Technical Information
    David Mead         (202) 606-7154         USDL-97-205
    Bill Alterman      (202) 606-7108         For release: 10:00 A.M. E.D.T.
  Media contact:                              Thursday, June 19, 1997
    Kathryn Hoyle      (202) 606-5902
  Internet Address:    http://stats.bls.gov/ipphome.htm
                                  
                U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES
                             -MAY 1997-
                                  
     The U.S. Import Price Index was unchanged in May, the Bureau of
Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.
Imported petroleum prices increased after declining in the three
previous months but were offset by a continuing decline in
nonpetroleum import prices, down 0.1 percent in May.  The U.S. Export
Price Index declined 0.2 percent in May.

                                  
         Percent changes in import and export price indexes
                         by End Use category
                     - not seasonally adjusted -

                                  
                      IMPORTS                         EXPORTS          
  
Month                             Non-                 Agri-    Nonagri-
              All    Petroleum  petroleum    All     cultural  cultural 
            Imports   Imports    Imports    Exports   Exports   Exports
1996                                                             
May           -0.7      -3.7      -0.3        0.4       3.1      -0.1 
June          -1.1      -5.8      -0.4       -0.2      -2.2       0.1 
July          -0.1       1.9      -0.4       -0.5      -1.9      -0.2 
August         0.1       2.2      -0.1       -0.2      -0.2      -0.2 
September      1.2       7.5       0.4       -0.8      -7.3       0.2 
October        0.5       7.1      -0.3       -0.2      -2.6       0.0 
November      -0.2      -0.8      -0.1       -0.4      -2.3       0.0 
December       0.3       2.0       0.1        0.0      -0.9       0.1 
1997                                                             
January       -0.3       0.6      -0.4        0.1       0.1       0.0 
February      -0.9      -8.1 r    -0.1        0.2       2.1       0.0 
March         -1.3 r    -8.6 r    -0.4 r      0.1 r     1.4      -0.1 
April         -1.2 r    -7.0 r    -0.6       -0.7 r    -6.9 r     0.1 
May            0.0       1.2      -0.1       -0.2      -1.1      -0.1 
                                                                 
May 1995-96   -0.1       8.5      -0.9        1.3      24.8      -1.7 
May 1996-97   -3.0      -9.2      -2.4       -2.8     -20.0      -0.1 

r = revised to reflect late reports and corrections by respondents.


                            Import Goods
                                  
       Import prices were unchanged on average in May after having
declined in each of the last four months.  Imported petroleum prices
rose 1.2 percent in May following large decreases in each of the
three prior months.  In contrast, nonpetroleum prices fell 0.1
percent, the fifth consecutive decline in this component.  For the
year ended in May, overall import prices dropped 3.0 percent,
attributable to both falling petroleum and nonpetroleum prices, down
9.2 and 2.4 percent, respectively.
                                  
       The index for capital goods led the decline in nonpetroleum
import prices in May, decreasing 0.8 percent.  Over the past 12
months, the index for capital goods prices was down 6.2 percent.
Imported automotive vehicles also contributed to the May decline in
nonpetroleum prices, falling 0.2 percent.  For the year ended in May,
the index for automotive vehicles fell 0.1 percent.
                                  
       In contrast, the price index for foods, feeds, and beverages
rose 1.7 percent in May, attributable primarily to rising coffee
prices.  In addition, the import price indexes for nonpetroleum
industrial supplies and materials and consumer goods rose 0.1 percent
and 0.2 percent in May, respectively.
                                  
                            Export Goods
                                  
       The 0.2 percent decline in export prices in May followed a 0.7
percent decrease in April.  Export prices fell 2.8 percent on average
for the year ended in May.  Agricultural export prices, down 1.1
percent in May after dropping 6.9 percent in April, led the decline
in the export price index for the second consecutive month.  Over the
past year, the index for agricultural exports has fallen 20.0 percent
after rising 24.8 percent the previous year.  In contrast, prices for
nonagricultural exports remained relatively stable, moving down a
modest 0.1 percent in May after rising 0.1 percent in April.  Over
the past 12 months, the index has not changed by more than 0.2
percent in either direction and was down 0.1 percent over the May
1996-97 period.
                                  
       The export price indexes for the major finished goods categories
displayed little or no movement in May.  Capital goods export prices
decreased 0.1 percent for the second month in a row.  For the year,
the index for capital goods, which represents the largest component
of U.S. exports, fell 0.5 percent.  The price index for exported
automotive vehicles also fell 0.1 percent in May, following a 0.3
percent increase in April.  Automotive vehicle export prices were up
1.0 percent over the past year.
                                  
        The price indexes for consumer goods and nonagricultural
industrial supplies and materials were up 0.1 percent and unchanged
in May, respectively, after both indexes were up 0.1 percent in the
prior month.  Over the past year, prices for exported consumer goods
rose 1.0 percent, while nonagricultural industrial supplies and
materials prices decreased 0.3 percent.
                                  
                    Imports by Locality of Origin
                                  
        Prices for imports from Japan continued to decline in May, down
0.7 percent on average. (See table 7.)  The decline matched the index
movement in April and was the ninth consecutive monthly decrease.
Over the past year, the index was down 5.6 percent.
                                  
        The index for imports from Canada rose 0.2 percent in May after
falling 3.5 percent in the prior three months.  For the past 12
months, the index was down 0.9 percent.
                                  
        Import prices from the European Union rose 0.1 last month after
decreasing 1.9 percent over the past three months.  For the year
ended in May, the index was down 1.3 percent.
                                  
        Prices of imports from the Asian Newly Industrialized Countries
fell 0.2 percent in April after a modest 0.1 percent gain the month
before.  The index was down 2.8 percent in the May 1996-97 period.
                                  
                                  
                                  
                         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 June are scheduled for release
on July 18 at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).


Table 1      U.S. Import Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, May 1996-May 1997                                     
                 1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                            
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
                                                         ance                           May     Jan.      Feb.      March     April
END       Description                                                                   1996    1997      1997      1997      1997 
USE                                                     April      April       May      to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1997       1997        1997     May     Feb.      March     April     May  
                                                        1/         2/                   1997    1997      1997      1997      1997 
                                                                                                                                   
          ALL COMMODITIES                               100.000     98.2        98.2     -3.0    -0.9      -1.3      -1.2       0.0
          ALL IMPORTS EXCLUDING PETROLEUM                91.592     97.2        97.1     -2.4    -0.1      -0.4      -0.6      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
0          FOODS, FEEDS, & BEVERAGES                      4.752     99.6       101.3      0.2     1.9       2.9      -1.8       1.7
                                                                                                                                   
00          Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,                                                                                 
                excluding distilled beverages             3.442     99.1       101.1     -1.4     2.2       4.1      -2.7       2.0
                                                                                                                                   
01          Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled                                                                                 
                beverages)                                1.310    100.9       101.6      3.9     1.1       0.0       0.8       0.7
                                                                                                                                   
1          INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS               26.833    100.5       100.9     -3.9    -3.0      -3.9      -2.9       0.4
             INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS                                                                                       
                 EXCLUDING PETROLEUM                     18.425     97.5        97.6     -1.4    -0.1      -1.3      -0.9       0.1
             INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS,                                                                                      
                 DURABLE                                  9.823     99.5        99.8      1.1     0.8       1.0      -0.2       0.3
             INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS,                                                                                      
                 NONDURABLE EXCLUDING PETROLEUM           8.602     95.3        95.1     -4.3    -1.3      -3.8      -1.5      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
10          Fuels & lubricants                            9.488    106.2       106.9     -9.3    -7.7     -10.7      -7.2       0.7
                                                                                                                                   
100          Petroleum & petroleum products               8.407    105.8       107.1     -9.2    -8.1      -8.6      -7.0       1.2
                                                                                                                                   
10000          Crude                                      6.637    105.1       107.7     -8.9    -8.4      -9.2      -7.6       2.5
                                                                                                                                   
11          Paper & paper base stocks                     1.735     80.1        80.4    -11.9    -0.6       1.0       0.4       0.4
                                                                                                                                   
12          Materials associated with nondurable                                                                                   
                supplies & materials                      5.995     96.1        96.3     -2.1    -0.2       0.1      -0.8       0.2
                                                                                                                                   
13          Selected building materials                   2.209    113.6       114.8     10.7     2.7       0.6      -1.0       1.1
                                                                                                                                   
14          Unfinished metals associated with                                                                                      
                durable goods                             4.479     95.8        95.9     -0.3     0.8       2.0       0.3       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
15          Finished metals associated with durable                                                                                
                goods                                     1.442     97.1        97.1     -1.5    -0.2      -0.5      -0.1       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
16          Nonmetals associated with durable goods       1.484     96.1        96.0     -5.0    -0.6      -0.6      -0.6      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
2          CAPITAL GOODS                                 28.843     92.4        91.7     -6.2    -0.5      -0.5      -1.1      -0.8
                                                                                                                                   
20          Electric & electrical generating                                                                                       
                equipment                                 3.353     97.7        97.7     -2.0    -0.4      -0.7       0.0       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
21          Nonelectrical machinery                      23.833     90.4        89.6     -7.6    -0.6      -0.5      -1.3      -0.9
                                                                                                                                   
3          AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES, PARTS & ENGINES          17.582    100.6       100.4     -0.1     0.0       0.1      -0.2      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
4          CONSUMER GOODS, EXCLUDING AUTOMOTIVES         21.990     99.6        99.8     -0.8     0.2      -0.6       0.0       0.2
                                                                                                                                   
40          Nondurables, manufactured                    10.817    100.8       101.4      0.4     0.0      -0.1       0.3       0.6
                                                                                                                                   
41          Durables, manufactured                       10.104     98.3        97.8     -2.3    -0.3      -0.5      -0.2      -0.5
                                                                                                                                   
42          Nonmanufactured consumer goods                1.069     98.9       102.7      2.1     6.7      -7.2      -1.5       3.8
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                       n.a.      Not available         
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for February, March and April 1997                                                                                        
            have been revised to reflect the availability                                                                                 
            of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                                                               
            All data are subject to revision in each of                                                                                   
            the three months after original publication.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                          
        NOTE:  Published categories may include price data not shown separately                                                           
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                                    

Table 2      U.S. Export Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, May 1996-May 1997                                     
                 1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                            
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
                                                         ance                           May     Jan.      Feb.      March     April
END       Description                                                                   1996    1997      1997      1997      1997 
USE                                                     April      April       May      to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1997       1997        1997     May     Feb.      March     April     May  
                                                        1/         2/                   1997    1997      1997      1997      1997 
                                                                                                                                   
          ALL COMMODITIES                               100.000     99.0        98.8     -2.8     0.2       0.1      -0.7      -0.2
          AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES                       10.270     97.8        96.7    -20.0     2.1       1.4      -6.9      -1.1
          NONAGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES                    89.731     99.1        99.0     -0.1     0.0      -0.1       0.1      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
0          FOODS, FEEDS, & BEVERAGES                      9.175     98.1        97.0    -21.8     1.9       1.5      -7.4      -1.1
                                                                                                                                   
00          Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,                                                                                 
                excluding distilled beverages             8.470     99.0        98.0    -23.6     2.4       1.8      -7.9      -1.0
                                                                                                                                   
01          Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled                                                                                 
                beverages)                                0.705     89.4        88.0     -0.2    -5.0      -0.8      -1.4      -1.6
                                                                                                                                   
1          INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS               25.400     95.3        95.2     -0.5     0.1       0.1      -0.1      -0.1
             INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS,                                                                                      
                 DURABLE                                  9.889     96.3        96.0     -1.6     0.5      -0.3       0.1      -0.3
             INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS,                                                                                      
                 NONDURABLE                              15.512     94.7        94.7      0.3    -0.1       0.2      -0.1       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
10          Agricultural industrial supplies &                                                                                     
                materials                                 1.800     94.2        92.6     -2.2    -0.1       0.1      -1.8      -1.7
                                                                                                                                   
            NONAGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES &                                                                                  
              MATERIALS                                  23.601     95.4        95.4     -0.3     0.2       0.0       0.1       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
11          Fuels & lubricants                            2.426    110.1       110.0     -0.1    -2.9      -0.6      -0.5      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
12          Nonagricultural supplies & materials                                                                                   
                excluding fuels & building materials     19.594     92.8        92.9     -0.7     0.5       0.2       0.3       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
13          Selected building materials                   1.581     95.5        95.4     -0.3     0.4      -1.5      -1.6      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
2          CAPITAL GOODS                                 44.075    100.3       100.2     -0.5    -0.2       0.0      -0.1      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
20          Electric & electrical generating                                                                                       
                Equipment                                 4.354    100.7       100.8      0.0    -0.3       0.2       0.2       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
21          Nonelectrical machinery                      34.462     98.2        98.0     -2.1    -0.1      -0.2       0.0      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
3          AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES, PARTS & ENGINES           9.625    102.2       102.1      1.0     0.0       0.2       0.3      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
4          CONSUMER GOODS, EXCLUDING AUTOMOTIVES         11.725    102.0       102.1      1.0     0.1      -0.1       0.1       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
40          Nondurables, manufactured                     6.165    101.4       101.5      0.2     0.0       0.1      -0.3       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
41          Durables, manufactured                        5.025    102.0       102.1      1.7     0.1      -0.3       0.6       0.1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                       n.a.      Not available         
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for February, March and April 1997                                                                                        
            have been revised to reflect the availability                                                                                 
            of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                                                               
            All data are subject to revision in each of the                                                                               
            three months after original publication.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                          
        NOTE:  Published categories may include price data not shown separately                                                           
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                                    

Table 3       U.S. Import Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, May 1996-May 1997                                     
                  1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                            
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
                                                         ance                           May     Jan.      Feb.      March     April
SITC      Description                                                                   1996    1997      1997      1997      1997 
Rev. 3                                                  April      April       May      to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1997       1997        1997     May     Feb.      March     April     May  
                                                        1/         2/                   1997    1997      1997      1997      1997 
                                                                                                                                   
          ALL COMMODITIES                               100.000     98.2        98.2     -3.0    -0.9      -1.3      -1.2       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
0          FOOD AND LIVE ANIMALS                          4.027     99.5       103.1      4.2     2.7       4.7      -2.3       3.6
01          Meat and meat preparations                    0.359    104.9       103.6     13.3     0.2       5.7       1.4      -1.2
03          Fish, crustaceans, aquatic invertebrates                                                                               
               and preparations thereof                   0.985    100.4       101.8      5.8     1.7      -0.4       0.7       1.4
05          Vegetables and fruit, prepared                                                                                         
               fresh or dried                             1.063    101.5       105.3     -4.8     2.5       6.7      -8.6       3.7
07          Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and                                                                                         
               manufactures thereof                       0.684     98.2       107.9     21.9    10.4      15.0      -0.5       9.9
       3/ Other food and live animals (9612=100)          0.937    100.0       103.0     n.a.     0.6       0.8       0.2       3.0
                                                                                                                                   
1          BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO                          0.836    107.2       107.0      3.4     1.0       0.2       0.3      -0.2
11          Beverages                                     0.702    103.6       103.5      2.2     0.1       0.3       0.3      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
2          CRUDE MATERIALS, INEDIBLE, EXCEPT FUELS        3.006     97.7        99.5      6.2     5.3      -3.0      -1.3       1.8
23          Crude rubber (including synthetic and                                                                                  
               reclaimed)                                 0.281     84.8        82.2     -9.3     0.8       0.2      -4.0      -3.1
24          Cork and wood                                 1.135    124.9       127.0     17.7     3.3       0.6      -1.0       1.7
25          Pulp and waste paper                          0.353     63.8        64.3      7.7     0.0      -1.2      -1.7       0.8
28          Metalliferous ores and metal scrap            0.646    105.9       104.9      4.0     2.8       0.4       2.8      -0.9
29          Crude animal and vegetable materials,                                                                                  
               n.e.s. (9612=100)                          0.242     94.3       117.1     n.a.    40.7     -29.0     -10.4      24.2
       3/ Other crude materials, inedible, except                                                                                  
             fuels (9612=100)                             0.349     97.6        95.5     n.a.    -2.5       2.2      -0.1      -2.2
                                                                                                                                   
3          MINERAL FUELS, LUBRICANTS AND RELATED                                                                                   
              MATERIALS                                   9.152    105.6       106.6     -9.0    -7.8     -10.9      -7.4       0.9
33          Petroleum, petroleum products and                                                                                      
               related materials                          7.982    105.1       106.9     -9.4    -8.0      -8.6      -7.2       1.7
34          Gas, natural and manufactured                 1.048    113.9       109.2     -1.6    -7.4     -26.2      -9.5      -4.1
                                                                                                                                   
5          CHEMICALS AND RELATED PRODUCTS, N.E.S.         5.579     96.6        96.6     -3.2    -0.7      -0.1      -1.2       0.0
51          Organic chemicals                             1.592     96.6        96.7     -2.4    -0.2       0.5      -3.2       0.1
52          Inorganic chemicals                           0.688    101.1       101.1     -0.1    -0.5      -1.2      -0.4       0.0
53          Dyeing, tanning and coloring materials        0.288     97.1        96.8     -5.7    -2.0      -0.5       0.2      -0.3
54          Medicinal and pharmaceutical products         0.902     96.0        95.4     -4.6    -1.2      -0.6       0.0      -0.6
55          Essential oils; polishing and cleansing                                                                                
               preps                                      0.324     98.8        98.7     -3.7    -0.7      -0.5       0.6      -0.1
57          Plastics in primary forms                     0.356     89.6        90.9    -11.5    -2.2      -0.9      -2.2       1.5
58          Plastics in nonprimary forms                  0.543     86.1        86.0      0.0     0.0       0.5       0.0      -0.1
59          Chemical materials and products, n.e.s.       0.658    104.1       104.1     -3.4    -0.8      -0.1      -0.5       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
6          MANUFACTURED GOODS CLASSIFIED CHIEFLY                                                                                   
              BY MATERIAL                                12.434     95.9        96.1     -3.2     0.1       0.6      -0.1       0.2
62          Rubber manufactures, n.e.s.                   0.730     97.5        97.5     -2.9    -0.5      -0.5       0.1       0.0
63          Cork and wood manufactures other than                                                                                  
               furniture                                  0.559     99.5        99.3     n.a.     2.4      -1.3       0.3      -0.2
64          Paper, paperboard, and articles of                                                                                     
               paper pulp, paper or paper board           1.549     85.7        86.1    -15.3    -0.5       1.4       0.8       0.5
65          Textile yarn, fabrics, made-up                                                                                         
               articles, n.e.s., and related product      1.419    100.7       100.6      0.3    -0.3       0.1       0.2      -0.1
66          Nonmetallic mineral manufactures,                                                                                      
               n.e.s.                                     2.138    102.8       103.2      1.5     0.1      -0.4      -0.4       0.4
67          Iron and steel                                2.035     96.4        96.3     -1.6    -0.1       0.2       0.2      -0.1
68          Nonferrous metals                             1.866     90.6        91.4     -2.4     1.9       3.9      -0.5       0.9
69          Manufactures of metals, n.e.s.                1.974     98.9        98.7     -1.9    -0.4      -0.4      -0.6      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
7          MACHINERY AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT             47.053     95.8        95.3     -3.6    -0.3      -0.3      -0.7      -0.5
71          Power generating machinery and                                                                                         
               equipment (9612=100)                       2.982     99.5        99.2     n.a.     0.4      -0.3       0.0      -0.3
72          Machinery specialized for particular                                                                                   
               industries                                 2.679     99.2        98.9     -2.4    -0.5      -0.9      -0.5      -0.3
73          Metalworking machinery                        0.818     97.9        98.0     -3.4    -0.7      -2.4       0.1       0.1
74          General industrial machinery and equip-                                                                                
               ment, n.e.s. and machine parts, n.e.s      3.419     98.1        98.0     -2.6    -1.0      -1.1      -0.4      -0.1
75          Computer equipment and office machines        7.405     82.4        81.0    -12.8    -1.2      -1.8      -2.0      -1.7
76          Telecommunications & sound recording                                                                                   
               & reproducing apparatus & equipment        4.576     93.5        92.7     -4.9     0.0      -0.3      -1.0      -0.9
77          Electrical machinery and equipment            9.658     90.1        89.9     -6.5    -0.1       0.8      -0.9      -0.2
78          Road vehicles                                14.475    100.6       100.4     -0.2    -0.1       0.2      -0.2      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
8          MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES           17.438    100.3       100.5     -0.3    -0.1      -0.2       0.2       0.2
81          Prefabricated buildings; plumbing, heat                                                                                
               & lighting fixtures, n.e.s.                0.382     96.1        95.9     -5.5    -0.5      -2.7       0.1      -0.2
82          Furniture and parts thereof                   1.256    102.7       102.6      1.9    -0.1       0.5       0.3      -0.1
83          Travel goods, handbags and similar                                                                                     
               containers                                 0.502    101.2       101.2      0.4    -0.2       0.3      -0.2       0.0
84          Articles of apparel and clothing                                                                                       
               accessories                                5.804    102.7       103.7      2.3     0.2       0.4       0.8       1.0
85          Footwear                                      1.762    101.0       100.9     -0.4     0.3      -0.7       0.0      -0.1
87          Professional, scientific and controlling                                                                               
               instruments and apparatus, n.e.s.          1.586     97.0        96.7     -3.4    -0.7      -1.3      -0.4      -0.3
88          Photographic apparatus, equipment and                                                                                  
               supplies and optical goods, n.e.s.;        1.361     95.7        94.3     -4.0    -0.5      -0.7       0.4      -1.5
89          Miscellaneous manufactured articles,                                                                                   
               n.e.s.                                     4.784     99.7        99.7     -1.3    -0.1      -0.3      -0.1       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                       n.a.      Not available.        
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for February, March and April 1997                                                                                        
            have been revised to reflect the availability                                                                                 
            of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                                                               
            All data are subject to revision in each of the                                                                               
            three months after original publication.                                                                                      
        3  Product categories included in this group                                                                                      
            have been modified due to concordance                                                                                         
            or coverage limitations.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                          
        NOTE:   Published categories may include price data not shown separetely                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                                    

Table 4       U.S. Export Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, May 1996-May 1997                                     
                  1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                            
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
                                                         ance                           May     Jan.      Feb.      March     April
SITC      Description                                                                   1996    1997      1997      1997      1997 
Rev. 3                                                  April      April       May      to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1997       1997        1997     May     Feb.      March     April     May  
                                                        1/         2/                   1997    1997      1997      1997      1997 
                                                                                                                                   
          ALL COMMODITIES                               100.000     99.0        98.8     -2.8     0.2       0.1      -0.7      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
0          FOOD AND LIVE ANIMALS                          7.535     97.2        95.6    -23.3     1.6       1.0      -5.9      -1.6
01          Meat and meat preparations                    1.152     96.7        95.7     -2.7    -0.9       2.0       0.3      -1.0
03          Fish, crustaceans, aquatic invertebrates                                                                               
               and preparations                           0.530     87.5        85.9      0.0    -5.6      -1.2      -1.8      -1.8
04          Cereals and cereal preparations               2.628     89.1        84.9    -44.6     4.2       2.0     -15.1      -4.7
05          Vegetables, fruit and nuts,                                                                                            
               fresh or dried                             1.414     99.8       100.4     -3.2     0.5      -1.6      -0.5       0.6
08          Feeding stuff for animals (not                                                                                         
               including unmilled cereals)                0.881    126.3       127.7     -1.2     4.3       2.0       0.8       1.1
09          Miscellaneous edible products and                                                                                      
               preparations                               0.383    103.3       103.8     n.a.    -0.2      -0.1       0.0       0.5
       3/ Other food and live animals (9612=100)          0.547    103.2       102.9     n.a.     0.3       1.0       0.3      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
1          BEVERAGES ANB TOBACCO                          1.487    100.2       100.5      0.0    -0.1      -0.2       0.0       0.3
12          Tobacco and tobacco manufactures              1.226    100.0       100.4     n.a.    -0.1      -0.3      -0.1       0.4
                                                                                                                                   
2          CRUDE MATERIALS, INEDIBLE, EXCEPT FUELS        5.712     88.5        88.9     -1.3     2.4       1.1      -5.0       0.5
21          Hides, skins and furskins, raw                0.370    113.8       110.0     19.4     1.1       0.8      -1.6      -3.3
22          Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits               1.184    109.3       110.8    -14.1     5.5       5.1     -17.9       1.4
24          Cork and wood                                 0.977     94.2        94.2     -0.7     0.4      -2.3      -1.9       0.0
25          Pulp and waste paper                          0.677     58.9        60.6     16.5     6.3      -1.3       0.5       2.9
26          Textile fibers and their waste                0.826     83.5        83.3    -10.9    -0.1       2.4      -2.0      -0.2
27          Crude fertilizers and crude minerals          0.330     96.9        97.3     -1.3    -0.2      -0.7       0.0       0.4
28          Metalliferous ores and metal scrap            0.923     89.7        90.2     -0.6     2.2       0.9       0.1       0.6
       3/ Other crude materials, inedible, except                                                                                  
             fuels (9612=100)                             0.424    101.0       100.2     n.a.     0.3      -0.1      -1.6      -0.8
                                                                                                                                   
3          MINERAL FUELS, LUBRICANTS AND RELATED                                                                                   
              MATERIALS                                   2.130    110.7       110.7      0.0    -3.6      -0.8      -0.6       0.0
32          Coal, coke and briquettes                     0.692    102.3       102.2     -0.7    -0.4      -0.1       0.2      -0.1
33          Petroleum, petroleum products and                                                                                      
               related materials                          1.304    120.0       120.1      2.5    -4.4      -1.6       0.4       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
4          ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE OILS, FATS AND                                                                                     
              WAXES                                       0.437     93.4        93.6     -3.7     1.6      -1.1      -3.2       0.2
                                                                                                                                   
5          CHEMICALS AND RELATED PRODUCTS, N.E.S.        10.895     96.7        96.9     -0.5     0.2       0.6      -0.3       0.2
51          Organic chemicals                             2.565     85.2        85.3     -4.7     0.8       0.6      -1.3       0.1
52          Inorganic chemicals                           0.832     99.6        99.9     -2.7     0.3      -0.7       0.3       0.3
53          Dyeing, tanning and coloring materials        0.491    102.0       102.3      1.4     0.0       0.6      -0.4       0.3
54          Medicinal and pharmaceutical products         1.239    103.0       102.9      1.1    -0.2       1.0       0.8      -0.1
55          Essential oils; polishing and cleansing                                                                                
               preps                                      0.747    102.3       102.8      2.3     1.1      -0.3       0.1       0.5
56          Fertilizers (9612=100)                        0.552     94.3        95.0     n.a.    -2.5      -1.8      -2.0       0.7
57          Plastics in primary forms                     1.899     97.8        97.5      2.1     1.1       2.1       0.0      -0.3
58          Plastics in nonprimary forms                  0.818     98.6        99.5      0.4    -0.7       0.4      -0.2       0.9
59          Chemical materials and products, n.e.s.       1.752    104.0       104.3      2.5     0.1       0.4       0.5       0.3
                                                                                                                                   
6          MANUFACTURED GOODS CLASSIFIED CHIEFLY                                                                                   
              BY MATERIAL                                 9.608     97.8        97.7     -0.8     0.4       0.1       0.2      -0.1
62          Rubber manufactures, n.e.s.                   0.668    103.0       103.1      0.6    -0.3       0.1       0.3       0.1
63          Cork and wood manufactures other than                                                                                  
               furniture                                  0.288     91.0        90.3     -2.4     0.7       1.1      -1.8      -0.8
64          Paper, paperboard, and articles of                                                                                     
               paper pulp, paper or paperboard            1.475     82.3        82.8     -7.5    -0.5      -0.1      -1.0       0.6
65          Textile yarn, fabrics, made-up                                                                                         
               articles, n.e.s., and related product      1.409    103.7       103.1     n.a.     0.1      -1.0       2.0      -0.6
66          Nonmetallic mineral manufactures,                                                                                      
               n.e.s.                                     1.284    104.0       104.1      2.1     0.1      -0.1       0.0       0.1
67          Iron and steel                                1.101    103.3       103.1     n.a.     0.1       0.4      -0.2      -0.2
68          Nonferrous metals                             1.272     92.0        91.6     -3.4     2.8      -0.8       0.3      -0.4
69          Manufactures of metals, n.e.s.                1.953    104.0       103.7      1.5     0.6       1.0       0.8      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
7          MACHINERY AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT             50.245    100.6       100.5     -0.1    -0.1       0.0       0.1      -0.1
71          Power generating machinery and                                                                                         
               equipment                                  4.229    106.3       106.5      2.8     0.1       0.4       0.7       0.2
72          Machinery specialized for particular                                                                                   
               industries                                 4.599    103.8       104.3      1.3     0.1      -0.1       0.1       0.5
73          Metalworking machinery                        0.942    104.6       103.8      2.3     1.1       1.3      -0.2      -0.8
74          General industrial machinery and equip-                                                                                
               ment, n.e.s. and machine parts, n.e.s      4.931    104.6       104.4      2.5     0.4       0.3       0.5      -0.2
75          Computer equipment and office machines        6.745     86.4        85.6     -8.7    -0.9      -0.3      -0.2      -0.9
76          Telecommunications & sound recording                                                                                   
               & reproducing apparatus & equipment        3.781     99.9        99.6     -1.1    -0.6      -0.3       0.0      -0.3
77          Electrical machinery and equipment           11.827     96.9        96.9     -2.9    -0.1      -0.2       0.2       0.0
78          Road vehicles                                 8.986    101.9       101.7      0.8    -0.1       0.3       0.1      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
8          MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES           11.098    101.4       101.6      1.2     0.1       0.0      -0.1       0.2
82          Furniture and parts thereof                   0.621    102.6       103.9      2.6     0.3       0.1       0.0       1.3
84          Articles of apparel and clothing                                                                                       
               accessories                                1.240    101.4       101.4     n.a.     0.4       0.1       0.0       0.0
87          Professional, scientific and controlling                                                                               
               instruments and apparatus, n.e.s.          3.656    103.1       103.4      2.4     0.3       0.1      -0.7       0.3
88          Photographic apparatus, equipment and                                                                                  
               supplies and optical goods, n.e.s.         0.926     97.5        99.1     n.a.    -0.2      -0.3      -0.9       1.6
89          Miscellaneous manufactured articles,                                                                                   
               n.e.s.                                     4.204    100.6       100.3     -0.1    -0.2       0.0       0.6      -0.3
       3/ Other miscellaneous manufactured                                                                                         
             articles (9612=100)                          0.451    100.8       100.9     n.a.    -0.1       0.0       0.1       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                     n.a.      Not available.          
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for February, March and April 1997                                                                                        
            have been revised to reflect the availability                                                                                 
            of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                                                               
            All data are subject to revision in each of the                                                                               
            three months after original publication.                                                                                      
        3  Product categories included in this group                                                                                      
            have been modified due to concordance                                                                                         
            or coverage limitations.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                          
        NOTE:  Published categories may include price data not shown separately                                                           
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                                    

Table 5       U.S. Import Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, May 1996-May 1997                                     
                 1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                             
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
Harmo-                                                   ance                           May     Jan.      Feb.      March     April
nized     Description                                                                   1996    1997      1997      1997      1997 
System                                                  April      April       May      to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1997       1997        1997     May     Feb.      March     April     May  
                                                        1/         2/                   1997    1997      1997      1997      1997 
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
I          LIVE ANIMALS; ANIMAL PRODUCTS                  1.527    100.2       102.3      8.4     1.7       1.3       0.6       2.1
02          Meat and edible meat offal                    0.277    100.0        98.3     10.0     0.4       6.1       1.1      -1.7
03          Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and                                                                                     
               other aquatic invertebrates                0.863    100.9       102.5      7.1     1.8      -0.4       0.6       1.6
       3/ Other live animals and animal                                                                                            
             products (9612=100)                          0.388    101.1       106.9     n.a.     2.2       2.0       0.4       5.7
                                                                                                                                   
II         VEGETABLE PRODUCTS                             1.560     91.5        97.9      0.1     9.5       3.4      -6.5       7.0
07          Edible vegetables and certain roots and                                                                                
               tubers                                     0.263     98.3       112.5     -5.1    11.9      26.4     -21.2      14.4
08          Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus                                                                                  
               fruit or melons                            0.465    104.5       104.2      1.3    -1.9       0.4      -2.3      -0.3
09          Coffee, tea, mate and spices                  0.424     88.1        97.5     14.8    11.0      14.1      -1.8      10.7
       3/   Other vegetable products                      0.408     95.0       101.4     -2.9    20.0     -14.0      -4.6       6.7
                                                                                                                                   
IV         PREPARED FOODSTUFFS, BEVERAGES, AND                                                                                     
              TOBACCO                                     2.049    101.4       101.5     -2.5    -0.2      -0.8       0.6       0.1
20          Preparations of vegetables, fruit,                                                                                     
               nuts, or other parts of plants             0.276     93.0        93.3    -17.1    -2.5      -1.5      -2.9       0.3
22          Beverages, spirits, and vinegar               0.735    103.4       103.2      2.0     0.0      -0.1       0.5      -0.2
       3/   Other prepared foodstuffs (9612=100)          1.038    100.0       100.3     n.a.     0.2      -1.0       1.7       0.3
                                                                                                                                   
V          MINERAL PRODUCTS                               9.745    105.4       106.2     -9.0    -7.5     -10.8      -7.1       0.8
26          Ores, slag and ash                            0.296    103.8       103.8      6.6     0.2       0.6       3.9       0.0
27          Mineral fuels, oils and residuals,                                                                                     
               bituminous substances and mineral wax      9.220    105.4       106.3     -9.6    -7.8     -11.3      -7.5       0.9
                                                                                                                                   
VI         PRODUCTS OF THE CHEMICAL OR ALLIED                                                                                      
              INDUSTRIES                                  5.249    100.1       100.0     -2.0    -0.6       0.0      -0.8      -0.1
28          Inorganic chemicals                           0.866    105.5       105.4      1.9    -0.1       0.6       0.0      -0.1
29          Organic chemicals                             1.996     96.3        96.5     -3.3    -0.7       0.4      -2.9       0.2
30          Pharmaceutical products                       0.548    101.7       101.8     -0.2    -1.1      -0.5       0.6       0.1
32          Tanning & dyeing extracts; dye &                                                                                       
               pigments; varnish & paints; putty          0.287     96.1        95.6     -6.7    -2.7      -0.3       0.3      -0.5
37          Photographic or cinematographic goods         0.361    100.7       100.4      0.6     0.0       1.0       1.8      -0.3
38          Miscellaneaous chemical products                                                                                       
               (9612=100)                                 0.416     99.1        98.6     n.a.    -1.1      -1.2       0.4      -0.5
       3/   Other products of the chemical or                                                                                      
             allied industries (9612=100)                 0.776    100.1        99.7     n.a.     0.4      -0.6       0.3      -0.4
                                                                                                                                   
VII        PLASTICS AND ARTICLES THEREOF; RUBBER                                                                                   
              AND ARTICLES THEREOF                        2.807     93.1        93.0     -3.4    -0.6       0.1      -0.9      -0.1
39          Plastics and articles thereof                 1.714     94.2        94.6     -1.7    -0.6       0.6      -0.7       0.4
40          Rubber and articles thereof                   1.093     91.6        90.7     -5.9    -0.6      -0.5      -1.1      -1.0
                                                                                                                                   
VIII       RAW HIDES, SKINS, LEATHER, FURSKINS,                                                                                    
              TRAVEL GOODS, ETC                           0.998    103.4       104.0      2.4    -0.5       0.0      -0.4       0.6
42          Articles of leather; travel goods, bags,                                                                               
               etc. of various materials                  0.803    101.5       101.8      1.2    -0.2       0.1       0.1       0.3
                                                                                                                                   
IX         WOOD, WOOD CHARCOAL, CORK, STRAW, BASKET                                                                                
              AND WICKER                                  1.734    113.5       114.9     10.0     3.1       0.1      -1.0       1.2
                                                                                                                                   
X          WOOD PULP, WASTE AND SCRAP PAPER, PAPER                                                                                 
              AND ARTICLES THEREOF                        2.276     82.8        83.3     -8.6     0.0       0.4       0.1       0.6
47          Pulp wood or other fibrous cellulosic                                                                                  
               material; waste paper/paperboard           0.354     64.6        65.2      7.6     0.0      -1.1      -2.0       0.9
48          Paper and paperboard; articles of paper                                                                                
               pulp, paper or paperboard                  1.570     86.9        87.3    -14.0    -0.5       1.2       0.7       0.5
49          Printed matter                                0.353    100.7       101.9      1.4     2.1      -1.7      -0.2       1.2
                                                                                                                                   
XI         TEXTILE AND TEXTILE ARTICLES                   6.865    101.8       102.8      1.9     0.2       0.4       0.7       1.0
61          Articles of apparel and clothing                                                                                       
               accessories, knitted or crocheted          2.030    101.9       102.0      0.3    -0.2       0.6       0.7       0.1
62          Articles of apparel and clothing                                                                                       
               accessories, not knitted or crocheted      3.290    103.4       105.5      3.8     0.8       0.3       1.0       2.0
63          Made-up or worn textile articles and                                                                                   
               clothing; needlecraft sets; rags           0.342     98.1        98.2     -2.7    -1.4       0.6      -0.3       0.1
       3/   Other textile & textile                                                                                                
             articles (9612=100)                          1.203    101.1       100.9     n.a.    -0.1       0.4       0.2      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
XII        FOOTWEAR, HEADGEAR, UMBRELLAS, WHIPS,                                                                                   
              ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS, ETC.                    2.055    101.1       101.1     -0.2     0.2      -0.6       0.1       0.0
64          Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts                                                                                  
               of such articles                           1.770    100.8       100.7     -0.6     0.2      -0.8       0.0      -0.1
       3/ Other footwear, headgear, umbrellas,                                                                                     
             whips, art. flowers, etc. (9612=100)         0.285    101.3       101.5     n.a.     0.0       0.2       1.1       0.2
                                                                                                                                   
XIII       STONE, PLASTER, CEMENT, ASBESTOS,CERAMIC                                                                                
              GLASS ETC.                                  1.146    103.3       103.5      0.6     0.0      -0.7      -0.4       0.2
69          Ceramic products                              0.437    101.0       100.6     n.a.    -0.4      -0.3      -0.8      -0.4
70          Glass and glassware                           0.451    104.8       104.6      0.9     1.0      -2.1       1.0      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
XIV        PEARLS, STONES, PRECIOUS METALS,                                                                                        
              IIITATION JEWELRY, AND COINS                2.153     97.3        97.7     -2.1    -1.1       0.9      -0.1       0.4
                                                                                                                                   
XV         BASE METALS AND ARTICLES OF BASE METAL         5.838     95.1        95.2     -1.9     0.9       0.4      -0.1       0.1
72          Iron and steel                                1.741     95.3        95.1     -1.5     0.1       0.5       0.1      -0.2
73          Articles of iron or steel                     1.294     98.4        98.2     -2.7    -0.6      -0.6      -0.3      -0.2
74          Copper and articles thereof                   0.461     86.0        83.4     -7.3     3.1       1.4       0.8      -3.0
76          Aluminum and articles thereof                 0.958     92.4        92.7      0.2     3.4      -0.1      -1.0       0.3
83          Miscellaneous articles of base metal          0.414    102.7       102.5      1.7     0.4       0.0       0.1      -0.2
       3/   Miscellaneous nonferrous metals and                                                                                    
             articles, including scrap (9612=100)         0.534    107.4       111.7     n.a.     2.3       3.9       2.6       4.0
                                                                                                                                   
XVI        MACHINERY, ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, TV                                                                                     
              IMAGE & SOUND RECORDERS, PARTS, ETC.       30.835     92.1        91.5     -6.2    -0.4      -0.4      -1.3      -0.7
84          Specialized machinery & computer                                                                                       
               equipment                                 16.203     93.3        92.6     -5.6    -0.7      -1.3      -1.5      -0.8
85          Electrical machinery and equip, sound                                                                                  
               and TV recorders & reproducers, parts     14.632     90.7        90.3     -6.7    -0.1       0.4      -1.1      -0.4
                                                                                                                                   
XVII       VEHICLES, AIRCRAFT, VESSELS AND                                                                                         
              ASSOCIATED TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT             15.649    100.7       100.5     -0.1     0.0       0.1      -0.3      -0.2
87          Motor vehicles and their parts               14.796    100.6       100.3     -0.3    -0.1       0.1      -0.1      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
XVIII      OPTICAL, PHOTO, MEASURING, MEDICAL &                                                                                    
              MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; CLOCKS & WATCHES       3.553     94.9        94.1     -4.6    -0.4      -1.1      -0.1      -0.8
90          Optical, photographic, measuring and                                                                                   
               medical instruments                        3.036     94.8        93.9     -4.6    -0.4      -1.0      -0.2      -0.9
91          Clocks and watches and parts thereof          0.375     94.7        94.0     -5.9    -0.8      -1.8      -0.2      -0.7
                                                                                                                                   
XX         MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES            3.692    100.0        99.7     -1.0    -0.4      -0.3       0.3      -0.3
94          Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps                                                                                  
               and lighting fittings nes;                 1.583    100.0        99.8     -0.3    -0.2      -0.2       0.2      -0.2
95          Toys, games and sports equipment; parts                                                                                
               and accessories thereof                    1.823    100.8       100.7     -1.1    -0.3      -0.2       0.1      -0.1
96          Miscellaneous manufactured articles           0.286     94.9        93.1     -4.1    -2.1      -0.3       1.1      -1.9
                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                                                       
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for February, March and April 1997                                                                                        
            have been revised to reflect the availability                                                                                 
            of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                                                               
            All data are subject to revision in each of                                                                                   
            the three months after original publication.                                                                                  
        3  Product categories included in this group                                                                                      
            have been modified due to concordance                                                                                         
            or coverage limitations.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                          
        NOTE:  Published categories may include price data not shown separately                                                           
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
Table 6       U.S. Export Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, May 1996-May 1997                                     
                  1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                            
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
Harmo-                                                   ance                           May     Jan.      Feb.      March     April
nized     Description                                                                   1996    1997      1997      1997      1997 
System                                                  April      April       May      to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1997       1997        1997     May     Feb.      March     April     May  
                                                        1/         2/                   1997    1997      1997      1997      1997 
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
I          LIVE ANIMALS; ANIMAL PRODUCTS                  1.902     95.5        94.5      1.8    -2.4       0.6      -0.4      -1.0
02          Meat & edible meat offal                      1.071     94.7        93.6     -4.3    -0.9       1.9       0.4      -1.2
03          Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and                                                                                     
               other aquatic invertebrates                0.470     85.3        84.4     -0.7    -7.2      -1.2      -2.0      -1.1
       3/ Other live animals and animal                                                                                            
             products (9612=100)                          0.361     99.4        98.5     n.a.     0.3      -0.4      -0.7      -0.9
                                                                                                                                   
II         VEGETABLE PRODUCTS                             5.059     94.9        93.1    -32.9     3.4       2.2     -12.7      -1.9
07          Edible vegetables and certain roots and                                                                                
               tubers                                     0.296     93.9        94.7     -5.5    -1.1       0.7      -2.4       0.9
08          Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus                                                                                  
               fruit or melons                            0.715     97.9        98.7     -5.0     1.4      -3.0      -0.2       0.8
10          Cereals                                       2.396     87.5        82.9    -47.2     4.5       2.1     -16.3      -5.3
12          Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds,                                                                                      
               fruits, plants, straw and fodder           1.372    110.2       111.2    -12.0     4.2       4.6     -15.7       0.9
                                                                                                                                   
III        ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE FATS AND OILS              0.470     93.5        93.8     -5.3     2.0      -1.4      -2.8       0.3
                                                                                                                                   
IV         PREPARED FOODSTUFFS, BEVERAGES, AND                                                                                     
              TOBACCO                                     3.602    105.7       105.7     -0.9     1.0       0.1       0.2       0.0
20          Preparations of vegetables, fruit,                                                                                     
               nuts, or other parts of plants             0.388    109.3       107.1      1.3     2.4      -0.5      -0.2      -2.0
21          Miscellaneous edible preparations             0.355    104.1       104.5      2.0    -0.3       0.0       0.0       0.4
22          Beverages, spirits, and vinegar               0.330    100.0        99.7     n.a.    -0.5       0.2       0.1      -0.3
23          Residues and waste from the food                                                                                       
               industries; prepared animal feed           0.798    123.5       124.2     -4.7     4.1       0.8       0.7       0.6
24          Tobacco and manufactured tobacco                                                                                       
               substitutes                                1.232    100.0       100.4     n.a.    -0.1      -0.3      -0.1       0.4
       3/   Other prepared foods                          0.499    100.8       100.4     n.a.    -0.5      -0.1       0.6      -0.4
                                                                                                                                   
V          MINERAL PRODUCTS                               2.749    108.7       108.7      1.1    -2.0      -1.1      -0.5       0.0
27          Mineral fuels, oils and residuals,                                                                                     
               bituminous substances and mineral wax      2.202    112.7       112.8      1.3    -2.9      -1.0      -0.6       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
VI         PRODUCTS OF THE CHEMICAL OR ALLIED                                                                                      
              INDUSTRIES                                  8.822     97.2        97.5     -1.0     0.3       0.1      -0.4       0.3
28          Inorganic chemicals                           0.922    101.7       101.9     -1.4     0.5      -0.9       0.5       0.2
29          Organic chemicals                             2.889     89.0        89.1     -4.1     1.0       0.3      -0.7       0.1
30          Pharmaceutical products                       0.895    102.6       102.5      1.7    -0.3       1.4       0.2      -0.1
31          Fertilizers (9612=100)                        0.613     94.3        95.0     n.a.    -2.5      -1.8      -2.0       0.7
32          Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes and                                                                                   
               pigments; paints & varnish; putty;ink      0.500    101.7       102.0      1.0     0.0       0.6      -0.4       0.3
33          Essential oils and resinoids;                                                                                          
               perfumery, cosmetic or toilet              0.525    102.8       103.5      3.0     1.9       0.0       0.0       0.7
34          Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or                                                                                  
               scouring products; candles, pastes         0.306    101.0       101.3      1.2    -0.2      -0.5       0.1       0.3
37          Photographic or cinematographic goods         0.424     94.8        94.9     -0.5    -0.5      -0.5      -2.0       0.1
38          Miscellaneous chemical products               1.531    103.8       104.1      1.9     0.1       0.5       0.3       0.3
                                                                                                                                   
VII        PLASTICS AND ARTICLES THEREOF; RUBBER                                                                                   
              AND ARTICLES THEREOF                        4.378     98.5        98.6      0.8     0.5       1.0      -0.2       0.1
39          Plastics and articles thereof                 3.475     98.0        98.2      0.8     0.3       1.3      -0.1       0.2
40          Rubber and articles thereof                   0.903    100.3       100.2      0.6     0.9      -0.1      -0.6      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
VIII       RAW HIDES, SKINS, LEATHER, FURSKINS,                                                                                    
              TRAVEL GOODS, ETC.                          0.604    104.1       102.6     10.7     0.5      -0.4      -0.9      -1.4
41          Raw hides and skins (other than                                                                                        
               furskins) and leather                      0.440    102.0        99.7      9.9     0.6       2.0      -1.1      -2.3
                                                                                                                                   
IX         WOOD, WOOD CHARCOAL, CORK, STRAW, BASKET                                                                                
              AND WICKER                                  1.291     94.2        94.0     -0.6     0.5      -1.5      -1.8      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
X          WOOD PULP, WASTE AND SCRAP PAPER, PAPER                                                                                 
              AND ARTICLES THEREOF                        2.816     74.7        75.7     -0.9    -0.3      -0.5      -0.8       1.3
47          Pulp wood or other fibrous cellulosic                                                                                  
               material; waste paper/paperboard           0.622     56.3        57.4      7.3     1.2      -2.1      -0.2       2.0
48          Paper and paperboard; articles of paper                                                                                
               pulp, paper or paperboard                  1.426     81.9        82.6     -8.3    -0.7       0.4      -1.8       0.9
49          Printed material                              0.768    104.0       105.7      2.9    -0.9      -1.0       0.6       1.6
                                                                                                                                   
XI         TEXTILE AND TEXTILE ARTICLES                   3.226     93.7        93.4     -4.4     0.0       0.2       0.3      -0.3
52          Cotton, including yarns and woven                                                                                      
               fabrics thereof                            0.711     83.2        83.0    -12.1    -0.2       0.5      -1.5      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
XIII       STONE, PLASTER, CEMENT, ASBESTOS,                                                                                       
              CERAMIC, GLASS ETC.                         0.842    103.2       103.3     n.a.     0.0      -0.1       0.0       0.1
70          Glass and glassware                           0.482    101.1       101.0     n.a.    -0.3      -0.1       0.0      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
XIV        PEARLS, STONES, PRECIOUS METALS,                                                                                        
              IMITATION JEWELRY, AND COINS                1.882     97.8        97.0     -4.2    -2.2      -0.5       1.0      -0.8
                                                                                                                                   
XV         BASE METALS AND ARTICLES OF BASE METALS        4.624     96.9        96.4     -1.7     1.2       0.8       0.5      -0.5
72          Iron and steel                                0.975     94.6        93.6     -4.7     0.6       0.3       0.5      -1.1
73          Articles of iron or steel                     1.231    106.5       106.1      2.0     0.2       2.9       0.5      -0.4
74          Copper and articles thereof                   0.458     88.3        87.4     -8.3     1.2       2.1       0.9      -1.0
76          Aluminum and articles thereof                 0.876     89.0        88.9     -1.8     3.2      -0.4       0.1      -0.1
82          Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and                                                                                 
               forks, of base metal; parts thereof        0.408    103.2       103.0     n.a.     0.5      -0.3      -0.4      -0.2
83          Miscellaneous articles of base metal          0.369    100.1        99.8      1.8     0.2       0.0       0.6      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
XVI        MACHINERY, ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, TV                                                                                     
              IMAGE AND SOUND RECORDERS, PARTS, ETC      36.978     98.1        97.9     -2.0    -0.3      -0.1       0.1      -0.2
84          Specialized machinery & computer                                                                                       
               equipment                                 20.373     98.5        98.3     -1.5    -0.1      -0.1       0.1      -0.2
85          Electrical machinery and equip, sound                                                                                  
               & tv recorders & reproducers, parts       16.605     97.6        97.4     -2.7    -0.6       0.0       0.1      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
XVII       VEHICLES, AIRCRAFT, VESSELS AND                                                                                         
              ASSOCIATED TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT             13.459    103.9       103.8      2.3     0.0       0.2       0.1      -0.1
87          Motor vehicles and their parts                9.403    101.9       101.8      0.8    -0.1       0.3       0.0      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
XVIII      OPTICAL, PHOTO, MEASURING, MEDICAL &                                                                                    
              MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; CLOCKS & WATCHES       5.329    102.1       102.3      1.4     0.3      -0.3      -0.2       0.2
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
XX         MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES            1.750    101.7       102.3      1.3     0.0       0.1       0.0       0.6
94          Furniture; stuffed furnishings;                                                                                        
               lamps and lighting fittings nesoi;         0.856    102.8       104.0      2.4     0.3       0.0       0.0       1.2
95          Toys, games and sports equipment; parts                                                                                
               and accessories thereof                    0.722    100.5       100.5      0.1    -0.1       0.1      -0.1       0.0
                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                                                       
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for February, March and April 1997                                                                                        
            have been revised to reflect the availability                                                                                 
            of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                                                               
            All data are subject to revision in each of                                                                                   
            the three months after original publication.                                                                                  
        3  Product categories included in this group                                                                                      
            have been modified due to concordance                                                                                         
            or coverage limitations.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                          
        NOTE:  Published categories may include price data not shown separately                                                           
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
   Table  7    U.S. Import Price Indexes and Percent Changes by Locality of Origin,May 1996-May 1997                                       
          1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                           
                                                                  Index                    Percent Change                    
                                                   Percentage                                                                                          
                                                      of                            Annual                  Monthly                                     
                                                    US Imports                    May     Jan.         Feb.        March    April  
    Description 1/                                                                1996    1997         1997        1997     1997   
                                                    1995       April     May      to      to           to          to       to     
                                                               1997      1997     May     Feb.         March       April    May    
                                                               2/                 1997    1997         1997        1997     1997   
                                                                                                                                   
3/  Developed Countries                                55.6     97.5      97.4     -2.9    -1.0         -1.1        -0.8     -0.1  
      Manufactured Goods                               52.2     97.3      97.0     -2.6    -0.4         -0.4        -0.4     -0.3  
      Nonmanufactured Goods                             3.1    103.8     106.9     -5.6    -8.2        -11.0        -6.9      3.0  
                                                                                                                                   
3/  Developing Countries                               42.7    102.0     102.2     -0.6    -1.1         -0.9        -1.2      0.2  
      Manufactured Goods                               35.4    100.1      99.9     -0.7    -0.2          0.2        -0.2     -0.2  
      Nonmanufactured Goods                             7.1    105.5     108.0     -3.3    -5.1         -5.6        -5.7      2.4  
                                                                                                                                   
    Canada                                             18.9     99.0      99.2     -0.9    -1.7         -1.2        -0.7      0.2  
      Manufactured Goods                               16.5     98.6      98.5      0.1     0.1          0.8        -0.1     -0.1  
      Nonmanufactured Goods                             2.2    105.2     107.9     -6.1   -11.2        -12.9        -5.1      2.6  
                                                                                                                                   
4/  European Union                                     17.0    101.0     101.1     -1.3    -0.4         -1.0        -0.6      0.1  
      Manufactured Goods                               16.4    100.8     100.8     -1.2    -0.5         -0.7        -0.2      0.0  
      Nonmanufactured Goods                             0.5    107.8     112.6     -4.8     1.5         -6.1       -12.9      4.5  
                                                                                                                                   
    Japan                                              16.6     93.5      92.8     -5.6    -0.6         -0.4        -0.7     -0.7  
                                                                                                                                   
5/  Asian Newly Industrialized Countries               10.9     96.4      96.2     -2.8    -0.2          0.0         0.1     -0.2  
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
1    Regions are not mutually exclusive.                                              
                                                                                      
2    Data for February, March and April 1997                                          
     have been revised to reflect the availability                                    
     of late reports and corrections by respondents.                                  
                                                                                      
3    Defined according to the Standard Census Definition.                             
                                                                                      
4    Includes EU  15 countries                                                        
                                                                                      
5    Includes Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan.                          
                                                                                      
   Table  8     U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Services.                              
        March 1996-March 1997  1995 = 100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                    
                                                                 Index                             Percent Change                    
                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                  Annual          Quarterly                                   
                                                    Trade                         March   March    June        Sept.    Dec.   
    Description                                     (Mil.                         1996    1996     1996        1996     1996   
                                                    of         Dec.      March    to      to       to          to       to     
                                                    Dollars)   1996      1997     March   June     Sept.       Dec.     March  
                                                                                  1997    1996     1996        1996     1997   
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
    IMPORT                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                               
    Air Freight                                     3188        95.6      90.1     -8.4    -1.3     -0.3        -1.2     -5.8  
     Atlantic                                       1278        98.2      91.2     -7.9    -2.5      2.0        -0.2     -7.1  
     Pacific                                        1674        94.8      90.5     -8.5    -0.8     -1.4        -2.0     -4.5  
                                                                                                                               
    Air Passenger Fares                             11127      100.0     101.2      4.1     7.5     -1.4        -2.9      1.2  
1/   Atlantic                                       4922        98.4     100.7      4.9    10.5     -0.3        -7.0      2.3  
1/   Pacific                                        2340        99.0      98.1      2.3     5.7     -9.2         7.5     -0.9  
1/   Latin American / Caribbean                     3021       104.1     107.0      4.4     0.1      1.4         0.1      2.8  
                                                                                                                               
1/  Crude Oil Tanker Freight (1990 = 100)           1985       122.0      n.a.     n.a.    -1.4    -11.3         6.4     n.a.  
                                                                                                                               
    Ocean Liner Freight                             9868        98.6      98.0     -4.0    -1.9     -1.3        -0.3     -0.6  
     U.S. East Coast                                4271       101.7     100.5     -2.2    -1.1     -0.1         0.1     -1.2  
      from Atlantic                                 1952       102.9     100.4     -4.5    -2.2      0.2        -0.1     -2.4  
      from Pacific                                  1774       100.4     100.2     -0.4    -0.2     -0.2         0.2     -0.2  
     U.S. West Coast                                5596        95.7      95.4     -6.0    -2.8     -2.4        -0.6     -0.3  
      from Pacific                                  5126        94.9      95.0     -6.2    -3.1     -2.5        -0.8      0.1  
                                                                                                                               
    EXPORT                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                               
    Air Freight (12/96 = 100)                       2562       100.0      98.5     n.a.    n.a.     n.a.        n.a.     -1.5  
                                                                                                                               
    Air Passenger Fares                             17272       99.7      96.7     -1.3     1.4      3.5        -3.1     -3.0  
1/   Atlantic                                       4120       104.7      98.7     -0.5     5.7      8.3        -7.8     -5.7  
1/   Pacific                                        10700       89.6      87.1     -9.4    -2.5      0.2        -4.6     -2.8  
     Latin American / Caribbean                     1392       101.6     101.8      0.7    -1.1      0.8         0.8      0.2  
     Canadian                                       1006       145.8     146.2     41.7     4.5      7.1        26.3      0.3  
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
    1     Detailed data available upon request.                          n.a.    N                                             
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
   Table  9    U.S. International Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Services.                                   
        March 1996-March 1997    1995 = 100,  unless otherwise noted                                                                                                 
                                                                 Index                             Percent Change                    
                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                  Annual          Quarterly                                   
                                                    Trade                         March   March    June        Sept.    Dec.   
    Description                                     (Mil.                         1996    1996     1996        1996     1996   
                                                    of         Dec.      March    to      to       to          to       to     
                                                    Dollars)   1996      1997     March   June     Sept.       Dec.     March  
                                                                                  1997    1996     1996        1996     1997   
                                                                                                                               
    Air Freight (Inbound)                           5495        95.0      89.5     -6.7    -0.8      0.5        -0.6     -5.8  
     Atlantic                                       1880        96.6      89.7     -5.5    -1.8      1.8         1.8     -7.1  
     Pacific                                        3151        94.0      89.8     -7.1    -0.5     -0.6        -1.7     -4.5  
                                                                                                                               
    Air Freight (Outbound)                          5835        99.2      99.8      0.7     0.3     -0.5         0.3      0.6  
     Atlantic                                       2080        99.0      99.9      1.8     0.8     -0.2         0.3      0.9  
     Pacific                                        3222       100.2     100.3     -0.4     0.0     -0.9         0.4      0.1  
                                                                                                                               
    Air Passenger Fares (U.S. Carrier)              30673      101.6      99.8      1.5     6.1      2.9        -5.3     -1.8  
1/   Atlantic                                       8811        99.6      97.3      1.6    13.4      6.0       -13.5     -2.3  
1/   Pacific                                        15900       95.0      92.7     -6.0     1.7     -1.7        -3.7     -2.4  
1/   Latin American / Caribbean                     4542       102.9     105.1      2.2    -0.1      0.2         0.0      2.1  
     Canadian                                       1367       153.6     150.0     44.4     2.8     15.7        24.3     -2.3  
                                                                                                                               
    Air Passenger Fares (Foreign Carrier)           31694      100.7      98.9      2.7     7.0      2.4        -4.5     -1.8  
1/   Atlantic                                       13572      100.3      97.6      1.6    10.2      4.0        -8.9     -2.7  
1/   Pacific                                        12570       94.2      92.3     -0.4     4.5     -2.6        -0.2     -2.0  
1/   Latin American / Caribbean                     4224       103.6     105.8      3.5    -0.1      1.3         0.2      2.1  
                                                                                                                               
1/  Crude Oil Tanker Freight (Inbound)                                                                                         
       (1990 = 100)                                 2153       122.1      n.a.     n.a.    -1.9    -11.0         8.1     n.a.  
                                                                                                                               
    Ocean Liner Freight (Inbound)                   12253       98.4      97.6     -3.8    -1.9     -1.6         0.4     -0.8  
     U.S. East Coast                                5410       101.7      99.8     -2.5    -0.9     -0.8         1.0     -1.9  
      from Atlantic                                 2647       101.4      99.4     -4.6    -1.6     -1.4         0.3     -2.0  
      from Pacific                                  1874        98.5      98.4     -0.7    -0.5     -0.2         0.1     -0.1  
     U.S. West Coast                                6844        95.4      95.4     -5.4    -3.0     -2.5         0.0      0.0  
      from Pacific                                  6347        94.8      95.1     -5.5    -3.2     -2.5        -0.2      0.3  
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
    1     Detailed data available upon request.                          n.a.    N                                             
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
                                                                     
                           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

         
                              IPP Order Form
                                                                                                                                        
Please add my name to the mailing list for the following publications.

1. Monthly News Release            ______

2. Harmonized System Indexes       ______

3. SITC Indexes                    ______

4. BEA End-Use Indexes             ______
     

Name______________________________________________

Address___________________________________________
              ____________________________________
              ____________________________________ 
              ____________________________________
     
Phone Number  (           ) ______________________