Technical Information
    Jim Thomas         (202) 606-7155        USDL-97-234
    Bill Alterman      (202) 606-7108        For release: 10:00 A.M. E.D.T.
  Media contact:                             Friday, July 18, 1997
    Kathryn Hoyle      (202) 606-5902
  Internet Address:   http://stats.bls.gov/ipphome.htm
                                  
                U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES
                             -JUNE 1997-
                                  
     The U.S. Import Price Index increased 0.4 percent in June, the
Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported
today.  A rise in both imported petroleum prices and nonpetroleum
prices contributed to the increase.  The U.S. Export Price Index fell
for the third straight month, dipping 0.1 percent in June, due to a
continued decline in agricultural prices.
                                  
         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                                                             
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     -0.1      0.2      2.1      0.0 
March          -1.3     -8.7 r   -0.4      0.1      1.5 r   -0.1 
April          -1.1 r   -7.4 r   -0.5 r   -0.7     -6.9      0.1 
May             0.0      1.1 r   -0.1     -0.2     -1.1     -0.1 
June            0.4      2.4      0.2     -0.1     -1.9      0.1 
                                                                 
June 1995-96   -0.7      5.6     -1.3      0.9     20.3     -1.6 
June 1996-97   -1.4     -1.8     -1.7     -2.7    -19.8     -0.1 
r = revised to reflect late reports and corrections by respondents.
                                  
                            Import Goods
                                  
     The June increase in import prices was the first in six months.
Despite the June increase, import prices were down 1.4 percent over
the past year.  Petroleum import prices continued a recent upturn,
gaining 2.4 percent in June after increasing 1.1 percent in May.  The
recent gains in this volatile index followed monthly declines of  8.0
percent on average over the prior three months.  For the year ended
in June, petroleum prices dropped 1.8 percent.  Nonpetroleum import
prices also increased this month, rising 0.2 percent after decreasing
in the previous five months.  For the year, this index was down 1.7
percent.
                                  
      Import prices for automotive vehicles, parts, and engines rose
0.5 percent in June and had the largest impact on the nonpetroleum
index.  This was the largest increase in the auto index since May
1995, also 0.5 percent.  The capital goods index rose 0.2 percent in
June, the first increase since September and only the third in the
past two years.  The turnaround paralleled the relative strengthening
of foreign currencies versus the dollar.  The indexes for foods,
feeds, and beverages and for industrial supplies and materials
excluding petroleum also contributed to the increase in June, rising
1.1 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively.
                                  
       In contrast, the price index for consumer goods reversed in
June, dipping 0.1 percent after posting a moderate 0.2 percent gain
in May.
                                  
                            Export Goods
                                  
      Export prices edged down 0.1 percent in June after falling 0.2
percent and 0.7 percent in May and April, respectively.  For the year
ended in June, export prices fell 2.7 percent.  For the third
consecutive month the decline was largely attributable to falling
agricultural export prices, down 1.9 percent.  The recent three-month
decline continued to be led by a downturn in corn and wheat prices.

     Over the past year, the index for agricultural exports fell 19.8
percent, in contrast to a 20.3 percent increase over the June 1995-96
period.  Prices for nonagricultural exports edged up 0.1 percent in
June, continuing a year long trend of changing no more than 0.2
percent in either direction.
                                  
     The major finished goods categories recorded little movement in
June.  The price index for capital goods, which accounts for more
than 40 percent of the aggregate export index, posted a slight 0.1
percent increase in June after decreasing 0.3 percent in May.   The
modest increase was only the second monthly gain posted over the past
year.  The indexes for both consumer goods and automotive vehicles,
parts, and engines were unchanged in June.
                                  
     Nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials rose 0.4
percent in June after edging up 0.1 percent in each of the previous
two months.
                                  
                    Imports by Locality of Origin
                                  
      The price index for imports from Japan rose 0.2 percent after
decreasing for nine consecutive months. (See table 7.)  Despite the
June increase, the index was down 4.7 percent over the past year.
                                  
      Prices for imports from Canada rose 0.1 percent on average in
June, the same as last month.  For the June 1996-1997 period, the
index was down 0.8 percent.
                                  
     Import prices from the European Union were unchanged last month
after decreasing in the previous four months.  Over the past year,
the index was down 1.2 percent.
                                  
           In contrast, prices of imports from the Asian Newly
Industrialized Countries dropped 0.7 percent in June,  the largest
monthly decline in this index since monthly publication began in
1993.  The decrease followed a 0.3 percent decline in May and
contributed to the 3.4 percent decline over the past year.
                                  
                                  
                     Import and Export Services
                                  
     The Import Air Freight Index edged up 0.7 percent in the second
quarter, reversing the downward trend of the last five consecutive
quarters. The increase was due to a 1.4 percent rise in the Pacific
region.  In contrast to the gain in the Import Air Freight Index, the
Export Air Freight Index continued to fall, decreasing 0.7 percent.
                                  
     During the second quarter, the Import Air Passenger Fares Index
posted a gain of 12.6 percent.  The most significant contributors to
this increase were the Atlantic and Pacific regions which advanced
20.8 percent and 13.6 percent, respectively.  The Export Air
Passenger Fares Index also recorded a significant increase in the
first quarter, advancing 14.8 percent.  The jump in the Export Air
Passenger Fares Index was due to gains in all regions.
                                  
     The Import Ocean Liner Freight Index continued its downward
movement for the fifth consecutive quarter with a 0.9 percent
decrease.  The drop reflected a decline in the U.S. West Coast region
of 1.6 percent and was moderated by a slight increase in the U.S.
East Coast region of 0.1 percent.
                                  
                                  
                                  
                         CONTENTS OF RELEASE
                                  
This news release includes the following tables:

Table 1   Import Price Indexes, by End Use.....page  4
Table 2   Export Price Indexes, by End Use.....page  5
Table 3   Import Price Indexes, by SITC.....pages 6-7
Table 4   Export Price Indexes, by SITC.....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 July are scheduled for release
on August 19 at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).

Table 1      U.S. Import Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, June 1996-June 1997                                   
                 1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                            
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
                                                         ance                           June    Feb.      March     April     May  
END       Description                                                                   1996    1997      1997      1997      1997 
USE                                                     May        May         June     to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1997       1997        1997     June    March     April     May       June 
                                                        1/         2/                   1997    1997      1997      1997      1997 
                                                                                                                                   
          ALL COMMODITIES                               100.000     98.3        98.7     -1.4    -1.3      -1.1       0.0       0.4
          ALL IMPORTS EXCLUDING PETROLEUM                91.538     97.2        97.4     -1.7    -0.4      -0.5      -0.1       0.2
                                                                                                                                   
0          FOODS, FEEDS, & BEVERAGES                      4.823    101.2       102.3      4.0     2.9      -1.8       1.6       1.1
                                                                                                                                   
00          Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,                                                                                 
                excluding distilled beverages             3.505    101.0       101.9      3.7     4.1      -2.8       2.0       0.9
                                                                                                                                   
01          Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled                                                                                 
                beverages)                                1.318    101.7       103.2      4.6     0.0       0.8       0.8       1.5
                                                                                                                                   
1          INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS               26.925    100.9       101.8     -0.7    -4.0      -2.9       0.5       0.9
             INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS                                                                                       
                 EXCLUDING PETROLEUM                     18.464     97.8        98.0     -0.7    -1.3      -0.9       0.3       0.2
             INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS,                                                                                      
                 DURABLE                                  9.850     99.9       100.3      1.1     1.0      -0.2       0.4       0.4
             INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS,                                                                                      
                 NONDURABLE EXCLUDING PETROLEUM           8.613     95.5        95.4     -3.0    -3.8      -1.7       0.3      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
10          Fuels & lubricants                            9.513    106.5       108.9     -2.0   -10.8      -7.4       0.7       2.3
                                                                                                                                   
100          Petroleum & petroleum products               8.462    106.5       109.1     -1.8    -8.7      -7.4       1.1       2.4
                                                                                                                                   
10000          Crude                                      6.749    107.0       109.6     -1.4    -9.3      -7.8       2.2       2.4
                                                                                                                                   
11          Paper & paper base stocks                     1.774     82.0        81.7    -10.2     1.0       0.4       2.4      -0.4
                                                                                                                                   
12          Materials associated with nondurable                                                                                   
                supplies & materials                      5.998     96.2        95.9     -1.8     0.1      -0.8       0.1      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
13          Selected building materials                   2.229    114.8       112.3      4.9     0.6      -0.9       1.0      -2.2
                                                                                                                                   
14          Unfinished metals associated with                                                                                      
                durable goods                             4.494     96.2        98.2      1.9     2.0       0.3       0.4       2.1
                                                                                                                                   
15          Finished metals associated with durable                                                                                
                goods                                     1.439     97.0        96.7     -2.1    -0.5      -0.1      -0.1      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
16          Nonmetals associated with durable goods       1.479     95.8        95.9     -2.8    -0.6      -0.6      -0.3       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
2          CAPITAL GOODS                                 28.708     92.0        92.2     -5.2    -0.4      -1.0      -0.6       0.2
                                                                                                                                   
20          Electric & electrical generating                                                                                       
                equipment                                 3.345     97.5        97.3     -2.0    -0.8       0.1      -0.2      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
21          Nonelectrical machinery                      23.699     90.0        90.2     -6.5    -0.4      -1.1      -0.8       0.2
                                                                                                                                   
3          AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES, PARTS & ENGINES          17.521    100.3       100.8      0.4     0.1      -0.2      -0.3       0.5
                                                                                                                                   
4          CONSUMER GOODS, EXCLUDING AUTOMOTIVES         22.022     99.8        99.7     -0.6    -0.6       0.0       0.2      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
40          Nondurables, manufactured                    10.856    101.3       101.3      0.4    -0.1       0.3       0.5       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
41          Durables, manufactured                       10.057     98.0        98.0     -2.0    -0.5      -0.1      -0.4       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
42          Nonmanufactured consumer goods                1.109    102.7       100.5      2.4    -7.2      -1.5       3.8      -2.1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                       n.a.      Not available         
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for March, April and May 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, June 1996-June 1997                                   
                 1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                            
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
                                                         ance                           June    Feb.      March     April     May  
END       Description                                                                   1996    1997      1997      1997      1997 
USE                                                     May        May         June     to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1997       1997        1997     June    March     April     May       June 
                                                        1/         2/                   1997    1997      1997      1997      1997 
                                                                                                                                   
          ALL COMMODITIES                               100.000     98.8        98.7     -2.7     0.1      -0.7      -0.2      -0.1
          AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES                       10.178     96.7        94.9    -19.8     1.5      -6.9      -1.1      -1.9
          NONAGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES                    89.821     99.0        99.1     -0.1    -0.1       0.1      -0.1       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
0          FOODS, FEEDS, & BEVERAGES                      9.101     97.0        95.2    -21.7     1.7      -7.5      -1.1      -1.9
                                                                                                                                   
00          Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages,                                                                                 
                excluding distilled beverages             8.405     98.0        96.0    -23.3     1.9      -8.0      -1.0      -2.0
                                                                                                                                   
01          Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled                                                                                 
                beverages)                                0.696     88.0        87.6     -3.9    -0.8      -1.4      -1.6      -0.5
                                                                                                                                   
1          INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS               25.432     95.2        95.6      0.3     0.0       0.0      -0.1       0.4
             INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS,                                                                                      
                 DURABLE                                  9.889     96.1        96.6     -0.5    -0.2      -0.1      -0.1       0.5
             INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS,                                                                                      
                 NONDURABLE                              15.541     94.7        95.0      0.8     0.2      -0.1       0.0       0.3
                                                                                                                                   
10          Agricultural industrial supplies &                                                                                     
                materials                                 1.773     92.6        91.7     -2.2     0.1      -1.9      -1.6      -1.0
                                                                                                                                   
            NONAGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES &                                                                                  
              MATERIALS                                  23.658     95.5        95.9      0.4     0.0       0.1       0.1       0.4
                                                                                                                                   
11          Fuels & lubricants                            2.427    110.0       109.9      0.7    -0.6      -0.5      -0.2      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
12          Nonagricultural supplies & materials                                                                                   
                excluding fuels & building materials     19.649     92.9        93.4     -0.1     0.2       0.3       0.1       0.5
                                                                                                                                   
13          Selected building materials                   1.582     95.4        95.6      0.5    -1.5      -1.6      -0.1       0.2
                                                                                                                                   
2          CAPITAL GOODS                                 44.079    100.1       100.2     -0.8     0.0       0.0      -0.3       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
20          Electric & electrical generating                                                                                       
                Equipment                                 4.367    100.7       101.3      0.5     0.2       0.2       0.0       0.6
                                                                                                                                   
21          Nonelectrical machinery                      34.432     97.9        97.7     -2.2    -0.1      -0.1      -0.3      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
3          AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES, PARTS & ENGINES           9.634    102.1       102.1      1.0     0.2       0.3      -0.1       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
4          CONSUMER GOODS, EXCLUDING AUTOMOTIVES         11.754    102.0       102.0      0.7    -0.3       0.1       0.2       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
40          Nondurables, manufactured                     6.167    101.2       101.1     -0.3    -0.2      -0.3       0.1      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
41          Durables, manufactured                        5.047    102.2       102.3      1.5    -0.3       0.6       0.2       0.1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                       n.a.      Not available         
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for March, April and May 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, June 1996-June 1997                                   
                  1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                            
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
                                                         ance                           June    Feb.      March     April     May  
SITC      Description                                                                   1996    1997      1997      1997      1997 
Rev. 3                                                  May        May         June     to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1997       1997        1997     June    March     April     May       June 
                                                        1/         2/                   1997    1997      1997      1997      1997 
                                                                                                                                   
          ALL COMMODITIES                               100.000     98.3        98.7     -1.4    -1.3      -1.1       0.0       0.4
                                                                                                                                   
0          FOOD AND LIVE ANIMALS                          4.165    103.1       102.6      8.3     4.7      -2.3       3.6      -0.5
01          Meat and meat preparations                    0.354    103.6       101.9     12.7     5.7       1.4      -1.2      -1.6
03          Fish, crustaceans, aquatic invertebrates                                                                               
               and preparations thereof                   0.998    101.8       103.3      5.9    -0.4       0.7       1.4       1.5
05          Vegetables and fruit, prepared                                                                                         
               fresh or dried                             1.099    105.1        92.3     -6.1     6.7      -8.6       3.5     -12.2
07          Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and                                                                                         
               manufactures thereof                       0.750    107.9       127.0     52.1    14.9      -0.4       9.9      17.7
       3/ Other food and live animals (9612=100)          0.964    103.0       100.3     n.a.     0.8       0.2       3.0      -2.6
                                                                                                                                   
1          BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO                          0.833    107.0       107.5      3.8     0.2       0.3      -0.2       0.5
11          Beverages                                     0.699    103.5       104.0      2.6     0.3       0.3      -0.1       0.5
                                                                                                                                   
2          CRUDE MATERIALS, INEDIBLE, EXCEPT FUELS        3.060     99.6        97.4      3.3    -3.0      -1.3       1.9      -2.2
23          Crude rubber (including synthetic and                                                                                  
               reclaimed)                                 0.272     82.1        83.9     -7.5     0.2      -4.0      -3.2       2.2
24          Cork and wood                                 1.151    126.9       122.5      7.8     0.6      -1.0       1.6      -3.5
25          Pulp and waste paper                          0.356     64.4        65.8      6.0    -1.2      -1.7       0.9       2.2
28          Metalliferous ores and metal scrap            0.639    105.1       104.5      2.8     0.4       2.9      -0.8      -0.6
29          Crude animal and vegetable materials,                                                                                  
               n.e.s. (9612=100)                          0.301    117.1       105.2     n.a.   -29.0     -10.4      24.2     -10.2
       3/ Other crude materials, inedible, except                                                                                  
             fuels (9612=100)                             0.341     95.6        94.0     n.a.     2.2      -0.1      -2.0      -1.7
                                                                                                                                   
3          MINERAL FUELS, LUBRICANTS AND RELATED                                                                                   
              MATERIALS                                   9.196    106.3       108.6     -1.8   -11.0      -7.6       1.0       2.2
33          Petroleum, petroleum products and                                                                                      
               related materials                          8.062    106.4       108.8     -2.0    -8.6      -7.4       1.6       2.3
34          Gas, natural and manufactured                 1.012    110.2       111.8      3.3   -26.2      -9.7      -3.1       1.5
                                                                                                                                   
5          CHEMICALS AND RELATED PRODUCTS, N.E.S.         5.562     96.5        96.8     -2.0    -0.1      -1.2      -0.1       0.3
51          Organic chemicals                             1.587     96.4        96.3     -2.1     0.5      -3.3      -0.1      -0.1
52          Inorganic chemicals                           0.684    100.8        98.7     -1.1    -1.2      -0.4      -0.3      -2.1
53          Dyeing, tanning and coloring materials        0.286     96.8        97.2     -4.8    -0.5       0.2      -0.3       0.4
54          Medicinal and pharmaceutical products         0.895     95.4        96.4     -3.3    -0.6       0.0      -0.6       1.0
55          Essential oils; polishing and cleansing                                                                                
               preps                                      0.323     98.7        97.8     -2.5    -0.5       0.6      -0.1      -0.9
57          Plastics in primary forms                     0.360     90.9        91.6     -5.8    -0.9      -2.2       1.5       0.8
58          Plastics in nonprimary forms                  0.542     86.0        90.8      4.2     0.5       0.0      -0.1       5.6
59          Chemical materials and products, n.e.s.       0.657    104.2       103.5     -3.8    -0.1      -0.4       0.0      -0.7
                                                                                                                                   
6          MANUFACTURED GOODS CLASSIFIED CHIEFLY                                                                                   
              BY MATERIAL                                12.480     96.4        96.8     -2.4     0.6      -0.1       0.5       0.4
62          Rubber manufactures, n.e.s.                   0.729     97.5        97.7     -2.5    -0.5       0.1       0.0       0.2
63          Cork and wood manufactures other than                                                                                  
               furniture                                  0.557     99.5        99.0     -2.3    -1.3       0.5      -0.2      -0.5
64          Paper, paperboard, and articles of                                                                                     
               paper pulp, paper or paper board           1.587     87.9        87.2    -13.6     1.4       0.8       2.6      -0.8
65          Textile yarn, fabrics, made-up                                                                                         
               articles, n.e.s., and related product      1.411    100.3       100.6      0.5     0.1       0.2      -0.4       0.3
66          Nonmetallic mineral manufactures,                                                                                      
               n.e.s.                                     2.143    103.2       102.6      1.1    -0.4      -0.4       0.4      -0.6
67          Iron and steel                                2.031     96.4        96.6     -1.1     0.2       0.3      -0.1       0.2
68          Nonferrous metals                             1.885     91.7        95.3      1.6     3.9      -0.5       1.2       3.9
69          Manufactures of metals, n.e.s.                1.971     98.9        98.7     -1.7    -0.4      -0.5      -0.1      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
7          MACHINERY AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT             46.810     95.5        95.7     -2.9    -0.3      -0.6      -0.4       0.2
71          Power generating machinery and                                                                                         
               equipment (9612=100)                       2.966     99.2        99.2     n.a.    -0.3       0.0      -0.3       0.0
72          Machinery specialized for particular                                                                                   
               industries                                 2.667     98.9        99.4     -1.7    -0.9      -0.5      -0.3       0.5
73          Metalworking machinery                        0.817     98.0        98.3     -3.0    -2.4       0.1       0.1       0.3
74          General industrial machinery and equip-                                                                                
               ment, n.e.s. and machine parts, n.e.s      3.409     97.9        98.6     -1.9    -1.1      -0.4      -0.2       0.7
75          Computer equipment and office machines        7.342     81.9        81.2    -11.5    -1.4      -1.4      -1.6      -0.9
76          Telecommunications & sound recording                                                                                   
               & reproducing apparatus & equipment        4.541     93.0        93.1     -4.3    -0.3      -1.0      -0.5       0.1
77          Electrical machinery and equipment            9.612     89.8        90.4     -5.3     0.7      -0.8      -0.3       0.7
78          Road vehicles                                14.415    100.4       100.8      0.4     0.2      -0.2      -0.2       0.4
                                                                                                                                   
8          MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES           17.429    100.5       100.4     -0.3    -0.2       0.2       0.2      -0.1
81          Prefabricated buildings; plumbing, heat                                                                                
               & lighting fixtures, n.e.s.                0.381     95.9        95.6     -3.9    -2.7       0.1      -0.2      -0.3
82          Furniture and parts thereof                   1.261    103.3       102.8      2.0     0.5       1.1      -0.2      -0.5
83          Travel goods, handbags and similar                                                                                     
               containers                                 0.500    101.0       101.2      0.1     0.3      -0.2      -0.2       0.2
84          Articles of apparel and clothing                                                                                       
               accessories                                5.836    103.4       103.2      1.7     0.2       0.8       0.9      -0.2
85          Footwear                                      1.757    100.9       101.0     -0.3    -0.7       0.0      -0.1       0.1
87          Professional, scientific and controlling                                                                               
               instruments and apparatus, n.e.s.          1.578     96.7        97.1     -2.2    -1.3      -0.4      -0.3       0.4
88          Photographic apparatus, equipment and                                                                                  
               supplies and optical goods, n.e.s.;        1.339     94.3        94.5     -3.0    -0.7       0.3      -1.4       0.2
89          Miscellaneous manufactured articles,                                                                                   
               n.e.s.                                     4.776     99.7        99.6     -1.3    -0.3      -0.1       0.0      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                       n.a.      Not available.        
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for March, April and May 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 4       U.S. Export Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Goods, June 1996-June 1997                                   
                  1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                            
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
                                                         ance                           June    Feb.      March     April     May  
SITC      Description                                                                   1996    1997      1997      1997      1997 
Rev. 3                                                  May        May         June     to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1997       1997        1997     June    March     April     May       June 
                                                        1/         2/                   1997    1997      1997      1997      1997 
                                                                                                                                   
          ALL COMMODITIES                               100.000     98.8        98.7     -2.7     0.1      -0.7      -0.2      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
0          FOOD AND LIVE ANIMALS                          7.425     95.6        93.3    -23.5     1.1      -5.9      -1.7      -2.4
01          Meat and meat preparations                    1.142     95.7        95.4     -6.1     2.0       0.3      -1.0      -0.3
03          Fish, crustaceans, aquatic invertebrates                                                                               
               and preparations                           0.522     85.9        85.2     -4.7    -1.2      -1.8      -1.8      -0.8
04          Cereals and cereal preparations               2.509     84.9        78.6    -46.0     2.0     -15.1      -4.7      -7.4
05          Vegetables, fruit and nuts,                                                                                            
               fresh or dried                             1.428    100.6       101.5     -4.0    -0.7      -1.1       0.5       0.9
08          Feeding stuff for animals (not                                                                                         
               including unmilled cereals)                0.893    127.7       127.3      3.9     2.0       0.8       1.1      -0.3
09          Miscellaneous edible products and                                                                                      
               preparations                               0.385    103.7       103.5      0.3    -0.1       0.0       0.4      -0.2
       3/ Other food and live animals (9612=100)          0.545    102.8       103.6     n.a.     1.0       0.2      -0.3       0.8
                                                                                                                                   
1          BEVERAGES ANB TOBACCO                          1.494    100.4       100.8      0.2    -0.2       0.0       0.2       0.4
12          Tobacco and tobacco manufactures              1.233    100.4       100.9      0.3    -0.3      -0.1       0.4       0.5
                                                                                                                                   
2          CRUDE MATERIALS, INEDIBLE, EXCEPT FUELS        5.746     88.9        89.5     -0.9     1.1      -5.0       0.5       0.7
21          Hides, skins and furskins, raw                0.358    110.0       102.5      7.1     0.8      -1.6      -3.3      -6.8
22          Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits               1.203    110.8       109.7    -13.6     5.1     -17.9       1.4      -1.0
24          Cork and wood                                 0.979     94.2        94.3     -0.4    -2.3      -1.9       0.0       0.1
25          Pulp and waste paper                          0.698     60.6        66.0     16.2    -1.3       0.5       2.9       8.9
26          Textile fibers and their waste                0.826     83.3        83.3     -8.6     2.4      -2.0      -0.2       0.0
27          Crude fertilizers and crude minerals          0.332     97.3        98.0      1.2    -0.7       0.0       0.4       0.7
28          Metalliferous ores and metal scrap            0.929     90.1        91.9      2.9     1.0       0.1       0.3       2.0
       3/ Other crude materials, inedible, except                                                                                  
             fuels (9612=100)                             0.422    100.2        98.2     n.a.    -0.1      -1.6      -0.8      -2.0
                                                                                                                                   
3          MINERAL FUELS, LUBRICANTS AND RELATED                                                                                   
              MATERIALS                                   2.134    110.7       110.8      1.6    -0.8      -0.6       0.0       0.1
32          Coal, coke and briquettes                     0.695    102.4       101.9     -1.2     0.0       0.3      -0.1      -0.5
33          Petroleum, petroleum products and                                                                                      
               related materials                          1.307    120.0       119.3      4.9    -1.6       0.3       0.1      -0.6
                                                                                                                                   
4          ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE OILS, FATS AND                                                                                     
              WAXES                                       0.438     93.6        94.6     -0.8    -1.1      -3.2       0.2       1.1
                                                                                                                                   
5          CHEMICALS AND RELATED PRODUCTS, N.E.S.        10.922     96.8        96.7     -0.4     0.4      -0.2       0.2      -0.1
51          Organic chemicals                             2.575     85.3        85.2     -3.0     0.3      -1.2       0.2      -0.1
52          Inorganic chemicals                           0.836     99.8        99.7     -4.5    -0.7       0.3       0.2      -0.1
53          Dyeing, tanning and coloring materials        0.494    102.3       102.6      1.8     0.6      -0.4       0.3       0.3
54          Medicinal and pharmaceutical products         1.224    101.6       101.7     -0.1    -0.3       0.8      -0.1       0.1
55          Essential oils; polishing and cleansing                                                                                
               preps                                      0.753    102.8       102.9      2.1    -0.3       0.1       0.5       0.1
56          Fertilizers (9612=100)                        0.557     95.0        96.5     n.a.    -1.8      -2.0       0.7       1.6
57          Plastics in primary forms                     1.898     97.6        96.9      1.5     2.1       0.1      -0.3      -0.7
58          Plastics in nonprimary forms                  0.826     99.4        98.8     -1.1     0.3      -0.2       0.9      -0.6
59          Chemical materials and products, n.e.s.       1.760    104.3       104.1      2.1     0.4       0.5       0.3      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
6          MANUFACTURED GOODS CLASSIFIED CHIEFLY                                                                                   
              BY MATERIAL                                 9.615     97.7        98.2      0.3     0.0       0.3      -0.1       0.5
62          Rubber manufactures, n.e.s.                   0.670    103.1       103.3      0.5     0.1       0.3       0.1       0.2
63          Cork and wood manufactures other than                                                                                  
               furniture                                  0.286     90.3        90.7     -1.2     1.1      -1.8      -0.8       0.4
64          Paper, paperboard, and articles of                                                                                     
               paper pulp, paper or paperboard            1.489     82.9        83.5     -4.4    -0.1      -1.0       0.7       0.7
65          Textile yarn, fabrics, made-up                                                                                         
               articles, n.e.s., and related product      1.404    103.1       103.2     -0.6    -1.0       2.0      -0.6       0.1
66          Nonmetallic mineral manufactures,                                                                                      
               n.e.s.                                     1.287    104.1       104.3      3.1    -0.1       0.0       0.1       0.2
67          Iron and steel                                1.101    103.0       103.1      0.4     0.3      -0.2      -0.2       0.1
68          Nonferrous metals                             1.269     91.6        93.2     -0.2    -0.8       0.3      -0.4       1.7
69          Manufactures of metals, n.e.s.                1.951    103.6       104.4      2.9     1.0       0.8      -0.4       0.8
                                                                                                                                   
7          MACHINERY AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT             50.243    100.4       100.7     -0.2     0.0       0.1      -0.2       0.3
71          Power generating machinery and                                                                                         
               equipment                                  4.244    106.5       106.3      1.9     0.4       0.7       0.2      -0.2
72          Machinery specialized for particular                                                                                   
               industries                                 4.628    104.2       104.4      1.7    -0.1       0.1       0.4       0.2
73          Metalworking machinery                        0.937    103.9       104.4      2.1     1.3      -0.2      -0.7       0.5
74          General industrial machinery and equip-                                                                                
               ment, n.e.s. and machine parts, n.e.s      4.934    104.4       104.5      2.0     0.3       0.5      -0.2       0.1
75          Computer equipment and office machines        6.662     85.2        84.8     -9.5    -0.2      -0.3      -1.4      -0.5
76          Telecommunications & sound recording                                                                                   
               & reproducing apparatus & equipment        3.777     99.6        99.6     -1.5    -0.3       0.0      -0.3       0.0
77          Electrical machinery and equipment           11.852     96.9        96.6     -2.5    -0.2       0.2       0.0      -0.3
78          Road vehicles                                 8.992    101.7       101.8      0.8     0.3       0.1      -0.2       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
8          MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES           11.144    101.7       101.6      0.8     0.0      -0.1       0.3      -0.1
82          Furniture and parts thereof                   0.629    103.8       103.7      2.2     0.1       0.0       1.2      -0.1
84          Articles of apparel and clothing                                                                                       
               accessories                                1.242    101.4        99.4     -0.9     0.1       0.0       0.0      -2.0
87          Professional, scientific and controlling                                                                               
               instruments and apparatus, n.e.s.          3.671    103.3       103.4      1.8     0.1      -0.7       0.2       0.1
88          Photographic apparatus, equipment and                                                                                  
               supplies and optical goods, n.e.s.         0.936     98.4        98.7      0.2    -0.3      -0.9       0.9       0.3
89          Miscellaneous manufactured articles,                                                                                   
               n.e.s.                                     4.214    100.6       100.9      0.3     0.1       0.4       0.1       0.3
       3/ Other miscellaneous manufactured                                                                                         
             articles (9612=100)                          0.452    100.9       100.9     n.a.     0.0       0.1       0.1       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                     n.a.      Not available.          
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for March, April and May 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, June 1996-June 1997                                   
                 1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                             
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
Harmo-                                                   ance                           June    Feb.      March     April     May  
nized     Description                                                                   1996    1997      1997      1997      1997 
System                                                  May        May         June     to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1997       1997        1997     June    March     April     May       June 
                                                        1/         2/                   1997    1997      1997      1997      1997 
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
I          LIVE ANIMALS; ANIMAL PRODUCTS                  1.557    102.3       100.6      6.7     1.3       0.6       2.1      -1.7
02          Meat and edible meat offal                    0.272     98.3        96.1      9.5     6.1       1.1      -1.7      -2.2
03          Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and                                                                                     
               other aquatic invertebrates                0.876    102.6       102.8      5.7    -0.4       0.6       1.7       0.2
       3/ Other live animals and animal                                                                                            
             products (9612=100)                          0.409    106.9       101.1     n.a.     2.0       0.4       5.7      -5.4
                                                                                                                                   
II         VEGETABLE PRODUCTS                             1.665     97.8        94.3      7.9     3.4      -6.5       6.9      -3.6
07          Edible vegetables and certain roots and                                                                                
               tubers                                     0.301    112.5        n.a.     n.a.    26.4     -21.2      14.4      n.a.
08          Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus                                                                                  
               fruit or melons                            0.462    103.9       102.6      2.6     0.4      -2.3      -0.6      -1.3
09          Coffee, tea, mate and spices                  0.468     97.5       111.5     41.1    14.1      -1.8      10.7      14.4
       3/   Other vegetable products                      0.435    101.4        96.9      3.2   -14.0      -4.6       6.7      -4.4
                                                                                                                                   
IV         PREPARED FOODSTUFFS, BEVERAGES, AND                                                                                     
              TOBACCO                                     2.045    101.4       101.9     -1.9    -0.8       0.6       0.0       0.5
20          Preparations of vegetables, fruit,                                                                                     
               nuts, or other parts of plants             0.276     93.2        92.3    -17.6    -1.5      -2.9       0.2      -1.0
22          Beverages, spirits, and vinegar               0.731    103.0       103.1      1.8    -0.1       0.3      -0.2       0.1
       3/   Other prepared foodstuffs (9612=100)          1.038    100.2       101.3     n.a.    -1.1       1.8       0.2       1.1
                                                                                                                                   
V          MINERAL PRODUCTS                               9.777    105.9       108.1     -2.0   -10.8      -7.3       0.8       2.1
26          Ores, slag and ash                            0.296    104.0       103.8      6.0     0.6       3.9       0.2      -0.2
27          Mineral fuels, oils and residuals,                                                                                     
               bituminous substances and mineral wax      9.252    106.0       108.3     -2.3   -11.3      -7.8       0.9       2.2
                                                                                                                                   
VI         PRODUCTS OF THE CHEMICAL OR ALLIED                                                                                      
              INDUSTRIES                                  5.232     99.9        99.7     -1.5     0.0      -0.8      -0.2      -0.2
28          Inorganic chemicals                           0.862    105.1       103.9      1.0     0.6       0.0      -0.4      -1.1
29          Organic chemicals                             1.995     96.5        96.9     -2.3     0.4      -2.9       0.2       0.4
30          Pharmaceutical products                       0.547    101.8       102.6      1.0    -0.5       0.6       0.1       0.8
32          Tanning & dyeing extracts; dye &                                                                                       
               pigments; varnish & paints; putty          0.285     95.6        96.3     -5.4    -0.3       0.3      -0.5       0.7
37          Photographic or cinematographic goods         0.359    100.4        99.3      1.5     1.0       1.8      -0.3      -1.1
38          Miscellaneaous chemical products                                                                                       
               (9612=100)                                 0.413     98.6        98.5     n.a.    -1.1       0.3      -0.5      -0.1
       3/   Other products of the chemical or                                                                                      
             allied industries (9612=100)                 0.772     99.7        97.9     n.a.    -0.6       0.3      -0.4      -1.8
                                                                                                                                   
VII        PLASTICS AND ARTICLES THEREOF; RUBBER                                                                                   
              AND ARTICLES THEREOF                        2.798     93.0        94.2     -1.8     0.1      -0.7      -0.2       1.3
39          Plastics and articles thereof                 1.718     94.6        96.3      0.7     0.6      -0.7       0.4       1.8
40          Rubber and articles thereof                   1.080     90.7        91.1     -5.4    -0.5      -1.1      -1.0       0.4
                                                                                                                                   
VIII       RAW HIDES, SKINS, LEATHER, FURSKINS,                                                                                    
              TRAVEL GOODS, ETC                           1.002    103.9       103.5      1.5     0.0      -0.4       0.5      -0.4
42          Articles of leather; travel goods, bags,                                                                               
               etc. of various materials                  0.803    101.7       101.9      1.1     0.1       0.1       0.2       0.2
                                                                                                                                   
IX         WOOD, WOOD CHARCOAL, CORK, STRAW, BASKET                                                                                
              AND WICKER                                  1.753    114.9       111.8      3.1     0.1      -1.0       1.2      -2.7
                                                                                                                                   
X          WOOD PULP, WASTE AND SCRAP PAPER, PAPER                                                                                 
              AND ARTICLES THEREOF                        2.315     84.4        84.2     -7.7     0.4       0.1       1.9      -0.2
47          Pulp wood or other fibrous cellulosic                                                                                  
               material; waste paper/paperboard           0.357     65.3        66.6      5.7    -1.1      -2.0       1.1       2.0
48          Paper and paperboard; articles of paper                                                                                
               pulp, paper or paperboard                  1.602     88.9        88.3    -12.3     1.2       0.7       2.3      -0.7
49          Printed matter                                0.356    101.9       101.5      0.9    -1.7      -0.2       1.2      -0.4
                                                                                                                                   
XI         TEXTILE AND TEXTILE ARTICLES                   6.902    102.6       102.3      1.4     0.3       0.7       0.9      -0.3
61          Articles of apparel and clothing                                                                                       
               accessories, knitted or crocheted          2.014    101.3       101.5     -0.6     0.2       0.7      -0.2       0.2
62          Articles of apparel and clothing                                                                                       
               accessories, not knitted or crocheted      3.352    105.5       104.9      3.3     0.3       1.0       2.0      -0.6
63          Made-up or worn textile articles and                                                                                   
               clothing; needlecraft sets; rags           0.337     96.9        97.2     -3.3     0.6      -0.3      -1.2       0.3
       3/   Other textile & textile                                                                                                
             articles (9612=100)                          1.199    100.9       100.7     n.a.     0.4       0.2      -0.2      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
XII        FOOTWEAR, HEADGEAR, UMBRELLAS, WHIPS,                                                                                   
              ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS, ETC.                    2.051    101.1       101.2     -0.1    -0.6       0.1       0.0       0.1
64          Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts                                                                                  
               of such articles                           1.766    100.7       100.8     -0.4    -0.8       0.0      -0.1       0.1
       3/ Other footwear, headgear, umbrellas,                                                                                     
             whips, art. flowers, etc. (9612=100)         0.285    101.5       101.6     n.a.     0.2       1.1       0.2       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
XIII       STONE, PLASTER, CEMENT, ASBESTOS,CERAMIC                                                                                
              GLASS ETC.                                  1.146    103.5       102.5     -0.2    -0.7      -0.4       0.2      -1.0
69          Ceramic products                              0.435    100.6        99.3     -1.8    -0.3      -0.8      -0.4      -1.3
70          Glass and glassware                           0.449    104.6       103.4      0.0    -2.1       1.0      -0.2      -1.1
                                                                                                                                   
XIV        PEARLS, STONES, PRECIOUS METALS,                                                                                        
              IMITATION JEWELRY, AND COINS                2.157     97.7        98.3     -1.3     0.9      -0.1       0.4       0.6
                                                                                                                                   
XV         BASE METALS AND ARTICLES OF BASE METAL         5.843     95.4        96.1     -1.0     0.4       0.0       0.2       0.7
72          Iron and steel                                1.738     95.3        95.7     -1.0     0.6       0.1      -0.1       0.4
73          Articles of iron or steel                     1.287     98.0        97.8     -3.0    -0.6      -0.4      -0.3      -0.2
74          Copper and articles thereof                   0.452     84.6        87.1     -5.3     1.4       0.8      -1.6       3.0
76          Aluminum and articles thereof                 0.962     92.8        94.2      1.9    -0.1      -1.0       0.4       1.5
83          Miscellaneous articles of base metal          0.415    103.2       102.0      1.2     0.0       0.7      -0.1      -1.2
       3/   Miscellaneous nonferrous metals and                                                                                    
             articles, including scrap (9612=100)         0.553    111.4       115.0     n.a.     3.9       2.6       3.7       3.2
                                                                                                                                   
XVI        MACHINERY, ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, TV                                                                                     
              IMAGE & SOUND RECORDERS, PARTS, ETC.       30.702     91.8        92.1     -5.1    -0.3      -1.1      -0.6       0.3
84          Specialized machinery & computer                                                                                       
               equipment                                 16.161     93.2        93.2     -4.4    -1.0      -1.2      -0.6       0.0
85          Electrical machinery and equip, sound                                                                                  
               and TV recorders & reproducers, parts     14.541     90.3        90.9     -5.6     0.4      -1.1      -0.4       0.7
                                                                                                                                   
XVII       VEHICLES, AIRCRAFT, VESSELS AND                                                                                         
              ASSOCIATED TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT             15.591    100.5       101.0      0.5     0.1      -0.2      -0.3       0.5
87          Motor vehicles and their parts               14.734    100.3       100.8      0.3     0.1      -0.1      -0.3       0.5
                                                                                                                                   
XVIII      OPTICAL, PHOTO, MEASURING, MEDICAL &                                                                                    
              MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; CLOCKS & WATCHES       3.515     94.0        94.3     -4.1    -1.1      -0.2      -0.8       0.3
90          Optical, photographic, measuring and                                                                                   
               medical instruments                        3.000     93.9        94.2     -4.0    -1.0      -0.3      -0.8       0.3
91          Clocks and watches and parts thereof          0.371     94.1        94.3     -4.3    -1.8      -0.2      -0.6       0.2
                                                                                                                                   
XX         MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES            3.683     99.9        99.8     -0.9    -0.3       0.5      -0.3      -0.1
94          Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps                                                                                  
               and lighting fittings nes;                 1.586    100.4       100.1      0.3    -0.2       0.8      -0.2      -0.3
95          Toys, games and sports equipment; parts                                                                                
               and accessories thereof                    1.817    100.7       100.5     -1.5    -0.2       0.1      -0.1      -0.2
96          Miscellaneous manufactured articles           0.280     93.1        94.3     -2.9    -0.3       1.1      -1.9       1.3
                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                       n.a.      Not available         
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for March, April and May 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, June 1996-June 1997                                   
                  1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                            
                                                                            Index                    Percent Change                                         
                                                        Relative                                                                   
                                                         Import-                        Annual            Monthly                  
Harmo-                                                   ance                           June    Feb.      March     April     May  
nized     Description                                                                   1996    1997      1997      1997      1997 
System                                                  May        May         June     to      to        to        to        to   
                                                        1997       1997        1997     June    March     April     May       June 
                                                        1/         2/                   1997    1997      1997      1997      1997 
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
I          LIVE ANIMALS; ANIMAL PRODUCTS                  1.886     94.5        93.9     -2.6     0.6      -0.4      -1.0      -0.6
02          Meat & edible meat offal                      1.062     93.6        93.3     -6.6     1.9       0.4      -1.2      -0.3
03          Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and                                                                                     
               other aquatic invertebrates                0.466     84.4        83.6     -5.7    -1.2      -2.0      -1.1      -0.9
       3/ Other live animals and animal                                                                                            
             products (9612=100)                          0.358     98.5        97.2     n.a.    -0.4      -0.7      -0.9      -1.3
                                                                                                                                   
II         VEGETABLE PRODUCTS                             4.976     93.2        89.8    -33.1     2.3     -12.7      -1.9      -3.6
07          Edible vegetables and certain roots and                                                                                
               tubers                                     0.302     95.6        92.4     -9.5     4.1      -4.6       0.8      -3.3
08          Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus                                                                                  
               fruit or melons                            0.722     98.7       101.9     -3.9    -3.0      -0.2       0.8       3.2
10          Cereals                                       2.275     82.9        76.2    -49.0     2.1     -16.3      -5.3      -8.1
12          Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds,                                                                                      
               fruits, plants, straw and fodder           1.387    111.2       109.6    -12.0     4.6     -15.7       0.9      -1.4
                                                                                                                                   
III        ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE FATS AND OILS              0.472     93.8        94.2     -2.7    -1.4      -2.8       0.3       0.4
                                                                                                                                   
IV         PREPARED FOODSTUFFS, BEVERAGES, AND                                                                                     
              TOBACCO                                     3.608    105.6       105.6     -0.3     0.1       0.2      -0.1       0.0
20          Preparations of vegetables, fruit,                                                                                     
               nuts, or other parts of plants             0.382    107.2       107.1     -1.5    -0.5      -0.2      -1.9      -0.1
21          Miscellaneous edible preparations             0.357    104.5       104.3      1.4     0.0       0.0       0.4      -0.2
22          Beverages, spirits, and vinegar               0.329     99.5        99.4     -2.5     0.2       0.1      -0.5      -0.1
23          Residues and waste from the food                                                                                       
               industries; prepared animal feed           0.804    124.2       123.1     -0.1     0.8       0.7       0.6      -0.9
24          Tobacco and manufactured tobacco                                                                                       
               substitutes                                1.240    100.4       100.9      0.3    -0.3      -0.1       0.4       0.5
       3/   Other prepared foods                          0.497    100.2       100.5     -1.2    -0.1       0.5      -0.5       0.3
                                                                                                                                   
V          MINERAL PRODUCTS                               2.758    108.7       109.1      2.5    -1.1      -0.5       0.0       0.4
27          Mineral fuels, oils and residuals,                                                                                     
               bituminous substances and mineral wax      2.210    112.8       112.7      2.5    -1.0      -0.6       0.1      -0.1
                                                                                                                                   
VI         PRODUCTS OF THE CHEMICAL OR ALLIED                                                                                      
              INDUSTRIES                                  8.848     97.3        97.4     -0.6    -0.2      -0.3       0.3       0.1
28          Inorganic chemicals                           0.928    102.0       102.0     -2.3    -0.9       0.5       0.3       0.0
29          Organic chemicals                             2.898     89.0        88.9     -2.5     0.1      -0.7       0.2      -0.1
30          Pharmaceutical products                       0.880    100.7       100.7     -0.2    -0.3       0.1      -0.1       0.0
31          Fertilizers (9612=100)                        0.618     95.0        96.5     n.a.    -1.8      -2.0       0.7       1.6
32          Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes and                                                                                   
               pigments; paints & varnish; putty;ink      0.503    102.1       102.3      1.4     0.7      -0.5       0.4       0.2
33          Essential oils and resinoids;                                                                                          
               perfumery, cosmetic or toilet              0.530    103.5       103.6      2.9     0.0       0.0       0.7       0.1
34          Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or                                                                                  
               scouring products; candles, pastes         0.307    101.3       101.3      0.9    -0.5       0.1       0.3       0.0
37          Photographic or cinematographic goods         0.425     94.9        95.1     -1.9    -0.5      -2.0       0.1       0.2
38          Miscellaneous chemical products               1.538    104.1       103.8      1.6     0.5       0.3       0.3      -0.3
                                                                                                                                   
VII        PLASTICS AND ARTICLES THEREOF; RUBBER                                                                                   
              AND ARTICLES THEREOF                        4.393     98.6        98.3      0.2     1.0      -0.2       0.1      -0.3
39          Plastics and articles thereof                 3.488     98.2        97.9      0.3     1.3      -0.1       0.2      -0.3
40          Rubber and articles thereof                   0.905    100.2        99.7     -0.3    -0.1      -0.6      -0.1      -0.5
                                                                                                                                   
VIII       RAW HIDES, SKINS, LEATHER, FURSKINS,                                                                                    
              TRAVEL GOODS, ETC.                          0.596    102.6        98.9      5.2    -0.4      -0.9      -1.4      -3.6
41          Raw hides and skins (other than                                                                                        
               furskins) and leather                      0.431     99.7        94.2      8.4     2.0      -1.1      -2.3      -5.5
                                                                                                                                   
IX         WOOD, WOOD CHARCOAL, CORK, STRAW, BASKET                                                                                
              AND WICKER                                  1.292     94.0        94.1     -0.2    -1.5      -1.8      -0.2       0.1
                                                                                                                                   
X          WOOD PULP, WASTE AND SCRAP PAPER, PAPER                                                                                 
              AND ARTICLES THEREOF                        2.861     75.7        77.4     -0.4    -0.5      -0.8       1.3       2.2
47          Pulp wood or other fibrous cellulosic                                                                                  
               material; waste paper/paperboard           0.636     57.4        61.7      5.8    -2.1      -0.2       2.0       7.5
48          Paper and paperboard; articles of paper                                                                                
               pulp, paper or paperboard                  1.443     82.7        83.4     -5.2     0.4      -1.8       1.0       0.8
49          Printed material                              0.782    105.7       106.5      3.6    -1.0       0.6       1.6       0.8
                                                                                                                                   
XI         TEXTILE AND TEXTILE ARTICLES                   3.226     93.4        91.9     -5.1     0.2       0.3      -0.3      -1.6
52          Cotton, including yarns and woven                                                                                      
               fabrics thereof                            0.710     83.0        83.0     -9.5     0.5      -1.5      -0.2       0.0
                                                                                                                                   
XIII       STONE, PLASTER, CEMENT, ASBESTOS,                                                                                       
              CERAMIC, GLASS ETC.                         0.845    103.2       103.3      2.1    -0.2       0.1       0.0       0.1
70          Glass and glassware                           0.483    101.0       101.2      0.8    -0.2       0.1      -0.1       0.2
                                                                                                                                   
XIV        PEARLS, STONES, PRECIOUS METALS,                                                                                        
              IMITATION JEWELRY, AND COINS                1.872     97.0        98.6     -2.6    -0.5       1.0      -0.8       1.6
                                                                                                                                   
XV         BASE METALS AND ARTICLES OF BASE METALS        4.611     96.4        97.1      0.1     0.8       0.5      -0.5       0.7
72          Iron and steel                                0.966     93.5        94.7     -3.2     0.2       0.5      -1.1       1.3
73          Articles of iron or steel                     1.230    106.1       106.6      4.4     2.9       0.5      -0.4       0.5
74          Copper and articles thereof                   0.454     87.5        87.9     -6.7     2.2       0.8      -0.9       0.5
76          Aluminum and articles thereof                 0.878     88.9        89.4      0.8    -0.3       0.1      -0.2       0.6
82          Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and                                                                                 
               forks, of base metal; parts thereof        0.408    103.0       103.1      0.7    -0.3      -0.4      -0.2       0.1
83          Miscellaneous articles of base metal          0.369     99.8       101.4      1.5     0.0       0.6      -0.3       1.6
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
XVI        MACHINERY, ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, TV                                                                                     
              IMAGE AND SOUND RECORDERS, PARTS, ETC      36.949     97.8        97.6     -2.3    -0.1       0.1      -0.3      -0.2
84          Specialized machinery & computer                                                                                       
               equipment                                 20.329     98.0        98.0     -1.9    -0.1       0.1      -0.5       0.0
85          Electrical machinery and equip, sound                                                                                  
               & tv recorders & reproducers, parts       16.620     97.5        97.3     -2.4     0.0       0.1      -0.1      -0.2
                                                                                                                                   
XVII       VEHICLES, AIRCRAFT, VESSELS AND                                                                                         
              ASSOCIATED TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT             13.483    103.8       104.7      2.5     0.2       0.1      -0.1       0.9
87          Motor vehicles and their parts                9.415    101.8       102.0      0.9     0.3       0.0      -0.1       0.2
                                                                                                                                   
XVIII      OPTICAL, PHOTO, MEASURING, MEDICAL &                                                                                    
              MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; CLOCKS & WATCHES       5.344    102.1       102.6      1.3    -0.3      -0.2       0.0       0.5
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
XX         MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES            1.763    102.2       102.2      1.1     0.1       0.0       0.5       0.0
94          Furniture; stuffed furnishings;                                                                                        
               lamps and lighting fittings nesoi;         0.867    103.9       103.9      2.1     0.0       0.0       1.1       0.0
95          Toys, games and sports equipment; parts                                                                                
               and accessories thereof                    0.724    100.5       100.5      0.1     0.1      -0.1       0.0       0.0
                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
        1  Relative importance figures are based on                                                       n.a.      Not available         
            1995 trade values.                                                                                                            
        2  Data for March, April and May 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,June 1996-June 1997                                     
          1995=100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                                           
                                                                  Index                    Percent Change                    
                                                   Percentage                                                                                          
                                                      of                            Annual                  Monthly                                     
                                                    US Imports                    June    Feb.         March       April    May    
    Description 1/                                                                1996    1997         1997        1997     1997   
                                                    1995       May       June     to      to           to          to       to     
                                                               1997      1997     June    March        April       May      June   
                                                               2/                 1997    1997         1997        1997     1997   
                                                                                                                                   
3/  Developed Countries                                55.6     97.3      97.4     -2.3    -1.1         -0.8        -0.2      0.1  
      Manufactured Goods                               52.2     97.0      97.1     -2.2    -0.4         -0.4        -0.3      0.1  
      Nonmanufactured Goods                             3.1    105.3     105.3     -4.3   -11.0         -6.6         1.2      0.0  
                                                                                                                                   
3/  Developing Countries                               42.7    102.2     102.8      1.3    -1.0         -1.2         0.3      0.6  
      Manufactured Goods                               35.4     99.9      99.9     -0.4     0.2         -0.2        -0.2      0.0  
      Nonmanufactured Goods                             7.1    108.1     111.5      4.9    -5.7         -6.3         3.1      3.1  
                                                                                                                                   
    Canada                                             18.9     99.1      99.2     -0.8    -1.2         -0.7         0.1      0.1  
      Manufactured Goods                               16.5     98.6      98.7      0.0     0.8         -0.1         0.0      0.1  
      Nonmanufactured Goods                             2.2    106.5     106.6     -5.0   -12.9         -4.8         0.9      0.1  
                                                                                                                                   
4/  European Union                                     17.0    100.9     100.9     -1.2    -1.0         -0.6        -0.1      0.0  
      Manufactured Goods                               16.4    100.6     100.7     -1.1    -0.7         -0.2        -0.2      0.1  
      Nonmanufactured Goods                             0.5    110.1     110.5     -1.1    -6.1        -12.9         2.1      0.4  
                                                                                                                                   
    Japan                                              16.6     92.8      93.0     -4.7    -0.4         -0.7        -0.7      0.2  
                                                                                                                                   
5/  Asian Newly Industrialized Countries               10.9     96.1      95.4     -3.4     0.0          0.1        -0.3     -0.7  
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
1    Regions are not mutually exclusive.                                              
                                                                                      
2    Data for March, April and May 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  9    U.S. International Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Services.                                   
        June 1996-June 1997    1995 = 100                                                                                                                            
                                                                 Index                             Percent Change                    
                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                  Annual          Quarterly                                   
                                                    Trade                         June    June     Sept.       Dec.     March  
    Description                                     (Mil.                         1996    1996     1996        1996     1997   
                                                    of         March     June     to      to       to          to       to     
                                                    Dollars)   1997      1997     June    Sept.    Dec.        March    June   
                                                                                  1997    1996     1996        1997     1997   
                                                                                                                               
     Air Freight (Inbound)                          5495        89.5      89.9     -5.5     0.5     -0.6        -5.8      0.4  
      Atlantic                                      1880        89.7      88.9     -4.6     1.8      1.8        -7.1     -0.9  
      Pacific                                       3151        89.8      91.1     -5.3    -0.6     -1.7        -4.5      1.4  
                                                                                                                               
     Air Freight (Outbound)                         5835        99.8      99.2     -0.2    -0.5      0.3         0.6     -0.6  
      Atlantic                                      2080        99.9      99.4      0.5    -0.2      0.3         0.9     -0.5  
      Pacific                                       3222       100.3     100.0     -0.7    -0.9      0.4         0.1     -0.3  
                                                                                                                               
     Air Passenger Fares (U.S. Carrier)             30673       97.1     113.0      8.3     2.9     -5.3        -4.4     16.4  
1/    Atlantic                                      8811        97.5     118.3      8.9     6.0    -13.5        -2.1     21.3  
1/    Pacific                                       15900       86.4     102.2      1.9    -1.7     -3.7        -9.1     18.3  
1/    Latin American / Caribbean                    4542       106.8     114.9     11.9     0.2      0.0         3.8      7.6  
      Canadian                                      1367       155.7     162.6     52.2    15.7     24.3         1.4      4.4  
                                                                                                                               
     Air Passenger Fares (Foreign Carrier)          31694       98.5     106.1      3.0     2.4     -4.5        -2.2      7.7  
1/    Atlantic                                      13572       97.1     110.2      4.1     4.0     -8.9        -3.2     13.5  
1/    Pacific                                       12570       92.3      96.4     -0.5    -2.6     -0.2        -2.0      4.4  
1/    Latin American / Caribbean                    4224       104.5     104.8      2.6     1.3      0.2         0.9      0.3  
                                                                                                                               
1/   Crude Oil Tanker Freight (Inbound)             1949       107.3      n.a.     n.a.   -11.0      8.1         7.2     n.a.  
                                                                                                                               
     Ocean Liner Freight (Inbound)                  12253       97.6      96.8     -2.8    -1.6      0.4        -0.8     -0.8  
      U.S. East Coast                               5410        99.8      99.6     -1.9    -0.8      1.0        -1.9     -0.2  
       from Atlantic                                2647        99.4      98.7     -3.7    -1.4      0.3        -2.0     -0.7  
       from Pacific                                 1874        98.4      98.9      0.3    -0.2      0.1        -0.1      0.5  
      U.S. West Coast                               6844        95.4      94.1     -3.8    -2.5      0.0         0.0     -1.4  
       from Pacific                                 6347        95.1      93.9     -3.6    -2.5     -0.2         0.3     -1.3  
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
    1     Detailed data available upon request.                          n.a.    N                                             
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
   Table  8     U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Selected Categories of Services.                              
        June 1996-June 1997  1995 = 100, unless otherwise noted                                                                                                      
                                                                 Index                             Percent Change                    
                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                  Annual          Quarterly                                   
                                                    Trade                         June    June     Sept.       Dec.     March  
    Description                                     (Mil.                         1996    1996     1996        1996     1997   
                                                    of         March     June     to      to       to          to       to     
                                                    Dollars)   1997      1997     June    Sept.    Dec.        March    June   
                                                                                  1997    1996     1996        1997     1997   
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
    IMPORT                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                               
    Air Freight                                     3188        90.1      90.7     -6.6    -0.3     -1.2        -5.8      0.7  
      Atlantic                                      1278        91.2      91.2     -5.5     2.0     -0.2        -7.1      0.0  
      Pacific                                       1674        90.5      91.8     -6.4    -1.4     -2.0        -4.5      1.4  
                                                                                                                               
     Air Passenger Fares                            11127      100.5     113.2      8.3    -1.4     -2.9         0.5     12.6  
1/    Atlantic                                      4922       100.3     121.2     14.2    -0.3     -7.0         1.9     20.8  
1/    Pacific                                       2340        98.1     111.4      9.9    -9.2      7.5        -0.9     13.6  
1/    Latin American / Caribbean                    3021       105.1     106.1      3.4     1.4      0.1         1.0      1.0  
                                                                                                                               
1/   Crude Oil Tanker Freight                       1346        99.7      n.a.     n.a.   -11.3      6.3         5.8     n.a.  
                                                                                                                               
     Ocean Liner Freight                            9868        98.0      97.1     -3.1    -1.3     -0.3        -0.6     -0.9  
      U.S. East Coast                               4271       100.5     100.6     -1.1    -0.1      0.1        -1.2      0.1  
       from Atlantic                                1952       100.4      99.9     -2.8     0.2     -0.1        -2.4     -0.5  
       from Pacific                                 1774       100.2     100.8      0.4    -0.2      0.2        -0.2      0.6  
      U.S. West Coast                               5596        95.4      93.9     -4.9    -2.4     -0.6        -0.3     -1.6  
       from Pacific                                 5126        95.0      93.5     -4.8    -2.5     -0.8         0.1     -1.6  
                                                                                                                               
    EXPORT                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                               
     Air Freight (9612 = 100)                       2562        98.5      97.8     n.a.    n.a.     n.a.        -1.5     -0.7  
                                                                                                                               
     Air Passenger Fares                            17272       89.8     103.1      3.7     3.5     -3.1        -9.9     14.8  
1/    Atlantic                                      4120        98.6     109.9      4.8     8.3     -7.8        -5.8     11.5  
1/    Pacific                                       10700       75.5      91.1     -2.8     0.2     -4.6       -15.7     20.7  
      Latin American / Caribbean                    1392       101.8     106.9      6.9     0.8      0.8         0.2      5.0  
      Canadian                                      1006       155.0     158.8     47.3     7.1     26.3         6.3      2.5  
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
    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

         
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