TEXT
Table 1      U.S. Import Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, April 1995-April 1996
Table 2      U.S. Export Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, April 1995-April 1996
Table 3       U.S. Import Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, April 1995-April 1996
Table 4       U.S. Export Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, April 1995-April 1996
Table 5       U.S. Import Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, April 1995-April 1996
Table 6       U.S. Export Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, April 1995-April 1996
Table  7    U.S. Import Price Indexes and Percent Changes by Locality of Origin,April 1995-April 1996
Table  8    U.S. International Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Services.
Table  9     U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Services.

  Technical Information
    David Mead       (202) 606-7154    USDL-96-193
    Jim Thomas        (202) 606-7155   For release: 10:00 A.M. E.D.T.
  Media contact:                       Wednesday, May 22, 1996
    Kathryn Hoyle      (202) 606-5902
 
 
                U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES
                            -APRIL 1996-
 
     The U.S. Import Price Index moved up 0.9 percent in April, the
Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported
today.  The increase follows a 0.6 percent rise in March and was led
by higher prices for petroleum imports.  The U.S. Export Price Index
increased 0.5 percent in April after declining in each of the two
previous 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
             Import    Import  Import     Exports    Exports   Exports
 
 
1995
April             0.9      4.7      0.5       0.9      2.0       0.8
May               0.9      3.2      0.6       0.3      0.6       0.2
June             -0.4     -3.2     -0.1       0.2      1.4       0.1
July             -0.4     -6.3      0.4       0.3      3.8      -0.2
August           -0.2     -2.6      0.0      -0.5     -1.4      -0.4
September         0.0      1.9     -0.2       0.2      3.0      -0.2
October          -0.5     -2.1     -0.3       0.1      1.9      -0.2
November          0.2      0.5      0.2      -0.1      2.2      -0.3
December          0.4      4.5      0.0       0.0      0.8      -0.2
1996
January           0.2      4.8 r   -0.3       0.5 r    1.7       0.3 r
February         -0.2 r   -1.5 r    0.0 r    -0.3     -0.2      -0.3
March             0.6 r    8.3 r   -0.3 r    -0.1      1.4 r    -0.4 r
April             0.9      8.1      0.1       0.5      4.9       0.0
 
April 1994-95     6.5     25.1      4.8       5.9      3.9       6.2
April 1995-96     1.6     15.4      0.2       1.1     21.9      -1.5
 
r=revised to reflect late reports and corrections by respondents.
 
Import Goods
 
     The increase of 0.9 percent in import prices was largely
attributable to a continued rise in the index for imported petroleum
prices, up 8.1 percent in April.  Prices for petroleum imports rose
17.0 percent since February, the largest two-month gain in over five
years.  Import prices were up 1.6 percent for the year ended in
April.
 
     The price index for imports, excluding petroleum, edged up
slightly in April, rising 0.1 percent.  The increase followed
declines of 0.3 percent in two of the last three months and was the
first increase in the index since November 1995.  Over the past 12
months nonpetroleum imports were up 0.2 percent.
 
     Import prices for foods, feeds, and beverages, up 3.3 percent in
April, led the increase in the price index for nonpetroleum imports.
The increase in the index for foods, feeds, and beverages followed a
1.4 percent decline in March.   In the year ended in April, this
index was up 0.9 percent.  Prices for imported automotive vehicles
also rose, up 0.1 percent in April and 1.0 percent over the last 12
months.  Consumer goods prices were unchanged in April and were up
0.9 percent over the last 12 months.
 
     In contrast, the import price indexes for nonpetroleum
industrial supplies and materials and for capital goods each fell in
April, down 0.5 and 0.3 percent, respectively.  For the year ended in
April, prices for industrial supplies and materials, excluding
petroleum, were up 0.5 percent, while capital goods prices were down
1.5 percent over the same period.
 
Export Goods
 
     The April increase of 0.5 percent in export prices followed
declines of 0.1 and 0.3 percent in March and February, respectively.
Export prices were up 1.1 percent over the last 12 months.  Prices
for agricultural exports, up 4.9 percent in April, led the monthly
increase in export prices.  The increase in agricultural prices, the
largest one-month change in nearly three years, was largely
attributable to increasing grain prices.  Agricultural export prices
were up 21.9 percent for the year ended in April.  Nonagricultural
export prices were unchanged in April, after falling 0.4 percent in
March, and were down 1.5 percent over the last 12 months.
 
     The export price index for industrial supplies and materials
decreased 0.3 percent in April, a smaller drop than the average
decline of 1.0 percent in the prior two months.  Industrial supplies
and material costs are down 6.4 percent for the year ended in April.
 
      The decline in industrial supplies and materials was offset by
advances in each of the finished goods indexes.  Consumer goods
prices were up 0.3 percent for the month and 1.4 percent over the
past year.  Prices for capital goods and automotive vehicles each
rose 0.1 percent in April and were up 0.8 and 1.5 percent,
respectively, over the last 12 months.
 
Imports by Locality of Origin
 
    Prices of goods imported from Japan fell 0.3 percent in April.
The decline was equal to the average monthly decline recorded over
the prior four months.  For the 12 months ended in April, the index
was down 0.8 percent. (See table 7.)
 
    The price index for imports from the Asian Newly Industrialized
Countries also fell 0.3 percent in April, the sixth decline in the
last seven months.  Imports from the Asian Newly Industrialized
Countries were down 0.5 percent over the last 12 months.
 
    Prices of Canadian goods rose 0.3 percent in April after posting
no change in the prior two months.  The increase was attributable to
a 4.4 percent increase in the index of nonmanufactured goods.  In
contrast, prices for manufactured goods imported from Canada fell 0.3
percent.  During the past 12 months, the average price of imported
goods from Canada advanced 1.8 percent.
 
    The price of imports from the European Union were up 0.3 percent
in April, following a similar increase of 0.4 percent in March.  In
the 12 months ended in April, the index rose 2.9 percent.
 
 
                         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.....page  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. International Price Indexes for Services.....page  15
Table 9   U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes for Services.....page 16
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Import and Export Price Index data for May are scheduled for release
on June 21 at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).
 
                           TECHNICAL NOTE
 
Import and Export Merchandise and Services Price Indexes -- All indexes
use a modified Laspeyres formula and are weighted with 1990 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 1990=100 where possible.  Exceptions are for the recently instituted
HS indexes, which use a base of December 1992=100.  Net transaction
price data are collected every 3 months for approximately 22,000
products from over 9,000 companies and secondary sources.  Approximately
two-thirds of the items are also repriced in the intervening months.
(Current plans call for all items to be repriced monthly by 1996.)
Indexes are not seasonally adjusted.  Historical index series and
additional information may be obtained from the Division of
International Prices, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2 Massachusetts Avenue
NE, PSB 3955, Washington, D.C. 20212, (202) 606-7155.
 
Import Price Indexes -- Products have been classified by the 1990
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.  The index for import electrical energy is lagged one month.
 
Export Price Indexes -- Products have been classified by the 1990
Harmonized Schedule B classification system of the U.S. Bureau of the
Census.  The prices used are generally either "free on board" (f.o.b.)
factory or "free alongside ship" (f.a.s.) 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 weighted by country or region 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 a base of December
1990=100.
 
Import, Export, and International Services Indexes -- Indexes are
updated 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 represent the second month of the quarter.
 
Revision policy -- Data are revised for the previous 3 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 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 can
also 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.
 
A number of the detailed series have been discontinued as of the March
release due to budget considerations.
 
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 historical 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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2. SITC Indexes               ______
 
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Table 1      U.S. Import Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, April 1995-April 1996
                 1990=100, unless otherwise noted
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change
                                                        Relative
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly
                                                         ance                           April   Dec.      Jan.      Feb.      March
END       Description                                                                   1995    1995      1996      1996      1996
USE                                                     March      March       April    to      to        to        to        to
                                                        1996       1996        1996     April   Jan.      Feb.      March     April
                                                        1/         2/                   1996    1996      1996      1996      1996
 
          ALL COMMODITIES                               100.000    107.4       108.4      1.6     0.2      -0.2       0.6       0.9
          ALL IMPORTS EXCLUDING PETROLEUM                89.117    109.9       110.0      0.2    -0.3       0.0      -0.3       0.1
 
0          FOODS, FEEDS, & BEVERAGES                      5.873    116.1       119.9      0.9    -2.3       3.0      -1.4       3.3
 
00          Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,
                 excluding distilled beverages            4.173    114.2       119.2      3.0    -3.1       3.9      -2.1       4.4
 
01          Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled
                 beverages)                               1.700    120.4       121.2     -4.2    -0.3       0.5       0.3       0.7
 
1          INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS               29.161    102.6       105.3      5.3     1.2      -0.9       2.9       2.6
            INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS
                 EXCLUDING PETROLEUM                     18.277    111.3       110.7      0.5    -0.4      -0.6       0.2      -0.5
            INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS,
                 DURABLE                                  9.387    107.5       107.5     -1.1    -0.6      -0.3       0.0       0.0
            INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS,
                 NONDURABLE EXCLUDING PETROLEUM           8.890    115.8       114.5      2.0    -0.3      -0.9       0.4      -1.1
 
10          Fuels & lubricants                           11.664     89.9        96.6     15.1     4.7      -1.4       8.2       7.5
 
100          Petroleum & petroleum products              10.884     87.9        95.0     15.4     4.8      -1.5       8.3       8.1
 
10000         Crude                                       7.778     84.7        92.4     14.8     2.5      -0.3       9.3       9.1
 
11          Paper & paper base stocks                     2.565    122.8       120.0      2.5    -2.3      -2.1      -4.5      -2.3
 
12          Materials associated with nondurable
                 supplies & materials                     5.784    112.4       111.7     -1.8    -0.5      -0.5       1.1      -0.6
 
13          Selected building materials                   1.778    122.6       124.8      2.0     0.7       1.2      -0.3       1.8
 
14          Unfinished metals associated with
                 durable goods                            4.543    103.8       103.3     -3.5    -0.7      -0.5      -0.1      -0.5
 
15          Finished metals associated with durable
                 goods                                    1.457    104.4       104.5     -0.4    -0.6      -1.2       0.3       0.1
 
16          Nonmetals associated with durable goods       1.369    107.8       107.4      3.1    -2.1      -0.4       0.3      -0.4
 
2          CAPITAL GOODS                                 23.805    105.0       104.7     -1.5     0.0      -0.4      -0.6      -0.3
 
20          Electric & electrical generating
                 equipment                                3.066    112.0       111.6      0.5     0.3      -0.4      -0.3      -0.4
 
21          Nonelectrical machinery                      18.214    103.0       102.6     -2.2    -0.3      -0.4      -0.5      -0.4
 
3          AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES, PARTS & ENGINES          19.745    115.3       115.4      1.0    -0.3       0.2      -0.2       0.1
 
4          CONSUMER GOODS, EXCLUDING AUTOMOTIVES         21.417    108.2       108.2      0.9     0.0       0.0      -0.1       0.0
 
40          Nondurables, manufactured                    10.278    108.2       108.3      1.2     0.1      -0.1       0.1       0.1
 
41          Durables, manufactured                        9.959    107.4       107.3      0.7    -0.1      -0.2       0.1      -0.1
 
42          Nonmanufactured consumer goods                1.179    115.3       115.7      1.3     0.8       1.5      -2.3       0.3
 
 
 
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                       n.a.      Not available
            1990 trade values.
        2  Data for January, February and March 1996
            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 1995-April 1996
                 1990=100, unless otherwise noted
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change
                                                        Relative
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly
                                                         ance                           April   Dec.      Jan.      Feb.      March
END       Description                                                                   1995    1995      1996      1996      1996
USE                                                     March      March       April    to      to        to        to        to
                                                        1996       1996        1996     April   Jan.      Feb.      March     April
                                                        1/         2/                   1996    1996      1996      1996      1996
 
          ALL COMMODITIES                               100.000    109.5       110.1      1.1     0.5      -0.3      -0.1       0.5
          AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES                       12.663    127.5       133.7     21.9     1.7      -0.2       1.4       4.9
          NONAGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES                    87.339    107.4       107.4     -1.5     0.3      -0.3      -0.4       0.0
 
0          FOODS, FEEDS, & BEVERAGES                     11.271    130.1       137.0     26.0     2.0       0.1       1.6       5.3
 
00          Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,
                excluding distilled beverages            10.330    132.4       140.4     31.5     2.4       0.2       1.9       6.0
 
01          Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled
                beverages)                                0.941    106.7       104.0    -15.5    -2.4      -0.6      -2.2      -2.5
 
1          INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS               28.473    109.9       109.6     -6.4     0.4      -1.1      -0.9      -0.3
            INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS,
                DURABLE                                  11.204    115.9       114.7     -3.9     0.1      -0.2      -0.3      -1.0
            INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS,
                NONDURABLE                               17.270    107.6       107.8     -7.9     0.8      -1.8      -1.1       0.2
 
10          Agricultural industrial supplies &
                materials                                 2.333    110.2       109.8     -9.0    -1.3      -1.7      -1.2      -0.4
 
             NONAGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES &
                MATERIALS                                26.141    109.9       109.6     -6.2     0.6      -1.1      -0.8      -0.3
 
11          Fuels & lubricants                            3.419     99.4       102.8     11.1     3.8      -0.4       1.0       3.4
 
12          Nonagricultural supplies & materials
                excluding fuels & building materials     20.006    108.7       107.8     -8.6     0.3      -1.3      -1.2      -0.8
 
13          Selected building materials                   2.716    144.6       143.2     -6.7     0.3       0.2      -0.6      -1.0
 
2          CAPITAL GOODS                                 39.618    105.4       105.5      0.8     0.2       0.1      -0.2       0.1
 
20          Electric & electrical generating
                equipment                                 3.615    109.0       109.1      0.9    -0.2       0.0       0.1       0.1
 
21          Nonelectrical machinery                      25.904    101.7       101.8      0.3     0.2       0.0       0.1       0.1
 
3          AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES, PARTS & ENGINES           9.969    108.9       109.0      1.5     0.0       0.0      -0.1       0.1
 
4          CONSUMER GOODS, EXCLUDING AUTOMOTIVES         10.670    110.6       110.9      1.4     0.4       0.3       0.1       0.3
 
40          Nondurables, manufactured                     5.768    112.9       112.8      0.7     0.6      -0.2       0.2      -0.1
 
41          Durables, manufactured                        4.386    108.1       108.5      1.6     0.2       0.4       0.0       0.4
 
 
 
 
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                       n.a.      Not available
            1990 trade values.
        2  Data for January, February and March 1996
            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 1995-April 1996
                  1990=100, unless otherwise noted
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change
                                                        Relative
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly
                                                         ance                           April   Dec.      Jan.      Feb.      March
SITC      Description                                                                   1995    1995      1996      1996      1996
Rev. 3                                                  March      March       April    to      to        to        to        to
                                                        1996       1996        1996     April   Jan.      Feb.      March     April
                                                        1/         2/                   1996    1996      1996      1996      1996
 
          ALL COMMODITIES                               100.000    107.4       108.4      1.6     0.2      -0.2       0.6       0.9
 
0          FOOD AND LIVE ANIMALS                          4.750    110.5       115.2     -0.6    -4.3       4.4      -1.4       4.3
01          Meat and meat preparations                    0.458     79.2        78.8     -9.0    -1.9      -2.4      -1.7      -0.5
03          Fish, crustaceans, aquatic invertebrates
              and preparations thereof                    1.202    118.4       119.3     -6.2    -0.7       0.7       0.3       0.8
04          Cereals and cereal preparations               0.186    107.3       107.2     17.0     1.0      -0.9      -1.0      -0.1
05          Vegetables and fruit, prepared
              fresh or dried                              1.321    116.6       129.9     24.7   -12.6      13.4      -2.9      11.4
06          Sugars, sugar preparations and honey          0.259    100.5       101.6      2.0    -0.4      -1.3       0.0       1.1
07          Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and
              manufactures thereof                        0.893    136.1       142.7    -19.2     0.0       5.0      -3.1       4.8
 
1          BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO                          1.069    118.3       119.0      3.5    -0.1       0.2       0.5       0.6
11          Beverages                                     0.866    116.0       116.5      1.6     0.3       0.1      -0.2       0.4
 
2          CRUDE MATERIALS, INEDIBLE, EXCEPT FUELS        3.389    119.6       119.3     -3.1    -0.5      -1.2      -2.8      -0.3
23          Crude rubber (including synthetic and
              reclaimed)                                  0.366    155.2       144.5    -14.3     0.8      -5.2       4.7      -6.9
24          Cork and wood                                 0.867    140.2       145.4      3.0     1.6       2.9      -1.3       3.7
25          Pulp and waste paper                          0.505     88.8        82.5    -23.7    -6.2      -8.5     -15.3      -7.1
28          Metalliferous ores and metal scrap            0.872    108.4       108.6      2.6     0.5      -0.8       0.5       0.2
 
3          MINERAL FUELS, LUBRICANTS AND RELATED
              MATERIALS                                  11.184     88.3        94.9     14.8     4.7      -1.4       8.1       7.5
33          Petroleum, petroleum products and
              related materials                          10.222     88.3        95.6     15.3     4.7      -1.4       8.2       8.3
34          Gas, natural and manufactured                 0.899     88.8        87.9     12.5     4.6      -0.4       6.5      -1.0
 
5          CHEMICALS AND RELATED PRODUCTS, N.E.S.         4.909    112.1       111.5      0.2     0.2       0.0       0.0      -0.5
51          Organic chemicals                             1.382    100.4        99.7     -0.5    -0.3       0.7       0.1      -0.7
52          Inorganic chemicals                           0.704    114.7       113.9      1.5     0.3       0.4       0.5      -0.7
53          Dyeing, tanning and coloring materials
              (9212=100)                                  0.299    111.4       111.2      0.3     0.5       1.2      -0.2      -0.2
54          Medicinal and pharmaceutical products         0.703    127.2       127.1      1.9    -0.6      -0.7      -0.5      -0.1
55          Essential oils; polishing and cleansing
              preps                                       0.333    127.6       128.0      6.6     4.2      -0.9      -1.2       0.3
57          Plastics in primary forms (9212=100)          0.278    111.8       113.5      4.1     0.5       0.4      -0.6       1.5
58          Plastics in nonprimary forms (9212=100)       0.509    100.8        97.7    -16.1    -1.6      -3.5      -0.7      -3.1
59          Chemical materials and products, n.e.s.       0.481    115.5       115.4      9.9     1.2       0.9       1.0      -0.1
 
6          MANUFACTURED GOODS CLASSIFIED CHIEFLY
              BY MATERIAL                                13.215    112.6       112.2      1.3    -0.4      -0.3      -0.2      -0.4
62          Rubber manufactures, n.e.s.                   0.729    105.0       105.4      1.6    -0.8       0.1      -0.8       0.4
64          Paper, paperboard, and articles of
              paper pulp, paper or paper board            2.230    133.7       132.3     10.7    -0.8      -0.1      -1.3      -1.0
65          Textile yarn, fabrics, made-up
              articles, n.e.s., and related product       1.434    114.4       114.6      1.1     0.3       0.0      -0.6       0.2
66          Nonmetallic mineral manufactures,
              n.e.s.                                      2.194    113.1       113.6      2.1     0.3      -0.1       0.7       0.4
67          Iron and steel                                2.081    107.6       106.8     -0.5    -1.4      -1.0       0.5      -0.7
68          Nonferrous metals                             1.928    100.2        99.2     -6.8    -0.9      -0.9      -0.2      -1.0
69          Manufactures of metals, n.e.s.                1.953    111.7       111.9      1.7     0.1       0.5      -0.4       0.2
 
7          MACHINERY AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT             44.212    109.0       108.8     -0.6    -0.2      -0.1      -0.4      -0.2
72          Machinery specialized for particular
              industries                                  3.030    118.9       118.1      1.8    -0.5       0.4       0.8      -0.7
73          Metalworking machinery                        0.884    121.7       121.7      2.4     0.3      -0.7      -0.2       0.0
74          General industrial machinery and equip-
              ment, n.e.s. and machine parts, n.e.s       3.357    117.0       116.9      1.0     0.1      -0.4      -0.2      -0.1
75          Computer equipment and office machines        4.231     79.7        79.1     -6.2    -0.4      -0.7      -2.0      -0.8
76          Telecommunications & sound recording
              & reproducing apparatus & equipment         4.246     96.6        96.4     -2.1    -0.4      -0.4      -0.3      -0.2
77          Electrical machinery and equipment            6.941    104.8       104.5     -2.9    -0.2      -0.6      -0.5      -0.3
78          Road vehicles                                16.762    117.4       117.5      1.0    -0.2       0.0      -0.1       0.1
 
8          MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES           16.772    108.3       108.4      1.5     0.0      -0.1       0.1       0.1
81          Prefabricated buildings; plumbing, heat
              lighting fixtures, n.e.s.                   0.317    104.8       105.0      2.3     0.5      -2.0       0.5       0.2
82          Furniture and parts thereof                   1.048    106.6       106.7      1.2     0.3      -0.3      -0.3       0.1
83          Travel goods, handbags and similar
              containers                                  0.484    110.8       110.7      1.7     0.0       0.3      -0.1      -0.1
84          Articles of apparel and clothing
              accessories                                 5.214    104.1       104.1      1.5     0.3       0.0       0.2       0.0
85          Footwear                                      1.939    103.3       103.3      1.9     0.1       0.0       0.4       0.0
87          Professional, scientific and controlling
              instruments and apparatus, n.e.s.           1.433    117.5       117.8      1.8     0.1       0.2       0.1       0.3
88          Photographic apparatus, equipment and
              supplies and optical goods, n.e.s.;         1.461    113.1       112.5     -0.9    -0.5      -0.6      -0.3      -0.5
89          Miscellaneous manufactured articles,
              n.e.s.                                      4.876    111.2       111.6      1.8    -0.2      -0.1       0.1       0.4
 
971          Gold, nonmonetary (excluding gold ores
              and concentrates) (9212=100)                0.212    115.0       114.6      0.2     1.2       1.7      -1.1      -0.3
 
 
 
 
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                       n.a.      Not available.
            1990 trade values.
        2  Data for January, February and March 1996
            have been revised to reflect the availability
            of late reports and corrections by respondents.
            All data are subject to revision in each of the
            three months after original publication.
        3  Product categories included in this group
            have been modified due to concordance
            or coverage limitations.
 
        NOTE:   Published categories may include price data not shown separetely
 
 
Table 4       U.S. Export Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, April 1995-April 1996
                  1990=100, unless otherwise noted
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change
                                                        Relative
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly
                                                         ance                           April   Dec.      Jan.      Feb.      March
SITC      Description                                                                   1995    1995      1996      1996      1996
Rev. 3                                                  March      March       April    to      to        to        to        to
                                                        1996       1996        1996     April   Jan.      Feb.      March     April
                                                        1/         2/                   1996    1996      1996      1996      1996
 
          ALL COMMODITIES                               100.000    109.5       110.1      1.1     0.5      -0.3      -0.1       0.5
 
0          FOOD AND LIVE ANIMALS                         10.044    134.1       141.0     26.7     1.8       0.3       2.0       5.1
01          Meat and meat preparations                    0.911    113.8       115.8      2.0    -4.3      -3.1       0.0       1.8
03          Fish, crustaceans, aquatic invertebrates
              and preparations                            0.747    103.3        99.9    -18.0    -2.6      -0.7      -2.3      -3.3
04          Cereals and cereal preparations               4.937    157.1       173.4     62.4     3.7       2.1       2.8      10.4
05          Vegetables, fruit and nuts,
              fresh or dried                              1.732    125.7       127.6      4.2     1.3      -1.2       3.3       1.5
08          feeding stuff for animals (not
              including unmilled cereals)                 0.926    127.1       126.2     26.1     5.4      -1.2       1.6      -0.7
 
1          BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO                          2.068    115.4       115.5     -0.2     0.2       0.0       0.0       0.1
 
2          CRUDE MATERIALS, INEDIBLE, EXCEPT FUELS        7.825    114.1       113.9    -13.1     0.8      -3.0      -3.2      -0.2
21          Hides, skins and furskins, raw                0.398     91.2        90.1    -17.0    -0.8       0.6       0.2      -1.2
22          Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits               1.159    119.7       128.0     32.9     7.2      -1.2      -0.7       6.9
23          Crude rubber (including synthetic and
              reclaimed)                                  0.253    110.3       108.0    -10.6    -1.4      -0.4       0.1      -2.1
24          Cork and wood                                 1.953    150.7       148.3     -7.0     0.8       0.8      -0.8      -1.6
25          Pulp and waste paper                          0.933     92.8        84.6    -49.7     1.1     -15.5     -18.7      -8.8
26          Textile fibers and their waste                1.127    116.8       117.6    -10.0    -1.9      -2.1      -1.6       0.7
27          Crude fertilizers and crude minerals          0.371     97.2        97.4     -0.8     0.3      -1.0      -0.1       0.2
28          Metalliferous ores and metal scrap            1.366    108.3       109.0    -16.3    -0.5      -0.5      -0.4       0.6
 
3          MINERAL FUELS, LUBRICANTS AND RELATED
              MATERIALS                                   2.989     97.2       101.0     11.6     5.0      -1.6       1.5       3.9
32          Coal, coke and briquettes                     1.210     99.5        99.7      3.4     1.3      -0.6       0.2       0.2
33          Petroleum, petroleum products and
              related materials                           1.651     93.1        99.6     19.6     7.9      -2.4       2.3       7.0
 
4          ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE OILS, FATS AND
              WAXES                                       0.316    106.2       108.3     -6.7    -2.8      -5.2      -1.8       2.0
 
5          CHEMICALS AND RELATED PRODUCTS, N.E.S.        10.782    110.5       110.5     -5.3     0.2       0.3       0.1       0.0
51          Organic chemicals                             2.740    105.0       104.1    -13.7    -1.3       0.3      -0.8      -0.9
52          Inorganic chemicals (9212=100)                1.092    120.1       118.8      3.0     0.9       0.8       1.6      -1.1
53          Dyeing, tanning and coloring materials
              (9312=100)                                  0.446    103.0       103.3      1.3     0.2       0.1      -0.1       0.3
54          Medicinal and pharmaceutical products         1.145    111.0       109.7      1.3     0.9       0.0       1.2      -1.2
55          Essential oils; polishing and cleansing
              preps                                       0.561    110.8       111.6      0.8    -0.2      -0.7      -0.2       0.7
57          Plastics in primary forms (9212=100)          1.849    122.7       126.2    -12.7     1.1       0.2       1.1       2.9
58          Plastics in nonprimary forms (9212=100)       0.713    109.2       107.8     -0.5     0.9      -0.2      -0.5      -1.3
59          Chemical materials and products, n.e.s.       1.573    115.9       116.8      1.8     0.1       0.9      -0.8       0.8
 
6          MANUFACTURED GOODS CLASSIFIED CHIEFLY
              BY MATERIAL                                 9.509    113.4       112.5     -2.3     0.4      -0.8      -0.4      -0.8
62          Rubber manufactures, n.e.s.                   0.624    119.0       119.5      4.2     0.3       0.4      -1.1       0.4
63          Cork and wood manufactures other than
              furniture (9212=100)                        0.386     98.9        98.3     -8.0    -3.1      -1.9      -0.2      -0.6
64          Paper, paperboard, and articles of
              paper pulp, paper or paperboard             1.426    113.6       111.1    -10.3    -1.9      -2.6      -0.6      -2.2
66          Nonmetallic mineral manufactures,
              n.e.s.                                      1.265    111.6       111.5      2.0     0.5       0.9      -0.4      -0.1
68          Nonferrous metals                             1.386    105.5       106.6     -7.6     1.5      -1.8      -1.9       1.0
69          Manufactures of metals, n.e.s.                1.736    116.1       113.6      0.4     1.3      -0.3       0.3      -2.2
 
7          MACHINERY AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT             46.023    105.2       105.2      0.7     0.1       0.1      -0.2       0.0
71          Power generating machinery and
              equipment                                   4.381    118.5       118.8      3.5     0.9       0.4      -0.2       0.3
72          Machinery specialized for particular
              industries                                  4.412    115.1       116.4      3.8     1.0      -0.3       0.1       1.1
73          Metalworking machinery                        0.799    113.8       113.4      1.6     0.8      -0.6       0.8      -0.4
74          General industrial machinery and equip-
              ment, n.e.s. and machine parts, n.e.s       4.539    113.8       114.0      1.9     0.9       0.4       0.0       0.2
75          Computer equipment and office machines        4.951     72.5        71.7     -7.0    -1.6      -0.3      -0.4      -1.1
76          Telecommunications & sound recording
              & reproducing apparatus & equipment         2.617    107.7       108.0      1.9     0.5      -0.1       1.9       0.3
77          Electrical machinery and equipment            8.001    103.1       103.3      0.4    -0.1       0.2      -0.6       0.2
78          Road vehicles                                 7.910    109.1       109.1      1.2    -0.1       0.0       0.1       0.0
 
8          MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES            9.706    108.8       108.6      0.6     0.3       0.1       0.1      -0.2
82          Furniture and parts thereof                   0.421    103.3       103.4      3.0     0.2       1.3       0.2       0.1
87          Professional, scientific and controlling
              instruments and apparatus, n.e.s.           3.565    114.9       114.8      1.2     0.4       0.4       0.0      -0.1
89          Miscellaneous manufactured articles,
              n.e.s.                                      3.610    103.6       103.5      0.6     0.3      -0.3       0.1      -0.1
 
971          Gold, nonmonetary (excluding gold ores
              and concentrates) (9212=100)                0.740    115.6       114.1      0.4     0.2       1.9       0.3      -1.3
 
 
 
 
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                     n.a.      Not available.
            1990 trade values.
        2  Data for January, February and March 1996
            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 5       U.S. Import Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, April 1995-April 1996
                 December 1992=100, unless otherwise noted
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change
                                                        Relative
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly
Harmo-                                                   ance                           April   Dec.      Jan.      Feb.      March
nized     Description                                                                   1995    1995      1996      1996      1996
System                                                  March      March       April    to      to        to        to        to
                                                        1996       1996        1996     April   Jan.      Feb.      March     April
                                                        1/         2/                   1996    1996      1996      1996      1996
 
 
I          LIVE ANIMALS; ANIMAL PRODUCTS                  1.649     98.0        98.9     -6.5    -1.2      -0.7      -0.4       0.9
02          Meat and edible meat offal                    0.366     81.5        81.2     -7.1    -2.3      -4.0      -2.7      -0.4
03          Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and
               other aquatic invertebrates                0.959    111.1       112.2     -7.2    -0.2       0.8       0.4       1.0
 
II         VEGETABLE PRODUCTS                             1.879    128.5       139.6     -1.3    -6.3       9.9      -5.5       8.6
07          Edible vegetables and certain roots and
               tubers                                     0.289    109.5       145.9     67.5   -41.5      57.3      -6.3      33.2
08          Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus
               fruit or melons                            0.428     99.5       103.1      3.6    -1.7       1.5      -5.2       3.6
09          Coffee, tea, mate and spices                  0.709    167.2       177.4    -23.2     0.6       7.1      -4.8       6.1
      3/    Other vegetable products                      0.453    131.5       133.8      6.9     4.8       2.3      -6.5       1.7
 
III        ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE FATS AND OILS              0.239    140.9       142.5     15.5     1.4       0.9      -0.6       1.1
 
IV         PREPARED FOODSTUFFS, BEVERAGES, AND
              TOBACCO                                     2.605    110.8       111.7      4.3     0.1       0.5       0.3       0.8
16          Edible preps of meat, fish, and other
               aquatic invertebrates                      0.267    109.9       108.8      0.6    -1.8       0.5       0.2      -1.0
20          Preparations of vegetables, fruit,
               nuts, or other parts of plants             0.465    124.7       128.8     16.9     3.4       0.9       0.3       3.3
22          Beverages, spirits, and vinegar               1.010    103.4       103.8      1.5     0.2       0.1      -0.2       0.4
      3/    Other prepared foodstuffs                     0.416    114.4       114.6      8.9     0.0       1.2       1.8       0.2
 
V          MINERAL PRODUCTS                              14.572    110.2       118.1     14.5     4.2      -1.3       8.0       7.2
26          Ores, slag and ash                            0.350     93.8        92.8     -0.2     0.1       0.0       0.5      -1.1
27          Mineral fuels, oils and residuals,
               bituminous substances and mineral wax     13.955    110.6       119.0     15.2     4.7      -1.4       8.3       7.6
 
VI         PRODUCTS OF THE CHEMICAL OR ALLIED
              INDUSTRIES                                  4.746    112.6       112.3      2.2     0.7       0.3       0.2      -0.3
28          Inorganic chemicals                           1.056    121.9       121.4      2.4     1.7      -0.3       0.5      -0.4
29          Organic chemicals                             1.710    109.1       108.4     -0.4     0.1       0.7       0.1      -0.6
30          Pharmaceutical products                       0.358    117.5       117.5      4.8    -0.6      -0.6      -0.3       0.0
32          Tanning & dyeing extracts; dye &
               pigments; varnish & paints; putty          0.281    111.5       111.4      1.3     0.3       1.1      -0.3      -0.1
37          Photographic or cinematographic goods         0.364    104.9       105.0      0.7    -0.5      -0.2      -0.1       0.1
      3/    Essential oils & perfumes; cleaning
               preps; glues & starches; & explosives      0.509    112.6       113.1      7.6     2.9      -0.6      -0.1       0.4
 
VII        PLASTICS AND ARTICLES THEREOF; RUBBER
              AND ARTICLES THEREOF                        2.584    110.8       109.5     -4.5    -1.1      -1.4       0.4      -1.2
39          Plastics and articles thereof                 1.452    106.0       105.6     -3.8    -1.6      -1.3      -0.2      -0.4
40          Rubber and articles thereof                   1.132    117.6       115.1     -5.4    -0.4      -1.6       1.0      -2.1
 
VIII       RAW HIDES, SKINS, LEATHER, FURSKINS,
              TRAVEL GOODS, ETC                           1.102    107.6       108.1      2.6    -0.2      -0.9       1.7       0.5
42          Articles of leather; travel goods, bags,
               etc. of various materials                  0.835    104.1       103.9      1.5    -0.1      -0.2       0.3      -0.2
 
IX         WOOD, WOOD CHARCOAL, CORK, STRAW, BASKET
              AND WICKER                                  1.212    113.6       115.7      2.5     0.8       1.2      -0.4       1.8
 
X          WOOD PULP, WASTE AND SCRAP PAPER, PAPER
              AND ARTICLES THEREOF                        3.329    130.8       128.3      0.7    -2.2      -2.0      -4.4      -1.9
47          Pulp wood or other fibrous cellulosic
               material; waste paper/paperboard           0.680    121.3       113.3    -22.6    -6.4      -7.7     -15.2      -6.6
48          Paper and paperboard; articles of paper
               pulp, paper or paperboard                  2.319    139.0       137.7     10.0    -0.8      -0.1      -1.2      -0.9
49          Printed matter                                0.330    104.5       105.3      0.1    -1.1      -0.4      -0.8       0.8
 
XI         TEXTILE AND TEXTILE ARTICLES                   6.043    103.7       103.7      0.9     0.1       0.3      -0.1       0.0
61          Articles of apparel and clothing
               accessories, knitted or crocheted          1.604    104.1       104.0      2.6     0.8       0.0       0.4      -0.1
62          Articles of apparel and clothing
               accessories, not knitted or crocheted      2.951    101.7       101.9      1.1    -0.2       0.7      -0.3       0.2
63          Made-up or worn textile articles and
               clothing; needlecraft sets; rags           0.297    109.7       110.9      1.3     0.2      -0.2      -0.4       1.1
 
XII        FOOTWEAR, HEADGEAR, UMBRELLAS, WHIPS,
              ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS, ETC.                    2.119    102.1       102.1      1.9     0.1       0.0       0.3       0.0
64          Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts
               of such articles                           1.903    101.9       101.9      1.8     0.2       0.0       0.3       0.0
      3/    Headgear; umbrellas; whips; artif flwrs;
               prepared feathers; art. of human hair      0.216     n.a.        n.a.     n.a.    n.a.      n.a.      n.a.      n.a.
 
XIII       STONE, PLASTER, CEMENT, ASBESTOS,CERAMIC
              GLASS ETC.                                  1.045    108.4       108.7      2.9     0.6      -0.2       1.5       0.3
70          Glass and glassware                           0.384    111.0       110.1      3.1     1.5      -0.7       2.5      -0.8
 
XIV        PEARLS, STONES, PRECIOUS METALS,
              IMITATION JEWELRY, AND COINS                2.411    106.5       106.6      0.1     0.7       0.4       0.3       0.1
 
XV         BASE METALS AND ARTICLES OF BASE METAL         6.127    114.7       114.2     -2.0    -1.1      -0.8      -0.1      -0.4
72          Iron and steel                                1.750    113.3       112.5     -1.4    -1.9      -0.4       0.1      -0.7
73          Articles of iron or steel                     1.399    108.4       108.2      1.7    -0.2      -1.1       0.1      -0.2
74          Copper and articles thereof                   0.561    120.6       117.9    -13.6    -2.6      -5.7      -0.7      -2.2
75          Nickel and articles thereof                   0.303    131.8       130.5      3.1    -4.3      -2.2       3.7      -1.0
76          Aluminum and articles thereof                 0.932    130.8       131.1     -6.6    -1.1       0.8      -1.2       0.2
79          Zinc and articles thereof                     0.196     93.5        94.7     -2.0     0.0       0.1       0.0       1.3
83          Miscellaneous articles of base metal          0.362    107.4       107.7      1.2    -1.3       2.5      -1.2       0.3
 
XVI        MACHINERY, ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, TV
              IMAGE & SOUND RECORDERS, PARTS, ETC.       24.464    100.6       100.2     -2.0    -0.3      -0.3      -0.6      -0.4
84          Specialized machinery & computer
               equipment                                 12.955     99.8        99.3     -1.5    -0.1      -0.3      -0.6      -0.5
85          Electrical machinery and equip, sound
               and TV recorders & reproducers, parts     11.509    101.5       101.2     -2.6    -0.4      -0.5      -0.5      -0.3
 
XVII       VEHICLES, AIRCRAFT, VESSELS AND
              ASSOCIATED TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT             17.204    109.7       109.7      1.0    -0.2       0.2      -0.3       0.0
87          Motor vehicles and their parts               16.005    110.0       110.1      1.0    -0.2       0.1      -0.2       0.1
 
XVIII      OPTICAL, PHOTO, MEASURING, MEDICAL &
              MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; CLOCKS & WATCHES       3.381    109.9       109.8      0.0    -0.2      -0.4      -0.1      -0.1
90          Optical, photographic, measuring and
               medical instruments                        2.834    109.5       109.2     -0.1    -0.3      -0.4       0.0      -0.3
91          Clocks and watches and parts thereof          0.384    111.5       112.1      0.4     0.6      -0.4      -1.2       0.5
 
XX         MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES            3.224    101.5       101.5      1.8     0.3      -0.2      -0.1       0.0
94          Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps
               and lighting fittings nes;                 1.264    100.9       101.0      0.8     0.3      -0.6      -0.2       0.1
95          Toys, games and sports equipment; parts
               and accessories thereof                    1.674    101.1       101.2      3.2     0.5       0.1       0.0       0.1
96          Miscellaneous manufactured articles           0.286    106.6       105.7     -1.3    -0.5      -0.1      -0.6      -0.8
 
 
 
 
        1  Relative importance figures are based on
            1990 trade values.
        2  Data for January, February and March 1996
            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 1995-April 1996
                 December 1992=100, unless otherwise noted
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change
                                                        Relative
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly
Harmo-                                                   ance                           April   Dec.      Jan.      Feb.      March
nized     Description                                                                   1995    1995      1996      1996      1996
System                                                  March      March       April    to      to        to        to        to
                                                        1996       1996        1996     April   Jan.      Feb.      March     April
                                                        1/         2/                   1996    1996      1996      1996      1996
 
 
I          LIVE ANIMALS; ANIMAL PRODUCTS                  1.912    111.1       110.1     -7.6    -3.5      -1.7      -1.1      -0.9
02          Meat & edible meat offal                      0.804    105.4       107.3      1.2    -4.7      -3.1      -0.2       1.8
03          Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and
               other aquatic invertebrates                0.783    119.7       115.6    -18.9    -3.2      -0.9      -2.5      -3.4
 
II         VEGETABLE PRODUCTS                             8.004    146.8       159.0     43.5     4.4       0.8       2.2       8.3
07          Edible vegetables and certain roots and
               tubers                                     0.380    108.7       111.3     n.a.    21.5      -2.1      -1.2       2.4
08          Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus
               fruit or melons                            0.942    129.1       130.0     23.8    -4.0      -0.5       3.9       0.7
10          Cereals                                       4.934    164.3       182.3     65.7     4.4       2.0       3.3      11.0
12          Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds,
               fruits, plants, straw and fodder           1.436    127.4       135.9     30.2     6.8      -1.5      -0.6       6.7
 
III        ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE FATS AND OILS              0.355    109.2       111.5     -4.7    -2.0      -4.2      -1.7       2.1
 
IV         PREPARED FOODSTUFFS, BEVERAGES, AND
              TOBACCO                                     3.794    107.8       107.7      5.6     1.3      -0.5       0.7      -0.1
20          Preparations of vegetables, fruit,
               nuts, or other parts of plants             0.336    113.1       113.9      6.9    -1.0      -2.1       3.8       0.7
21          Miscellaneous edible preparations             0.222    100.6       100.8      3.7     0.1       0.4      -0.3       0.2
23          Residues and waste from the food
               industries; prepared animal feed           0.828    118.9       117.5     26.5     5.2      -1.3       1.5      -1.2
 
V          MINERAL PRODUCTS                               4.273    113.1       117.0      6.1     3.8      -1.8       1.1       3.4
27          Mineral fuels, oils and residuals,
               bituminous substances and mineral wax      3.528    113.4       117.9     12.0     5.0      -1.4       1.3       4.0
 
VI         PRODUCTS OF THE CHEMICAL OR ALLIED
              INDUSTRIES                                  9.442    115.0       114.7     -2.9     0.0       0.5       0.1      -0.3
28          Inorganic chemicals                           1.321    122.3       121.3      3.7     0.8       0.9       1.2      -0.8
29          Organic chemicals                             3.439    117.0       117.1    -10.0    -1.1       0.9       0.4       0.1
30          Pharmaceutical products                       0.734    107.4       106.2      1.0     1.3       0.0      -0.2      -1.1
32          Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes and
               pigments; paints & varnish; putty;ink      0.417    102.2       102.4      1.4     0.2       0.1      -0.1       0.2
33          Essential oils and resinoids;
               perfumery, cosmetic or toilet              0.380    106.7       107.4      1.1    -0.2      -1.1      -0.2       0.7
34          Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or
               scouring products; candles, pastes         0.245    111.1       111.7      0.2    -0.1       0.1      -0.2       0.5
37          Photographic or cinematographic goods         0.515     99.6        96.8     -5.3     0.0       0.0       0.2      -2.8
38          Miscellaneous chemical products               1.356    111.4       112.3      2.1     0.1       1.4      -1.1       0.8
 
VII        PLASTICS AND ARTICLES THEREOF; RUBBER
              AND ARTICLES THEREOF                        4.061    113.3       114.5     -6.4     0.4       0.1       0.2       1.1
39          Plastics and articles thereof                 3.200    114.3       115.8     -7.9     0.7       0.1       0.4       1.3
40          Rubber and articles thereof                   0.861    109.8       109.5     -0.5    -0.2       0.1      -0.8      -0.3
 
VIII       RAW HIDES, SKINS, LEATHER, FURSKINS,
              TRAVEL GOODS, ETC.                          0.774    103.8       102.6    -14.0     0.0      -0.9       0.4      -1.2
41          Raw hides and skins (other than
               furskins) and leather                      0.606    100.7        99.2    -17.9     0.1      -1.2       0.5      -1.5
 
IX         WOOD, WOOD CHARCOAL, CORK, STRAW, BASKET
              AND WICKER                                  1.925    117.1       115.6     -6.8    -0.2       0.3      -0.6      -1.3
 
X          WOOD PULP, WASTE AND SCRAP PAPER, PAPER
              AND ARTICLES THEREOF                        3.574    114.5       110.0    -25.0    -0.2      -7.1      -7.1      -3.9
47          Pulp wood or other fibrous cellulosic
               material; waste paper/paperboard           1.196    116.8       106.5    -48.0     0.8     -14.6     -18.2      -8.8
48          Paper and paperboard; articles of paper
               pulp, paper or paperboard                  1.529    118.2       115.6     -9.5    -1.8      -2.8      -0.5      -2.2
49          Printed material                              0.849    105.4       105.3      2.5     1.2      -0.4       0.3      -0.1
 
XI         TEXTILE AND TEXTILE ARTICLES                   3.266    118.9       119.4     -3.7    -0.4      -1.1      -0.8       0.4
52          Cotton, including yarns and woven
               fabrics thereof                            1.251    146.6       147.6     -9.5    -1.8      -1.8      -2.0       0.7
 
XIV        PEARLS, STONES, PRECIOUS METALS,
              IMITATION JEWELRY, AND COINS                1.871    111.3       110.7      1.6     0.0       1.9       0.1      -0.5
 
XV         BASE METALS AND ARTICLES OF BASE METALS        5.190    118.7       118.5     -3.7     0.8      -1.1      -0.6      -0.2
72          Iron and steel                                1.250    123.8       123.7     -1.7     1.0      -1.7      -0.7      -0.1
73          Articles of iron or steel                     0.989    110.8       110.9      2.2     0.5      -0.6       1.4       0.1
74          Copper and articles thereof                   0.563    117.1       118.3     -6.5    -1.9      -2.8      -0.4       1.0
76          Aluminum and articles thereof                 1.247    123.9       123.0    -15.3     1.3      -1.0      -2.4      -0.7
83          Miscellaneous articles of base metal          0.335    110.2       110.4      2.2     0.9       0.1       0.5       0.2
 
XVI        MACHINERY, ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, TV
              IMAGE AND SOUND RECORDERS, PARTS, ETC      29.104     97.4        97.4      0.0     0.0       0.1      -0.1       0.0
84          Specialized machinery & computer
               equipment                                 17.896     96.4        96.3     -0.3     0.0       0.0       0.0      -0.1
85          Electrical machinery and equip, sound
               & tv recorders & reproducers, parts       11.208     99.2        99.2      0.5     0.0       0.2      -0.1       0.0
 
XVII       VEHICLES, AIRCRAFT, VESSELS AND
              ASSOCIATED TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT             15.449    106.0       106.0      1.4     0.0       0.2      -0.6       0.0
87          Motor vehicles and their parts                8.022    104.5       104.5      1.4     0.0       0.1       0.1       0.0
 
XVIII      OPTICAL, PHOTO, MEASURING, MEDICAL &
              MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; CLOCKS & WATCHES       4.725    104.5       104.3      1.1     0.7       0.2       0.1      -0.2
 
XX         MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES            1.260    102.8       103.2      1.9     0.2       0.2       0.0       0.4
94          Furniture; stuffed furnishings;
               lamps and lighting fittings nesoi;         0.596    104.6       104.7      3.5     0.1       0.9       0.1       0.1
95          Toys, games and sports equipment; parts
               and accessories thereof                    0.492     99.3       100.2      0.4     0.0      -0.3      -0.2       0.9
 
 
 
 
        1  Relative importance figures are based on
            1990 trade values.
        2  Data for January, February and March 1996
            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 1995-April 1996
        December  1990=100, unless otherwise noted
                                                                  Index                    Percent Change
                                                   Percentage
                                                      of                            Annual                  Monthly
                                                    US Imports                    April   Dec.         Jan.        Feb.     March
    Description 1/                                                                1995    1995         1996        1996     1996
                                                    1990       March     April    to      to           to          to       to
                                                               1996      1996     April   Jan.         Feb.        March    April
                                                               2/                 1996    1996         1996        1996     1996
 
3/  Developed Countries                                59.3    111.0     111.2      1.1     0.0         -0.3         0.0      0.2
       Manufactured Goods                              55.5    113.3     113.2      0.6    -0.2         -0.3        -0.2     -0.1
       Nonmanufactured Goods                            3.5    103.6     107.8      9.1     2.6         -0.1         5.2      4.1
 
3/  Developing Countries                               40.7     93.1      94.5      2.6     0.5          0.0         1.6      1.5
       Manufactured Goods                              30.2    103.6     103.5      0.9     0.3         -0.2         0.5     -0.1
       Nonmanufactured Goods                           10.4     83.1      89.0      9.1     1.4          1.0         6.3      7.1
 
 
    Canada                                             18.1    104.6     104.9      1.8    -0.5          0.0         0.0      0.3
       Manufactured Goods                              15.7    106.7     106.4      0.4    -0.6         -0.1        -0.8     -0.3
       Nonmanufactured Goods                            2.2    105.6     110.2     14.3     1.2          0.6         6.8      4.4
 
4/  European Union                                     17.8    107.9     108.2      2.9     0.6         -0.1         0.4      0.3
       Manufactured Goods                              17.3    109.0     109.1      2.5     0.5         -0.2         0.4      0.1
       Nonmanufactured Goods                            0.5    102.5     110.9     15.5     3.0          0.7         1.3      8.2
 
    Japan                                              18.5    117.5     117.2     -0.8    -0.2         -0.3        -0.3     -0.3
 
5/  Asian Newly Industrialized Countries               12.5     99.2      98.9     -0.5    -0.2          0.1        -0.2     -0.3
 
     1    Regions are not mutually exclusive.
 
     2    Data for January, February and March 1996
          have been revised to reflect the availability
          of late reports and corrections by respondents.
 
     3    Defined according to the Standard Census Definition.
 
     4    Includes EU  15 countries
 
     5    Includes Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan.
 
 
 
Table  8    U.S. International Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Services.
        March 1995-March 1996  1990 = 100, unless otherwise noted
                                                                 Index                             Percent Change
 
                                                                                  Annual          Quarterly
                                                    Trade                         March   March    June        Sept.    Dec.
    Description                                     (Mil.                         1995    1995     1995        1995     1995
                                                    of         Dec.      March    to      to       to          to       to
                                                    Dollars)   1995      1996     March   June     Sept.       Dec.     March
                                                                                  1996    1995     1995        1995     1996
 
    Air Freight (Inbound) (9/90 = 100)              3308       113.3     110.5     -4.2     2.5     -4.7         0.6     -2.5
     Atlantic (9/90 =100)                           1025       101.5      96.4     -5.5    -0.3     -0.9         0.7     -5.0
     Pacific (9/90 = 100)                           2028       121.1     119.6     -3.0     4.1     -6.9         1.3     -1.2
 
    Air Freight (Outbound) (9/92 = 100)             2694        98.1      97.7     -0.7     0.0      0.5        -0.8     -0.4
     Atlantic (9/92 = 100)                          920        105.1     103.2     -1.7    -1.0      2.5        -1.3     -1.8
     Pacific (9/92 = 100)                           1224        97.3      97.6      1.0     0.7     -0.8         0.8      0.3
 
    Air Passenger Fares (U.S. Carrier)              24233      117.4     119.1      2.6    10.8     -1.6        -7.2      1.4
1/   Atlantic                                       10075      109.7     111.1      7.1    20.7      0.0       -12.4      1.3
1/   Pacific                                        7271       120.4     122.2     -2.8     9.0     -7.9        -4.6      1.5
1/   Latin American / Caribbean                     4492       126.7     130.3      2.9    -1.9      3.3        -1.2      2.8
     Canadian                                       1264       139.1     139.3      6.0    -2.2      6.5         1.6      0.1
 
    Air Passenger Fares (Foreign Carrier)           22669      115.3     114.5      0.6    10.0     -3.0        -5.0     -0.7
     Atlantic                                       13156      111.6     109.8      3.3    12.9     -0.6        -6.5     -1.6
     Pacific                                        5663       117.2     116.9     -5.2    12.8    -10.4        -5.9     -0.3
     Latin American / Caribbean                     2890       128.0     130.2      1.6    -1.2      0.2         0.8      1.7
 
    Crude Oil Tanker Freight (Inbound)              2153       133.6     116.0     -0.8     3.5     -3.9        14.9    -13.2
     Atlantic                                       572        108.5     121.0     -2.1   -10.8      9.3        -9.9     11.5
     Gulf                                           1455       136.2     106.4      0.6    10.1     -6.8        25.4    -21.9
 
    Ocean Liner Freight (Inbound)                   8065       113.1     112.6      3.8     3.4      1.2        -0.4     -0.4
     U.S. East Coast                                3769       116.5     117.6      4.2     1.7      1.1         0.3      0.9
      from Atlantic                                 1889       120.0     125.3      1.9    -3.2      0.8        -0.1      4.4
      from Pacific                                  1154       113.7     109.0      8.0    10.6      1.9         0.0     -4.1
     U.S. West Coast                                4296       110.1     108.2      3.4     5.1      1.3        -1.1     -1.7
      from Pacific                                  3943       112.0     109.6      3.5     5.8      1.1        -1.1     -2.1
 
 
 
1
 
Table  9     U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Services.
        March 1995-March 1996  1990 = 100, unless otherwise noted
                                                                 Index                             Percent Change
 
                                                                                  Annual          Quarterly
                                                    Trade                         March   March    June        Sept.    Dec.
    Description                                     (Mil.                         1995    1995     1995        1995     1995
                                                    of         Dec.      March    to      to       to          to       to
                                                    Dollars)   1995      1996     March   June     Sept.       Dec.     March
                                                                                  1996    1995     1995        1995     1996
 
 
    IMPORT
 
    Air Freight (9/90 = 100)                        2001       119.4     118.0     -1.7     2.5     -4.9         2.0     -1.2
     Atlantic (9/90 = 100)                          738        101.2      98.9      0.9     2.9     -1.1         1.5     -2.3
     Pacific (9/90 = 100)                           1102       136.2     135.2     -1.9     2.6     -7.3         3.9     -0.7
 
    Air Passenger Fares                             10450      116.2     115.3      2.2     9.9     -2.0        -4.4     -0.8
     Atlantic                                       6577       112.5     110.7      3.3    13.2     -0.9        -6.5     -1.6
     Pacific                                        2051       116.9     115.7     -0.8    10.7     -7.0        -2.6     -1.0
     Latin American / Caribbean                     1678       129.4     132.2      2.1    -0.9      0.2         0.7      2.2
 
    Crude Oil Tanker Freight                        1985       144.7 r   116.7     -5.5     2.7     -3.2        17.9 r  -19.4
     Atlantic                                       534        113.0 r   123.4     -3.0   -11.6     10.5        -9.1 r    9.2
     Gulf                                           1328       150.9 r   106.5     -6.5     8.9     -6.0        29.5 r  -29.4
 
    Ocean Liner Freight                             6017       112.7 r   112.5      4.7     4.0      1.4        -0.6 r   -0.2
     U.S. East Coast                                2832       117.7     118.9      5.8     3.0      1.8        -0.2      1.0
      from Atlantic                                 1336       122.6     128.5      3.0    -3.4      1.8        -0.2      4.8
      from Pacific                                  1094       116.7     112.8     11.9    13.6      1.9         0.0     -3.3
     U.S. West Coast                                3185       108.4 r   106.9      3.6     4.9      1.1        -1.0 r   -1.4
      from Pacific                                  2840       110.7 r   108.6      3.6     5.8      0.9        -1.1 r   -1.9
 
    EXPORT
 
    Air Passenger Fares                             11867      119.9     121.8      0.7     7.5     -3.0        -4.9      1.6
1/   Atlantic                                       4159       116.9     119.2      7.4    13.8      0.1        -7.5      2.0
1/   Pacific                                        4679       120.4     123.2     -4.0     7.2     -8.0        -4.9      2.3
     Latin American / Caribbean                     1775       126.6     125.8      0.6    -2.3      1.1         2.5     -0.6
     Canadian                                       619        128.4     133.5      1.0    -4.2      2.7        -1.2      4.0
 
 
 
1    Detailed data available upon request.