Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until 

8:30 a.m. (EST) Thursday, November 10, 2011 

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

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

USDL-11-1613

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

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

recording no change in September. Decreasing prices for both nonfuel and fuel imports contributed to the 

October drop. Export prices fell 2.1 percent in October, the largest monthly decline since a 2.2 percent 

decrease in December 2008. 

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

 Percent change 

1.1

1.7

1.4 1.5 1.7

3.0

2.6

0.1

-0.6

0.1

-0.4

0.0

-0.6

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

4

Oct'10 Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct'11

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

 Percent change

3.9 4.1

5.3 5.6

7.6

10.3

11.9

12.9

13.6 13.7

12.9 12.9

11.0

0

4

8

12

16

Oct'10 Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct'11
 

All Imports: Import prices fell for the third time in five months in October, declining 0.6 percent for the 

month. The decrease matched a 0.6 percent decline in June, the largest one-month drop since the index fell 

1.2 percent in June 2010. The price index for overall imports fell 1.4 percent over the past five months, 

primarily driven down over that period by declining fuel prices. Despite the recent decreases, import prices 

advanced 11.0 percent over the past year. 

Fuel Imports: Fuel prices fell 1.3 percent in October, following declines of 0.7 percent in September and 

2.1 percent in August. Approximately 73 percent of the October decrease was attributable to a 1.0 percent 

drop in petroleum prices, and a 10.9 percent decline in natural gas prices was also a contributing factor. 

Despite the recent declines, fuel prices increased 33.8 percent for the year ended in October. Petroleum and 

natural gas prices advanced 36.0 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively, over the past 12 months. 

All Imports Excluding Fuel: The price index for nonfuel imports declined 0.2 percent in October, the first 

monthly decrease in the index since a 0.3 percent drop in July 2010. The October decline followed 0.2 

percent increases in each of the previous three months, and was led by falling prices for nonfuel industrial 

supplies and materials, capital goods, and foods, feeds, and beverages, which more than offset rising prices 

for consumer goods and automotive vehicles. Nonfuel import prices rose 4.9 percent for the year ended in 

October. 

Table A. Percent changes 

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

 Percent change 

0.8

1.5

0.7

1.3 1.3 1.5

0.8

0.4

0.1

-0.4

0.5 0.4

-2.1

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

Oct'10 Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct'11

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

 Percent change

5.8

6.5 6.5 7.0

8.7

9.5 9.2 9.1

10.1 9.8 9.5 9.4

6.3

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Oct'10 Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct'11

All Exports: Overall export prices fell 2.1 percent in October, driven lower by falling prices for both 

nonagricultural and agricultural exports. The October decline followed advances of 0.4 percent and 0.5 

percent the two previous months. Despite the October drop, overall export prices increased 6.3 percent over 

the past year. 

Agricultural Exports: Agricultural prices decreased 6.5 percent in October after rising 1.9 percent in 

September and 1.6 percent in August. The October decline was led by 19.0 percent decreases for both 

soybeans and corn. Despite the recent decline, the price index for agricultural exports rose 11.5 percent for 

the year ended in October. Higher prices for corn, meat, wheat, fish, and soybeans all contributed to the 12-

month advance in agricultural prices. 

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: Prices for nonagricultural exports declined 1.5 percent in October, the 

first monthly decrease since a 0.2 percent drop in July 2010, and the largest drop since a 1.9 percent decline 

in December 2008. The October decrease was primarily driven by falling nonagricultural industrial supplies 

and materials prices. The price index for nonagricultural exports increased 5.7 percent over the past 12 

months. 

 

3
4

SELECTED OCTOBER HIGHLIGHTS 

Import Prices 

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonfuel industrial supplies and materials prices fell 1.4 

percent in October following a 0.6 percent advance in September. The October decrease was mostly led by a 

4.1 percent decline in unfinished metals prices. A 10.0 percent drop in other precious metals prices and a 

10.2 percent decrease in copper prices were the main contributors to the decline in the price index for 

unfinished metals. Despite the October decline, unfinished metals prices rose 16.5 percent over the past 

year. 

Finished Goods: Finished goods prices were mixed in October. Prices for consumer goods rose 0.7 percent, 

the largest monthly increase since a 1.0 percent advance in October 1992. Automotive prices also rose in 

October, ticking up 0.1 percent. In contrast, prices for capital goods fell 0.3 percent, led by lower computer 

and semiconductor prices, down 1.7 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively. 

 

Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: The price index for foods, feeds, and beverages fell 1.0 percent in October, 

led by a 10.7 percent decline in food oil and oilseeds prices and a 4.4 percent drop in prices for fruit and 

fruit preparations. 

Imports by Locality of Origin: Prices for imports from China advanced 0.4 percent in October and 3.9 

percent over the past 12 months, the largest year-over-year advance for the index since a 4.3 percent 

increase in October 2008. The price index for imports from the European Union also rose 0.4 percent in 

October. In contrast, prices for imports from Canada and Mexico each fell in October, declining 1.4 percent 

and 0.7 percent, respectively. Import prices from Japan were unchanged in October. 

Transportation Services: The index for import air passenger fares rose 1.9 percent in October, driven by 

2.0 percent increases for European fares and for Latin American/Caribbean fares. The October rise was the 

first increase since a 6.8 percent advance in June. Import air freight prices decreased 2.3 percent in October. 

Export Prices 

 

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials 

prices declined 3.7 percent in October, the largest monthly decrease for the index since a 5.8 percent drop in 

December 2008. A 5.6 percent drop in petroleum prices and a 5.8 percent decline in the price index for 

nonferrous metals were the largest contributors to the October decrease. 

 

Finished Goods: Prices for consumer goods fell 0.3 percent in October following a 0.2 percent increase the 

previous month. In contrast, automotive vehicles prices ticked up 0.1 percent in October. The increase was 

driven by higher prices for passenger cars, which advanced 0.9 percent, an increase that was largely offset 

by a 3.4 percent decline in the price index for engines and engine parts. Prices for capital goods recorded no 

change in October. 

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares fell 2.3 percent in October after a 13.4 percent drop in 

September. The October decrease was led by lower fares from Asia and from the Latin America/Caribbean 

region. Export air freight prices fell 0.8 percent in October. 

 

Import and Export Price Index data for November 2011 are scheduled for release on Wednesday, 

December 14, 2011 at 8:30 a.m. (EST).
Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: October 2010 to

October 2011

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Sept.

20111

Index Percent change

Sept.

2011

Oct.

2011

Annual Monthly

Oct. 2010

to Oct.

2011

June

2011 to

July 2011

July 2011

to Aug.

2011

Aug.

2011 to

Sept.

2011

Sept.

2011 to

Oct. 2011

All commodities..................................... 100.000 141.9 141.1 11.0 0.1 -0.4 0.0 -0.6

All imports excluding food and fuels (Dec.

2010=100).......................................... 67.750 103.7 103.5 – 0.2 0.3 0.3 -0.2

All imports excluding petroleum................ 74.874 117.1 116.6 4.8 0.1 0.3 0.3 -0.4

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)... 73.459 120.9 120.7 4.9 0.2 0.2 0.2 -0.2

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 5.709 174.8 173.0 10.5 0.6 -0.7 0.2 -1.0

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 4.447 196.6 194.1 11.0 0.4 -0.7 0.2 -1.3

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 1.262 125.3 125.2 8.9 1.4 -0.7 0.0 -0.1

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 39.934 263.2 259.5 25.6 0.3 -1.1 -0.3 -1.4

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

petroleum..................................... 14.809 174.8 171.0 11.6 0.0 1.0 0.3 -2.2

Industrial supplies & materials excluding

fuels (Dec. 2001=100)....................... 13.394 196.8 194.0 12.9 0.5 1.0 0.6 -1.4

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 8.200 189.5 184.9 11.7 0.4 1.5 0.7 -2.4

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable

excluding petroleum......................... 5.193 157.7 155.0 11.6 -0.5 0.6 -0.4 -1.7

Fuels & lubricants............................... 10 26.539 349.4 344.7 33.8 0.1 -2.1 -0.7 -1.3

Petroleum & petroleum products........... 100 25.125 387.8 384.0 36.0 0.4 -2.3 -0.6 -1.0

Crude.......................................... 10000 18.465 391.6 391.3 35.0 -0.7 -3.9 0.3 -0.1

Fuels, n.e.s.-coals & gas.................... 101 1.079 128.3 116.0 0.3 -2.7 2.8 -3.8 -9.6

Gas-natural................................... 10110 0.957 113.1 100.8 1.4 -3.4 3.1 -4.2 -10.9

Paper & paper base stocks................... 11 0.626 117.1 117.2 0.3 0.8 -1.7 -1.0 0.1

Materials associated with nondurable

supplies & materials......................... 12 4.648 176.3 176.7 17.4 0.9 0.3 0.7 0.2

Selected building materials.................... 13 1.050 131.2 130.3 4.0 0.9 0.2 0.3 -0.7

Unfinished metals related to durable

goods.......................................... 14 4.041 305.4 293.0 16.5 -0.2 2.3 0.8 -4.1

Finished metals related to durable goods. .. 15 1.606 165.8 162.2 8.1 0.5 1.4 1.0 -2.2

Nonmetals related to durable goods......... 16 1.423 116.3 116.4 7.9 0.6 0.4 0.7 0.1

Capital goods..................................... 2 20.824 93.0 92.7 0.9 0.1 0.1 0.1 -0.3

Electric generating equipment................ 20 2.677 118.8 119.3 5.8 0.9 0.3 0.2 0.4

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 16.332 86.4 86.0 -0.3 -0.1 0.1 0.0 -0.5

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 1.815 126.3 126.3 3.8 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 9.225 113.2 113.3 3.6 -0.3 0.2 0.0 0.1

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 24.307 106.7 107.4 3.6 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.7

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 11.925 112.8 114.5 4.6 0.4 0.4 0.2 1.5

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 11.345 100.1 99.9 1.8 -0.1 0.2 0.3 -0.2

Nonmanufactured consumer goods.......... 42 1.038 114.8 115.1 11.1 2.2 -0.3 0.7 0.3

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

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

October 2011

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description End Use

Relative

importance

Sept.

20111

Index Percent change

Sept.

2011

Oct.

2011

Annual Monthly

Oct. 2010

to Oct.

2011

June

2011 to

July 2011

July 2011

to Aug.

2011

Aug.

2011 to

Sept.

2011

Sept.

2011 to

Oct. 2011

All commodities..................................... 100.000 135.3 132.5 6.3 -0.4 0.5 0.4 -2.1

Agricultural commodities......................... 11.744 215.9 201.9 11.5 -4.0 1.6 1.9 -6.5

All exports excluding food and fuels (Dec.

2010=100).......................................... 80.308 103.8 102.8 – -0.1 0.3 0.2 -1.0

Nonagricultural commodities.................... 88.256 129.5 127.6 5.7 0.1 0.4 0.2 -1.5

Foods, feeds, & beverages.................... 0 10.695 213.8 199.0 11.3 -3.5 2.8 2.4 -6.9

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,

excluding distilled beverages............... 00 9.956 217.3 201.2 10.6 -4.1 3.0 2.5 -7.4

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled

beverages).................................... 01 0.739 184.4 183.9 20.4 5.2 0.6 -0.2 -0.3

Industrial supplies & materials................ 1 35.182 192.9 185.9 12.5 -0.3 0.3 0.5 -3.6

Industrial supplies & materials, durable...... 12.727 196.5 189.5 11.8 -0.5 1.6 2.2 -3.6

Industrial supplies & materials,

nondurable.................................... 22.455 191.8 184.8 12.9 -0.2 -0.4 -0.4 -3.6

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials... 10 1.788 212.4 209.3 15.3 -3.4 -4.9 -1.5 -1.5

Nonagricultural industrial supplies &

materials........................................ 33.394 192.3 185.2 12.3 -0.1 0.6 0.6 -3.7

Fuels & lubricants............................... 11 8.997 285.4 270.1 23.0 0.7 -0.3 0.2 -5.4

Nonagricultural supplies & materials

excluding fuels & building materials. . . . . .. 12 23.550 181.1 175.2 9.6 -0.4 1.0 0.8 -3.3

Selected building materials.................... 13 0.847 115.6 115.5 -1.2 -0.4 -0.3 0.3 -0.1

Capital goods..................................... 2 34.074 104.6 104.6 1.2 0.0 0.1 -0.1 0.0

Electrical generating equipment.............. 20 3.348 114.1 113.6 3.9 0.4 0.0 0.0 -0.4

Nonelectrical machinery....................... 21 23.774 94.3 94.3 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0

Transportation equipment excluding motor

vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)................... 22 6.952 144.9 145.0 3.2 -0.2 0.1 -0.1 0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines....... 3 6.667 111.4 111.5 2.4 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.1

Consumer goods, excluding automotives... 4 13.382 117.4 117.1 4.1 0.5 0.3 0.2 -0.3

Nondurables, manufactured................... 40 6.661 114.7 113.7 0.3 0.5 0.2 -0.2 -0.9

Durables, manufactured....................... 41 5.343 113.6 114.0 2.7 0.1 0.2 0.5 0.4

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

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

October 2011

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Sept.

20111

Index Percent change

Sept.

2011

Oct.

2011

Annual Monthly

Oct. 2010

to Oct.

2011

June

2011 to

July 2011

July 2011

to Aug.

2011

Aug.

2011 to

Sept.

2011

Sept.

2011 to

Oct. 2011

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 22.716 170.3 169.2 30.5 -0.7 -3.2 0.2 -0.6

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 2.112 179.2 177.9 13.1 0.9 -2.6 1.5 -0.7

Crop production................................. 111 1.535 185.6 183.1 12.0 1.2 -3.2 2.0 -1.3

Mining.............................................. 21 20.604 169.1 167.9 32.5 -0.9 -3.3 0.2 -0.7

Mining (except oil and gas) (Dec.

2006=100)..................................... 212 0.380 157.3 157.5 13.1 0.3 1.5 -0.3 0.1

Manufactured articles.............................. 76.761 118.4 117.9 6.5 0.4 0.5 -0.1 -0.4

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 10.940 123.5 123.2 10.1 0.7 0.6 0.0 -0.2

Food manufacturing............................ 311 3.297 156.9 154.8 14.2 0.1 0.6 -0.4 -1.3

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.888 111.7 111.9 2.6 1.3 -0.4 0.1 0.2

Textile product mills............................ 314 0.870 118.6 118.7 14.1 1.0 0.2 0.7 0.1

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 4.048 111.3 111.6 9.2 0.9 1.0 0.2 0.3

Leather and allied product manufacturing. .. 316 1.462 114.5 115.3 6.4 1.0 0.1 0.1 0.7

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 18.953 140.2 140.0 14.3 1.4 0.9 -0.9 -0.1

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.646 109.3 107.8 5.2 0.9 0.3 0.7 -1.4

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.153 112.3 112.6 2.2 0.7 -0.9 -0.5 0.3

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 5.474 181.8 175.1 39.3 4.6 2.7 -3.7 -3.7

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 9.078 133.7 136.1 7.7 -0.1 0.3 0.3 1.8

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 1.736 125.1 126.4 9.2 1.1 0.1 0.2 1.0

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 0.774 128.2 127.4 3.5 0.0 0.2 0.2 -0.6

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 46.868 110.7 110.0 3.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 -0.6

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 4.773 196.8 189.5 14.8 -0.3 2.1 1.0 -3.7

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.516 129.3 128.3 6.9 0.6 0.8 1.3 -0.8

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 5.344 119.4 119.2 4.2 0.3 0.5 0.1 -0.2

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 14.285 83.1 82.6 -3.6 -0.5 -0.1 -0.1 -0.6

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.448 116.4 117.3 4.0 0.6 0.2 0.1 0.8

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 10.299 109.8 109.8 3.2 -0.4 0.2 0.0 0.0

Furniture and related product

manufacturing................................ 337 1.200 112.1 112.8 5.8 0.5 0.3 0.4 0.6

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 5.003 122.7 122.2 8.0 0.7 0.2 0.5 -0.4

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

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

October 2011

[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description NAICS

Relative

importance

Sept.

20111

Index Percent change

Sept.

2011

Oct.

2011

Annual Monthly

Oct. 2010

to Oct.

2011

June

2011 to

July 2011

July 2011

to Aug.

2011

Aug.

2011 to

Sept.

2011

Sept.

2011 to

Oct. 2011

Nonmanufactured articles........................ 9.350 181.9 165.4 11.4 -4.0 1.8 1.1 -9.1

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting... 11 6.900 208.4 186.4 14.7 -6.3 2.5 2.1 -10.6

Crop production................................. 111 6.455 216.1 191.2 13.7 -7.0 2.4 2.2 -11.5

Mining.............................................. 21 2.450 124.5 118.3 4.3 2.5 0.2 -1.4 -5.0

Mining (except oil and gas).................... 212 1.639 146.1 140.1 3.9 5.1 1.3 -2.0 -4.1

Manufactured articles.............................. 86.851 121.3 120.1 5.8 0.1 0.2 0.2 -1.0

Manufactured goods, part 1................... 31 7.342 146.0 144.9 10.5 -0.1 0.4 1.0 -0.8

Food manufacturing............................ 311 5.130 165.3 165.1 12.4 0.6 0.6 1.5 -0.1

Beverage and tobacco product

manufacturing................................ 312 0.538 115.7 114.1 -0.7 -2.9 -0.8 1.0 -1.4

Apparel manufacturing......................... 315 0.404 114.2 114.2 8.1 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 2................... 32 26.665 136.1 132.7 9.2 0.3 0.1 -0.1 -2.5

Wood product manufacturing................. 321 0.379 115.0 114.7 1.1 -0.8 -0.3 1.0 -0.3

Paper manufacturing........................... 322 1.932 124.7 123.7 0.2 -0.5 0.6 -0.8 -0.8

Petroleum and coal products

manufacturing................................ 324 6.124 175.4 163.5 28.4 0.2 -0.8 0.6 -6.8

Chemical manufacturing....................... 325 15.563 132.9 130.6 5.8 0.2 0.4 -0.2 -1.7

Plastics and rubber products

manufacturing................................ 326 1.986 115.1 116.3 7.6 2.3 0.7 0.1 1.0

Nonmetallic mineral product

manufacturing................................ 327 0.681 111.0 111.0 -1.8 -0.1 -0.1 0.7 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 3................... 33 52.844 113.2 112.9 3.9 0.1 0.3 0.4 -0.3

Primary metal manufacturing.................. 331 5.351 187.9 182.6 20.1 0.1 1.6 3.1 -2.8

Fabricated metal product manufacturing. . .. 332 2.441 127.7 128.2 5.3 0.3 0.1 -0.2 0.4

Machinery manufacturing...................... 333 10.284 117.6 117.7 2.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1

Computer and electronic product

manufacturing................................ 334 13.490 89.5 89.6 -1.6 0.0 0.0 -0.1 0.1

Electrical equipment, appliance, and

component manufacturing.................. 335 3.045 113.3 111.8 2.8 0.2 0.2 0.0 -1.3

Transportation equipment manufacturing.... 336 12.796 114.6 114.6 2.7 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.0

Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 339 5.139 124.5 125.1 11.0 0.3 0.5 0.2 0.5

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

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

October 2011

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Sept.

20111

Index Percent change

Sept.

2011

Oct.

2011

Annual Monthly

Oct. 2010

to Oct.

2011

June

2011 to

July 2011

July 2011

to Aug.

2011

Aug.

2011 to

Sept.

2011

Sept.

2011 to

Oct. 2011

Live animals; animal products................... I 1.313 166.5 167.0 11.0 1.0 -0.9 -0.7 0.3

Meat and edible meat offal....................... 02 0.308 209.3 208.0 13.0 0.0 2.3 -2.5 -0.6

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.699 125.1 125.0 7.5 1.1 -1.8 -0.6 -0.1

Vegetable products................................ II 1.848 213.7 209.8 14.9 1.4 -1.4 1.5 -1.8

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers............ 07 0.317 314.0 311.6 0.4 -0.6 5.6 -0.2 -0.8

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.526 123.5 114.8 -1.2 3.4 0.3 -4.4 -7.0

Coffee, tea, mate and spices.................... 09 0.500 294.7 290.1 45.4 2.0 -9.7 9.8 -1.6

Animal or vegetable fats and oils (Dec.

2009=100).......................................... III 0.302 138.4 122.7 4.3 -7.8 -0.7 -3.7 -11.3

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.580 157.8 157.8 8.6 0.8 -0.1 -0.1 0.0

Cocoa and cocoa preparations (Dec.

2009=100)....................................... 18 0.214 98.7 94.0 0.6 -0.3 0.6 -0.6 -4.8

Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk;

bakers’ wares (Dec. 2007=100).............. 19 0.256 126.7 124.5 -2.8 -0.7 -0.4 -0.6 -1.7

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts, or other

parts of plants................................... 20 0.367 159.8 163.3 18.4 0.6 0.9 -1.8 2.2

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar.................. 22 0.860 122.0 122.5 3.2 1.8 -0.7 0.2 0.4

Mineral products.................................... V 26.110 351.0 346.5 33.5 0.2 -2.0 -0.7 -1.3

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 25.748 346.8 342.4 33.8 0.2 -2.1 -0.7 -1.3

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 8.710 147.9 150.2 7.1 0.1 0.2 0.3 1.6

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 1.111 377.1 380.7 24.1 -1.8 -0.4 1.1 1.0

Organic chemicals................................. 29 2.806 138.2 137.2 2.3 0.2 0.7 0.1 -0.7

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 3.068 111.9 117.4 2.4 -0.3 0.1 0.2 4.9

Fertilizers (Dec. 2009=100)...................... 31 0.311 154.1 152.7 49.0 6.2 1.6 2.8 -0.9

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec.

2001=100)....................................... 33 0.420 126.5 127.2 6.2 1.3 -0.3 0.1 0.6

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 0.487 106.8 106.0 10.2 0.9 -1.0 -0.8 -0.7

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 2.926 153.1 153.8 10.8 0.3 0.1 0.5 0.5

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 1.801 142.3 142.7 7.9 -0.1 0.2 0.6 0.3

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 1.125 173.7 175.1 15.6 1.2 0.0 0.1 0.8

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.530 122.1 122.4 6.3 0.9 0.0 0.1 0.2

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

various materials................................ 42 0.485 122.4 122.8 6.7 0.9 0.0 0.1 0.3

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.678 131.9 130.2 5.1 0.9 0.2 0.6 -1.3

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 1.256 114.7 115.1 1.1 0.6 -1.0 -0.5 0.3

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 0.842 108.8 109.3 2.6 0.6 -0.2 -0.4 0.5

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 5.216 115.5 115.8 11.0 0.9 1.1 0.3 0.3

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

knitted or crocheted............................ 61 1.998 106.7 106.8 7.1 0.9 -0.5 0.0 0.1

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories,

not knitted or crocheted........................ 62 1.946 116.3 116.8 13.0 1.1 3.5 0.3 0.4

Made-up or worn textile articles................. 63 0.652 113.0 113.0 17.1 1.0 0.0 1.2 0.0

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.. .. XII 1.212 113.9 114.7 5.7 0.6 0.3 0.1 0.7

See footnotes at end of table.

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

October 2011 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Sept.

20111

Index Percent change

Sept.

2011

Oct.

2011

Annual Monthly

Oct. 2010

to Oct.

2011

June

2011 to

July 2011

July 2011

to Aug.

2011

Aug.

2011 to

Sept.

2011

Sept.

2011 to

Oct. 2011

Footwear and parts of such articles............ 64 1.035 113.1 114.1 5.9 0.8 0.3 0.1 0.9

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc........................................... XIII 0.703 129.8 130.2 3.5 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.3

Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, or

mica (Dec. 2001=100)......................... 68 0.240 122.0 123.8 4.0 0.3 0.3 -0.2 1.5

Ceramic products.................................. 69 0.203 141.1 141.1 2.1 0.1 -0.1 0.0 0.0

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.260 125.1 124.4 4.2 0.6 0.6 0.6 -0.6

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 3.311 215.2 206.7 24.4 0.2 3.2 5.2 -3.9

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 5.089 199.0 194.7 6.2 0.2 0.6 -1.5 -2.2

Iron and steel...................................... 72 0.961 263.0 258.2 14.3 0.4 -0.6 0.0 -1.8

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.545 161.3 161.8 6.1 0.1 0.2 0.5 0.3

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.577 395.6 358.2 1.7 3.2 3.5 -5.7 -9.5

Nickel and articles thereof (Dec. 2009=100). .. 75 0.157 126.5 117.7 -6.9 -5.4 5.2 -4.8 -7.0

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.874 150.7 147.4 6.1 -0.7 -0.8 -2.5 -2.2

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.315 124.2 123.6 4.0 0.3 0.0 0.6 -0.5

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.360 131.8 131.9 3.5 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.1

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 22.932 85.8 85.6 -0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.2

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 11.394 88.7 88.4 -0.1 -0.1 0.1 0.1 -0.3

Electrical machinery and equip, sound and TV

recorders & reproducers, parts............... 85 11.538 82.9 82.8 -1.0 0.0 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 8.616 114.8 114.7 3.7 -0.3 0.2 0.2 -0.1

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 7.662 114.0 113.9 3.8 -0.3 0.2 0.2 -0.1

Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof (Dec.

2002=100)....................................... 88 0.867 115.9 115.8 1.8 0.2 0.2 0.0 -0.1

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 3.110 105.5 105.0 3.7 0.3 0.0 0.2 -0.5

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical

instruments...................................... 90 2.869 103.0 102.6 3.6 0.3 0.0 0.1 -0.4

Clocks and watches and parts thereof. . . . . . . .. 91 0.179 129.3 127.7 3.7 0.3 0.2 0.6 -1.2

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 3.475 110.8 111.5 4.2 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.6

Furniture & stuffed furnishings; lamps &

lighting fittings, nesoi; prefab bldgs........... 94 1.712 114.6 115.2 4.8 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.5

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 1.559 103.5 104.4 3.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.9

Miscellaneous manufactured articles........... 96 0.204 133.4 133.2 7.4 0.1 -0.1 0.3 -0.1

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

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

October 2011

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Sept.

20111

Index Percent change

Sept.

2011

Oct.

2011

Annual Monthly

Oct. 2010

to Oct.

2011

June

2011 to

July 2011

July 2011

to Aug.

2011

Aug.

2011 to

Sept.

2011

Sept.

2011 to

Oct. 2011

Live animals; animal products................... I 2.012 205.3 208.4 16.2 2.7 2.5 0.4 1.5

Meat & edible meat offal (Dec. 2006=100). . .. 02 1.233 167.5 170.5 16.2 1.2 1.4 2.4 1.8

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other

aquatic invertebrates........................... 03 0.425 198.6 197.2 21.8 6.2 0.5 -0.7 -0.7

Vegetable products................................ II 6.166 256.5 226.9 12.9 -6.6 3.6 3.4 -11.5

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or

melons........................................... 08 0.883 122.2 123.4 0.6 -1.3 1.8 -7.5 1.0

Cereals.............................................. 10 2.553 325.4 274.3 23.2 -12.6 8.0 8.0 -15.7

Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds, fruits,

plants, straw and fodder....................... 12 2.192 271.9 229.5 6.5 -3.6 2.1 3.1 -15.6

Animal or vegetable fats and oils (Dec.

2009=100).......................................... III 0.539 161.3 150.0 29.8 -0.6 0.0 0.7 -7.0

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and

tobacco............................................ IV 2.650 152.8 153.1 6.0 -0.9 0.2 1.3 0.2

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other

parts of plants (Dec. 2009=100).............. 20 0.341 109.3 110.7 6.3 1.0 0.6 0.1 1.3

Miscellaneous edible preparations.............. 21 0.429 117.6 117.3 -1.4 0.1 0.1 -0.2 -0.3

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar (Dec.

2008=100)....................................... 22 0.329 105.7 105.4 0.1 0.4 0.3 0.0 -0.3

Residues and waste from the food industries;

prepared animal feed........................... 23 0.710 226.0 221.3 8.4 -4.6 -2.1 3.2 -2.1

Mineral products.................................... V 8.933 337.7 316.3 20.6 0.9 -0.4 -0.1 -6.3

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous

substances and mineral waxes............... 27 8.356 335.3 314.0 24.0 0.9 -0.4 0.1 -6.4

Products of the chemical or allied

industries.......................................... VI 12.777 155.0 153.2 4.8 0.7 0.3 -0.3 -1.2

Inorganic chemicals............................... 28 0.995 195.6 195.6 3.5 0.8 0.2 -0.8 0.0

Organic chemicals................................. 29 3.325 168.9 164.1 7.7 0.1 0.7 -0.6 -2.8

Pharmaceutical products......................... 30 3.846 125.9 124.3 -0.6 0.7 0.0 -0.2 -1.3

Tanning or dyeing extracts, dyes, paints,

varnish, putty, & inks........................... 32 0.561 127.1 127.1 5.6 -0.3 0.2 0.0 0.0

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery

cosmetic or toilet preparations................ 33 0.759 134.3 133.6 6.6 1.6 0.5 0.3 -0.5

Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or scouring

products; candles, pastes..................... 34 0.463 122.9 123.2 2.7 -0.9 0.9 0.1 0.2

Miscellaneous chemical products............... 38 1.824 151.6 151.0 5.4 0.9 -0.5 0.1 -0.4

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and

articles thereof................................... VII 5.282 153.5 150.8 9.0 0.8 0.6 0.0 -1.8

Plastics and articles thereof...................... 39 4.206 143.4 140.5 6.5 0.2 0.4 0.0 -2.0

Rubber and articles thereof...................... 40 1.076 201.3 200.7 19.7 3.2 1.3 -0.4 -0.3

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel

goods, etc......................................... VIII 0.417 133.2 130.1 7.3 -1.3 0.2 -2.0 -2.3

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw,

basketware and wickerwork................... IX 0.496 109.1 108.8 -0.4 -0.7 -0.1 0.6 -0.3

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper

products........................................... X 2.660 126.9 124.7 1.4 0.4 0.3 -0.9 -1.7

Woodpulp and recovered paper................. 47 0.924 152.0 145.9 3.0 1.4 0.4 -2.3 -4.0

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp,

paper or paperboard........................... 48 1.256 119.8 119.0 0.6 -0.6 0.4 -0.3 -0.7

Printed material.................................... 49 0.480 119.1 119.3 1.6 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.2

Textile and textile articles........................ XI 2.103 137.7 135.4 8.1 -2.7 -3.4 -1.5 -1.7

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics

thereof............................................ 52 0.836 190.5 182.4 11.5 -6.2 -8.5 -3.3 -4.3

See footnotes at end of table.

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

October 2011 — Continued

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Harmonized

system

Relative

importance

Sept.

20111

Index Percent change

Sept.

2011

Oct.

2011

Annual Monthly

Oct. 2010

to Oct.

2011

June

2011 to

July 2011

July 2011

to Aug.

2011

Aug.

2011 to

Sept.

2011

Sept.

2011 to

Oct. 2011

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics,

glass etc. (Dec. 2008=100)..................... XIII 0.671 116.5 116.6 0.4 0.0 -0.1 0.6 0.1

Glass and glassware.............................. 70 0.373 99.0 98.9 0.6 -0.4 0.0 0.0 -0.1

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation

jewelry, and coins............................... XIV 5.820 304.8 297.3 32.5 0.7 3.0 5.8 -2.5

Base metals and articles of base metals. . . . .. XV 5.768 183.9 176.1 7.1 -1.7 0.2 -0.2 -4.2

Iron and steel...................................... 72 1.876 234.1 223.6 16.4 -6.2 0.5 1.6 -4.5

Articles of iron or steel............................ 73 1.250 170.6 171.4 7.9 0.0 -0.1 0.2 0.5

Copper and articles thereof...................... 74 0.732 281.9 233.9 -5.5 4.2 0.5 -3.3 -17.0

Aluminum and articles thereof................... 76 0.930 135.5 129.8 2.3 -0.9 0.0 -1.7 -4.2

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks,

of base metal; parts thereof................... 82 0.332 127.3 128.4 2.4 1.4 0.0 -0.1 0.9

Miscellaneous articles of base metal........... 83 0.303 135.7 135.7 8.8 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image

and sound recorders, parts, etc............... XVI 25.994 96.4 96.4 1.4 0.0 0.1 -0.1 0.0

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts

thereof............................................ 84 15.267 108.6 108.4 1.9 -0.2 0.1 0.0 -0.2

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts

and accessories thereof....................... 85 10.727 83.2 83.2 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated

transport equipment............................. XVII 10.515 123.9 124.2 2.0 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.2

Motor vehicles and their parts................... 87 5.908 110.6 111.0 2.1 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.4

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical

instruments; & timepieces..................... XVIII 5.690 105.5 105.6 -1.2 0.1 0.2 -0.1 0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles. . . . . ..... XX 1.360 109.1 108.4 0.7 -1.5 0.6 0.0 -0.6

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and

lighting fittings nesoi;........................... 94 0.651 120.3 119.0 0.3 0.3 0.8 -0.2 -1.1

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and

accessories thereof............................. 95 0.584 90.0 90.0 -2.3 -3.6 0.6 0.1 0.0

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

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

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Percent of

U.S.

imports1

Index Percent change

Sept.

2011

Oct.

2011

Annual Monthly

Oct. 2010

to Oct.

2011

June 2011

to July

2011

July 2011

to Aug.

2011

Aug. 2011

to Sept.

2011

Sept. 2011

to Oct.

2011

Industrialized Countries2

..................... 39.494 132.8 132.1 6.2 0.2 -0.5 -0.4 -0.5

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 4.457 231.2 227.7 19.8 -0.8 -5.7 -1.9 -1.5

Manufactured articles......................... 34.670 124.8 124.4 4.5 0.4 0.4 -0.2 -0.3

Other Countries3

............................... 60.506 141.4 140.7 12.2 0.4 -0.5 0.2 -0.5

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 12.079 356.4 354.8 33.3 -0.6 -2.5 0.2 -0.4

Manufactured articles......................... 48.226 112.1 111.6 5.7 0.8 0.4 0.2 -0.4

Canada............................................ 14.271 155.2 153.0 8.7 -0.3 -1.4 -1.1 -1.4

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 3.991 220.2 216.1 18.0 -1.4 -6.0 -1.8 -1.9

Manufactured articles......................... 10.005 142.2 140.6 5.6 0.1 1.0 -0.9 -1.1

European Union4

............................... 17.186 136.6 137.2 6.9 0.6 -0.1 0.1 0.4

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 0.256 368.1 367.8 46.0 3.3 -3.0 0.1 -0.1

Manufactured articles......................... 16.854 133.0 133.6 6.3 0.5 -0.1 0.1 0.5

France (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 1.995 120.2 120.5 -0.7 0.5 -0.2 -0.1 0.2

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)..................... 4.510 116.0 115.7 3.0 0.2 -0.1 0.0 -0.3

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)........... 2.795 134.5 133.2 5.3 -0.6 -0.2 0.3 -1.0

Latin America5

.................................. 18.406 179.7 177.9 12.5 0.2 -1.2 0.1 -1.0

Nonmanufactured articles.................... 5.479 378.1 376.0 29.5 -0.7 -3.7 1.0 -0.6

Manufactured articles......................... 12.844 136.8 135.2 3.8 0.7 0.4 -0.6 -1.2

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)....................... 11.380 147.2 146.2 6.2 -0.1 -1.1 0.1 -0.7

Nonmanufactured articles (Dec.

2008=100)................................... 1.900 202.7 201.2 29.6 1.0 -4.7 0.6 -0.7

Manufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100). . .. 9.437 96.5 95.9 -0.1 -0.5 0.1 -0.2 -0.6

Pacific Rim (Dec. 2003=100)6

................ 34.852 104.8 104.5 3.2 0.0 0.1 0.1 -0.3

China (Dec. 2003=100)......................... 19.595 104.3 104.7 3.9 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.4

Japan.............................................. 6.198 101.7 101.7 2.4 -0.1 0.3 0.0 0.0

Asian NICs7

..................................... 5.555 91.8 91.3 4.1 -0.5 0.0 -0.1 -0.5

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)8

..................... 5.987 105.8 105.0 7.6 0.4 0.7 0.2 -0.8

Asia Near East (Dec. 2003=100)9........... 3.795 278.2 276.6 32.7 0.3 -0.9 2.2 -0.6

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

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

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

4 Includes European Union countries.

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

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

Countries.

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

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

Vietnam.

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

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

Regions are not mutually exclusive.

Dash = Not available

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

2010 to October 2011

[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]

Description

Relative

importance

Sept.

20111

Index Percent change

Sept.

2011

Oct.

2011

Annual Monthly

Oct. 2010

to Oct.

2011

June 2011

to July

2011

July 2011

to Aug.

2011

Aug. 2011

to Sept.

2011

Sept.

2011 to

Oct. 2011

Air Freight

Import Air Freight..................................... 100.000 185.5 181.2 10.0 -0.2 1.2 -0.3 -2.3

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 25.641 179.8 173.9 28.0 0.5 6.7 -0.4 -3.3

Asia.................................................... 70.900 162.9 159.5 4.8 -0.5 -0.7 -0.3 -2.1

Export Air Freight..................................... 100.000 146.4 145.3 15.0 -0.6 -0.4 0.3 -0.8

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)............................ 38.714 132.2 131.8 14.6 -0.5 -0.5 0.3 -0.3

Inbound Air Freight................................... 100.000 164.2 163.4 9.3 -0.5 0.4 0.0 -0.5

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 25.166 157.6 152.7 20.0 0.3 2.7 0.2 -3.1

Asia.................................................... 63.657 146.4 147.1 6.7 -0.7 -0.5 -0.1 0.5

Outbound Air Freight................................. 100.000 143.9 143.5 15.4 -0.3 1.3 0.2 -0.3

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)............................ 36.017 160.3 160.7 11.8 -0.1 1.8 -0.6 0.2

Asia.................................................... 45.734 137.2 135.0 19.4 -0.3 1.4 0.9 -1.6

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 174.6 177.9 5.5 -0.1 -3.0 -2.1 1.9

Europe................................................. 38.214 182.9 186.5 -0.4 -5.0 -6.6 0.0 2.0

Asia.................................................... 26.201 151.9 151.4 4.1 0.6 -2.2 -3.4 -0.3

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 14.403 167.6 171.0 14.0 6.1 2.3 -7.9 2.0

Export Air Passenger Fares......................... 100.000 192.6 188.2 11.8 9.8 8.5 -13.4 -2.3

Europe................................................. 30.810 230.9 229.4 7.0 10.6 -1.8 -12.1 -0.6

Asia.................................................... 31.074 180.9 170.9 11.5 8.4 23.4 -17.1 -5.5

Latin America/Caribbean............................ 19.255 191.4 183.9 11.0 8.9 -1.1 -3.1 -3.9

1 Relative importance figures are based on 2009 trade values.

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

Dash = Not available

14
TECHNICAL NOTE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Index) to produce the NAICS primary products indexes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Agriculture. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Publications."

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

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

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

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

NAICS 31-33. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

(mxpinfo@bls.gov). 

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

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

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