                            
             products (9612=100)                          0.337     91.2        92.7     -6.7     1.1      -4.8      -2.6       1.6
                                                                                                                                   
II         VEGETABLE PRODUCTS                             5.154     95.0        92.4    -14.9    -2.5      -0.6      -0.8      -2.7
07          Edible vegetables and certain roots and                                                                                
               tubers                                     0.306     95.7       103.5      9.3    31.1     -29.3       7.0       8.2
08          Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus                                                                                  
               fruit or melons                            0.676     90.9        91.8     -6.2    -0.5      -3.0       0.6       1.0
10          Cereals                                       2.487     89.2        84.6    -18.8    -6.2       3.2      -1.4      -5.2
12          Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds,                                                                                      
               fruits, plants, straw and fodder           1.409    111.2       108.6    -17.5    -3.8       1.6      -2.8      -2.3
                                                                                                                                   
III        ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE FATS AND OILS              0.524    102.4       103.4     10.6    -1.9      -3.0      -0.5       1.0
                                                                                                                                   
IV         PREPARED FOODSTUFFS, BEVERAGES, AND                                                                                     
              TOBACCO                                     3.439     99.1        98.6     -6.6    -1.0      -0.8      -0.5      -0.5
20          Preparations of vegetables, fruit,                                                                                     
               nuts, or other parts of plants             0.343     94.9        95.2    -12.9     2.4      -1.0       3.5       0.3
21          Miscellaneous edible preparations             0.368    105.9       105.9      1.7     0.0       0.0       0.0       0.0
22          Beverages, spirits, and vinegar               0.329     98.0        98.2     -1.8     0.0       0.0      -1.6       0.2
23          Residues and waste from the food                                                                                       
               industries; prepared animal feed           0.630     95.8        93.3    -24.3    -4.9      -3.9      -3.8      -2.6
24          Tobacco and manufactured tobacco                                                                                       
               substitutes                                1.257    100.2       100.0      0.0    -0.6       0.2       0.2      -0.2
       3/   Other prepared foods                          0.512    101.8       102.0      1.3    -0.2       0.0      -0.1       0.2
                                                                                                                                   
V          MINERAL PRODUCTS                               2.655    103.1       102.1     -6.0    -2.3      -0.9      -1.9      -1.0
27          Mineral fuels, oils and residuals,                                                                                     
               bituminous substances and mineral wax      2.131    107.1       105.4     -6.5    -2.7      -0.9      -2.2      -1.6
                                                                                                                                   
VI         PRODUCTS OF THE CHEMICAL OR ALLIED                                                                                      
              INDUSTRIES                                  8.656     93.7        93.4     -3.7    -0.9      -0.4      -1.0      -0.3
28          Inorganic chemicals                           0.921     99.7        99.7     -2.0    -0.4       1.1      -3.0       0.0
29          Organic chemicals                             2.720     82.3        80.9     -8.9    -1.8      -1.2      -2.3      -1.7
30          Pharmaceutical products                       0.929    104.7       103.9      3.1     2.8       0.0       1.5      -0.8
31          Fertilizers (9612=100)                        0.608     92.0        94.0     -0.3    -0.5      -3.0       1.2       2.2
32          Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes and                                                                                   
               pigments; paints & varnish; putty;ink      0.509    101.7       101.7      0.0    -0.5      -0.1       0.0       0.0
33          Essential oils and resinoids;                                                                                          
               perfumery, cosmetic or toilet              0.537    103.2       102.9      0.1    -1.0       1.4      -0.2      -0.3
34          Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or                                                                                  
               scouring products; candles, pastes         0.317    103.0       102.4      1.4     1.0      -1.0      -0.1      -0.6
37          Photographic or cinematographic goods         0.396     87.0        86.6     -8.6    -8.6      -0.2       0.7      -0.5
38          Miscellaneous chemical products               1.495     99.6       100.6     -3.1    -0.6       0.2      -1.0       1.0
                                                                                                                                   
VII        PLASTICS AND ARTICLES THEREOF; RUBBER                                                                                   
              AND ARTICLES THEREOF                        4.313     95.3        94.9     -3.7     0.1      -0.2      -0.8      -0.4
39          Plastics and articles thereof                 3.413     94.6        94.2     -3.9     0.1      -0.2      -1.0      -0.4
40          Rubber and articles thereof                   0.900     98.2        97.6     -2.7     0.0       0.0       0.0      -0.6
                                                                                                                                   
VIII       RAW HIDES, SKINS, LEATHER, FURSKINS,                                                                                    
              TRAVEL GOODS, ETC.                          0.526     89.1        88.6    -14.9   -11.7      -0.1       3.2      -0.6
41          Raw hides and skins (other than                                                                                        
               furskins) and leather                      0.382     86.8        85.3    -16.4   -15.9       0.0       6.6      -1.7
                                                                                                                                   
IX         WOOD, WOOD CHARCOAL, CORK, STRAW,                                                                                       
              BASKET AND WICKER                           1.207     86.5        86.1     -8.5     0.0      -0.6      -0.7      -0.5
                                                                                                                                   
X          WOOD PULP, WASTE AND SCRAP PAPER, PAPER                                                                                 
              AND ARTICLES THEREOF                        3.016     78.6        78.3      4.8    -1.1       0.3      -0.3      -0.4
47          Pulp wood or other fibrous cellulosic                                                                                  
               material; waste paper/paperboard           0.699     62.1        61.4      8.9    -3.8      -0.6      -0.2      -1.1
48          Paper and paperboard; articles of paper                                                                                
               pulp, paper or paperboard                  1.513     85.4        85.3      4.2    -0.2       0.4      -0.4      -0.1
49          Printed material                              0.804    107.0       107.0      2.9    -0.3       0.6      -0.3       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
XI         TEXTILE AND TEXTILE ARTICLES                   3.244     92.5        92.1     -1.7    -0.4      -0.2      -0.1      -0.4
52          Cotton, including yarns and woven                                                                                      
               fabrics thereof                            0.673     77.4        76.2     -8.4    -2.0      -0.6      -0.3      -1.6
                                                                                                                                   
XIII       STONE, PLASTER, CEMENT, ASBESTOS,                                                                                       
              CERAMIC, GLASS ETC.                         0.865    104.0       104.0      0.8     0.4       1.0       0.0       0.0
70          Glass and glassware                           0.495    101.9       101.9      0.8     0.4       0.2       0.0       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
XIV        PEARLS, STONES, PRECIOUS METALS,                                                                                        
              IMITATION JEWELRY, AND COINS                1.897     96.8        97.3     -0.5    -1.9       2.3       1.7       0.5
                                                                                                                                   
XV         BASE METALS AND ARTICLES OF BASE METALS        4.552     93.7        93.7     -3.3    -0.7       0.2      -0.8       0.0
72          Iron and steel                                0.932     88.7        88.4     -6.5    -1.4      -0.4      -1.6      -0.3
73          Articles of iron or steel                     1.283    109.0       108.6      2.0     0.8       0.2      -0.1      -0.4
74          Copper and articles thereof                   0.364     69.0        71.0    -19.6    -4.7      -0.6      -2.0       2.9
76          Aluminum and articles thereof                 0.877     87.5        87.0     -2.4    -1.3       0.9      -1.6      -0.6
82          Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and                                                                                 
               forks, of base metal; parts thereof        0.419    104.1       104.1      0.9     0.7      -0.2       0.2       0.0
83          Miscellaneous articles of base metal          0.377    100.3       100.5      0.4    -0.1       0.3       0.0       0.2
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
XVI        MACHINERY, ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, TV                                                                                     
              IMAGE AND SOUND RECORDERS, PARTS, ETC      36.814     95.5        95.1     -3.0    -0.3      -0.1      -0.2      -0.4
84          Specialized machinery & computer                                                                                       
               equipment                                 20.459     96.3        96.0     -2.3    -0.4       0.1      -0.3      -0.3
85          Electrical machinery and equip, sound                                                                                  
               & tv recorders & reproducers, parts       16.355     94.5        94.0     -3.7    -0.3      -0.3      -0.1      -0.5
                                                                                                                                   
XVII       VEHICLES, AIRCRAFT, VESSELS AND                                                                                         
              ASSOCIATED TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT             13.852    105.0       105.1      1.2     0.1       0.0       0.0       0.1
87          Motor vehicles and their parts                9.581    102.0       102.1      0.2     0.0       0.0      -0.1       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
XVIII      OPTICAL, PHOTO, MEASURING, MEDICAL &                                                                                    
              MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; & TIMEPIECES           5.448    102.5       102.5      0.4    -0.1       0.2       0.2       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
XX         MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES            1.797    102.6       102.7      1.0     0.0       0.2       0.0       0.1
94          Furniture; stuffed furnishings;                                                                                        
               lamps and lighting fittings nesoi;         0.886    104.6       104.7      1.7     0.1       0.6       0.1       0.1
95          Toys, games and sports equipment; parts                                                                                
               and accessories thereof                    0.737    100.7       100.7      0.2     0.0      -0.3       0.0       0.0
                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                       n.a.      Not available         
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for January, February and March 1998                                                                                      
            have been revised to reflect the availability                                                                                 
            of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                                                               
            All data are subject to revision in each of                                                                                   
            the three months after original publication.                                                                                  
        3  Product categories included in this group                                                                                      
            have been modified due to concordance                                                                                         
            or coverage limitations.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                          
        NOTE:  Published categories may include price data not shown separately                                                           
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
   Table  7    U.S. Import Price Indexes and Percent Changes by Locality of Origin,  April 1997-April 1998                                 
          1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                           
                                                                  Index                    Percent Change                    
                                                   Percentage                                                                                          
                                                      of                            Annual                  Monthly                                     
                                                    US Imports                    April   Dec.         Jan.        Feb.     March  
    Description 1/                                                                1997    1997         1998        1998     1998   
                                                    1995       March     April    to      to           to          to       to     
                                                               1998      1998     April   Jan.         Feb.        March    April  
                                                               2/                 1998    1998         1998        1998     1998   
                                                                                                                                   
3/  Developed Countries                                55.6     95.5      95.6     -1.9    -1.0         -0.5         0.0      0.1  
      Manufactured Goods                               52.2     96.0      96.0     -1.3    -0.7         -0.2         0.1      0.0  
      Nonmanufactured Goods                             3.1     90.5      92.6    -11.0    -6.7         -5.5        -1.5      2.3  
                                                                                                                                   
3/  Developing Countries                               42.7     94.6      94.1     -7.7    -1.8         -1.0        -1.7     -0.5  
      Manufactured Goods                               35.4     95.7      95.1     -5.0    -0.7         -0.4        -0.6     -0.6  
      Nonmanufactured Goods                             7.1     84.2      84.0    -19.9    -7.4         -3.9        -6.8     -0.2  
                                                                                                                                   
    Canada                                             18.9     96.4      96.7     -2.3    -0.7         -1.1        -0.2      0.3  
      Manufactured Goods                               16.5     97.3      97.5     -1.1     0.0         -0.6        -0.1      0.2  
      Nonmanufactured Goods                             2.2     92.8      94.1    -10.9    -5.6         -5.4        -1.3      1.4  
                                                                                                                                   
4/  European Union                                     17.0    100.1      99.7     -1.3    -0.5         -0.4        -0.2     -0.4  
      Manufactured Goods                               16.4    100.4      99.9     -1.0    -0.1         -0.3        -0.2     -0.5  
      Nonmanufactured Goods                             0.5     92.0      94.1    -12.7   -10.7         -3.7        -1.6      2.3  
                                                                                                                                   
5/  Latin America  (9712=100)                          14.1     94.5      93.4     n.a.    -2.5         -0.8        -2.3     -1.2  
      Manufactured Goods  (9712=100)                   10.4     97.6      96.8     n.a.    -0.9         -0.9        -0.6     -0.8  
      Nonmanufactured Goods (9712=100)                  3.5     85.4      83.7     n.a.    -7.0         -0.9        -7.4     -2.0  
                                                                                                                                   
    Japan                                              16.6     89.9      89.5     -4.3    -1.1         -0.3         0.2     -0.4  
                                                                                                                                   
6/  Asian Newly Industrialized Countries               10.9     89.8      88.9     -7.8    -1.1         -0.5        -0.8     -1.0  
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                      
1    Regions are not mutually exclusive.                                              
                                                                                      
2    Data for  January, February and March 1998                                       
     have been revised to reflect the availability                                    
     of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                  
                                                                                      
3    Defined according to the Standard Census Definition.                             
                                                                                      
4    Includes EU  15 countries.                                                       
                                                                                      
5    Includes Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.              
                                                                                      
6    Includes Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan.                          
                                                                                      
                                                                                      
                                                                                      
                                                                                      
   Table  8     U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Services.                              
        March 1997-March 1998  1995 = 100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                    
                                                                 Index                             Percent Change                    
                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                  Annual          Quarterly                                   
                                                    Trade                         March   March    June        Sept.    Dec.   
    Description                                     (Mil.                         1997    1997     1997        1997     1997   
                                                    of         Dec.      March    to      to       to          to       to     
                                                    Dollars)   1997      1998     March   June     Sept.       Dec.     March  
                                                                                  1998    1997     1997        1997     1998   
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
    IMPORT                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                               
     Air Freight                                    3188        86.6      80.5    -10.7     0.3     -2.0        -2.3     -7.0  
      Atlantic                                      1278        90.2      85.8     -5.9    -1.0     -4.3         4.4     -4.9  
      Pacific                                       1674        84.7      76.3    -15.7     1.4     -0.3        -7.4     -9.9  
                                                                                                                               
     Air Passenger Fares                            11127      104.3     103.3      2.8    12.6     -1.5        -6.5     -1.0  
1/    Atlantic                                      4922       100.4      98.9     -1.4    20.8      0.7       -17.8     -1.5  
1/    Pacific                                       2340       106.2      98.3      0.2    13.6     -9.8         5.7     -7.4  
1/    Latin American / Caribbean                    3021       105.2     106.9      1.7     1.0     -0.2        -0.7      1.6  
                                                                                                                               
1/   Crude Oil Tanker Freight                       1346        95.6      n.a.     n.a.     2.2     -9.7         3.9     n.a.  
                                                                                                                               
     Ocean Liner Freight                            9868        93.5      93.4     -4.7    -0.9     -1.9        -1.9     -0.1  
      U.S. East Coast                               4271        96.7      96.5     -4.0     0.1     -2.3        -1.6     -0.2  
       from Atlantic                                1952        96.7      97.2     -3.2    -0.5     -1.6        -1.6      0.5  
       from Pacific                                 1774        94.8      94.8     -5.4     0.6     -3.8        -2.3      0.0  
1/    U.S. West Coast                               5596        90.6      90.5     -5.1    -1.6     -1.6        -1.9     -0.1  
                                                                                                                               
    EXPORT                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                               
     Air Freight (9612 = 100)                       2562        93.3      94.9     -3.7    -0.7     -1.2        -3.4      1.7  
                                                                                                                               
     Air Passenger Fares                            17272       92.1      94.3      5.0    14.7     -2.9        -7.9      2.4  
1/    Atlantic                                      4120       101.4     101.7      3.1    11.3     -0.2        -7.4      0.3  
1/    Pacific                                       10700       78.1      79.6      5.4    20.7     -5.2        -9.6      1.9  
      Latin American / Caribbean                    1392       106.5     107.3      5.4     5.0      0.6        -0.9      0.8  
      Canadian                                      1006       147.0     166.1      7.2     1.3      0.3        -6.7     13.0  
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                       1     Detailed data available upon reque          n.a.    Not available.                 
                                                                                                 
                                                                                                 
   Table  9    U.S. International Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Services.                                   
        March 1997-March 1998    1995 = 100                                                                                                                          
                                                                 Index                             Percent Change                    
                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                  Annual          Quarterly                                   
                                                    Trade                         March   March    June        Sept.    Dec.   
    Description                                     (Mil.                         1997    1997     1997        1997     1997   
                                                    of         Dec.      March    to      to       to          to       to     
                                                    Dollars)   1997      1998     March   June     Sept.       Dec.     March  
                                                                                  1998    1997     1997        1997     1998   
                                                                                                                               
     Air Freight (Inbound)                          5495        86.5      82.9     -7.4     0.4     -1.6        -2.3     -4.2  
      Atlantic                                      1880        89.6      85.4     -4.8    -0.9     -3.7         4.7     -4.7  
      Pacific                                       3151        84.9      81.3     -9.5     1.4     -0.1        -6.7     -4.2  
                                                                                                                               
     Air Freight (Outbound)                         5835        97.7      97.2     -2.6    -0.6      0.4        -1.9     -0.5  
      Atlantic                                      2080       101.1     101.0      1.1    -0.5      1.7         0.0     -0.1  
      Pacific                                       3222        96.3      95.5     -4.8    -0.3     -0.3        -3.4     -0.8  
                                                                                                                               
     Air Passenger Fares (U.S. Carrier)             30673       99.5      99.3      2.3    15.4     -2.6        -8.9     -0.2  
1/    Atlantic                                      8811        97.8      94.2     -3.4    21.3      0.6       -17.8     -3.7  
1/    Pacific                                       15900       90.2      89.9      4.1    18.2     -6.1        -5.9     -0.3  
1/    Latin American / Caribbean                    4542       109.2     110.8      3.7     2.6      0.8        -1.2      1.5  
      Canadian                                      1367       154.1     173.6     11.5     3.5      0.6        -5.0     12.7  
                                                                                                                               
     Air Passenger Fares (Foreign Carrier)          31694       99.7      97.7     -0.8     7.7     -1.4        -4.7     -2.0  
1/    Atlantic                                      13572      100.5      98.8      1.8    13.5      1.3        -9.9     -1.7  
1/    Pacific                                       12570       89.2      84.9     -8.0     4.4     -5.6        -2.0     -4.8  
1/    Latin American / Caribbean                    4224       104.8     105.3      0.8     0.3     -0.4         0.4      0.5  
                                                                                                                               
1/   Crude Oil Tanker Freight (Inbound)             1949       103.2      n.a.     n.a.     0.8     -9.6         5.5     n.a.  
                                                                                                                               
     Ocean Liner Freight (Inbound)                  12253       92.9      92.7     -5.0    -0.8     -2.0        -2.1     -0.2  
      U.S. East Coast                               5410        95.7      95.4     -4.4    -0.2     -2.6        -1.3     -0.3  
       from Atlantic                                2647        94.8      95.2     -4.2    -0.7     -2.7        -1.3      0.4  
       from Pacific                                 1874        93.1      93.1     -5.4     0.5     -3.7        -2.2      0.0  
1/    U.S. West Coast                               6844        90.2      90.2     -5.5    -1.4     -1.4        -2.8      0.0  
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                       1     Detailed data available upon reque          n.a.    Not available.                 
                                                                                                 
                                                                                                 
                                                                     
                           TECHNICAL NOTE
   
Import and Export Merchandise and Services Price Indexes -- All indexes use 
a modified Laspeyres formula and are weighted with 1995 trade weights.  The 
merchandise price indexes are published using three classifications:  the 
Harmonized System (HS), the Bureau of Economic Analysis End Use System,
and the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) system, Rev. 3.  
Price indexes for internationally traded services are presented using two 
definitions: Balance of Payments (which represents transactions between U.S. 
and foreign residents) and International (which represents all transactions
with U.S. importers or exporters, regardless of nationality).  Published
series use a base year of 1995=100 where possible.  Net transaction price
data are collected every month for over 20,000 products from over 6,000
companies and secondary sources.  Indexes are not seasonally adjusted.  More
detailed index series and additional information may be obtained from the
Division of International Prices, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2 Massachusetts
Avenue N.E., PSB 3955, Washington, DC 20212 or (202) 606-7155.

Import Price Indexes -- Products have been classified by the 1995 Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States Annotated (TSUSA).  Import prices are 
based on U.S. dollar prices paid by the U.S. importer.  The prices are
generally either "free on board" (f.o.b.) foreign port or "cost, insurance,
and freight" (c.i.f.) U.S. port transaction prices, depending on the
practices of the individual industry.  The index for crude petroleum is
calculated from data collected by the U.S. Department of Energy.  

Export Price Indexes -- Products have been classified by the 1995 Harmonized 
Schedule B classification system of the U.S. Bureau of the Census.  The
prices used are generally either "free alongside ship" (f.a.s.) factory
or "free on board" (f.o.b.) transaction prices, depending on the practices of
the individual industry.  Prices used in the grain index, excluding rice,
are obtained from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Import Indexes by Locality of Origin -- Prices used in these indexes are a
subset of the data collected for the Import Price Indexes.  Prior to
January 1993, nonmanufactured goods were defined as SITC 0-4 and manufactured
goods were defined as SITC 5-8.  Beginning with January 1993, the indexes are
defined by locality of origin using a nomenclature based upon the Standard
Industrial Classification (SIC-based).  Nonmanufactured goods are defined as
SIC 0-1, and manufactured goods are defined as SIC 2-3.  The indexes use 1995
weights and a base of 1995=100.

Import, Export, and International Services Indexes -- Indexes are calculated
on a quarterly basis.  The figures for services indexes will not sum up to
the aggregate dollar value because not all categories are shown in the tables.
Revenue figures for air passenger indexes exclude frequent flyer tickets and
those sold by consolidators.  Indexes for crude oil tanker freight are
calculated from data collected by the U. S. Department of Energy and the 
publication of these indexes is lagged one quarter.  

Revision policy -- Data are revised for the previous three months to reflect
the availability of late reports and corrections by respondents.

Uses of the Data -- The primary use of the indexes is to deflate trade
statistics.  For merchandise trade, the End Use classification system is the
structure used by the U.S. Department of Commerce in the construction of the
foreign trade sector of the National Income and Product Accounts.  Indexes
published using the Harmonized System and the Standard International Trade
Classification, Rev. 3, both international structures, are useful for general
market analysis.  For trade in international services, Balance of Payments
indexes are used for deflating National Accounts data, while International
indexes are more appropriate for market analysis. Merchandise and services
indexes also can be used to study U.S. competitiveness and price elasticities,
and the merchandise import indexes by country or region of origin are useful
for terms of trade analysis.



The import and export news release contains monthly price indexes at the
two-digit level of detail.  If you would like to be added to the mailing list
for more detailed index and percent change tables, please fill out the form
below and mail or fax it to the following address:


                       Division of International Prices
                       Bureau of Labor Statistics
                       PSB Building, Rm. 3955                                                                      
                       2 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E.
                       Washington, DC 20212


     Phone Number: (202) 606-7155           Fax Number: (202) 606-7179

         
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