Department of Labor Logo United States Department of Labor
Dot gov

The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Economic News Release
PRINT:Print
MXP MXP Program Links

U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes News Release

Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until				     USDL-11-0201
8:30 a.m. (EST) Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Technical information: (202) 691-7101 * MXPinfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/mxp
Media contact:	       (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov



                          U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES - JANUARY 2011

The price index for U.S. imports increased 1.5 percent in January, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 
reported today, as higher prices for fuel and nonfuel imports each contributed to the advance. U.S. export 
prices rose 1.2 percent in January, following increases of 1.5 percent in November and 0.6 percent in 
December.


Imports

All Imports: Import prices advanced 1.5 percent in January, and for the first time since July 2008 the index 
advanced at least 1.0 percent for four consecutive months. Import prices increased 5.3 percent over the past 
year, the largest 12-month advance for the index since an 8.5 percent rise between May 2009 and May 2010. 
In addition to contributing to the January price increases, higher fuel and nonfuel prices also both 
contributed to the 12 month advance in overall imports. 

Fuel Imports: Fuel prices rose 3.9 percent in January, after rising 14.1 percent over the previous three 
months. Rising prices for petroleum and natural gas led the overall increase in fuel prices in January. 
Petroleum prices advanced 3.4 percent in January and prices for natural gas surged 13.0 percent, the largest 
monthly rise for that index since a 17.7 jump in January 2010. Fuel prices advanced 12.4 percent over the 
past year, led by a 14.3 percent increase in petroleum prices. Despite the January rise, natural gas prices fell 
18.8 percent over the past year.       

All Imports Excluding Fuel: The price index for nonfuel imports increased 0.8 percent in January, with 
higher prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials, finished goods, and foods, feeds, and beverages 
all contributing to the overall advance. The January increase matched a similar 0.8 percent rise in November, 
the largest one-month advances for the index since a 1.1 percent increase in April 2008. Nonfuel import 
prices rose 3.4 percent for the year ended in January, led by a 13.0 percent advance in nonfuel industrial 
supplies and materials prices and a 14.8 percent increase in foods, feeds, and beverages prices.

Table A. Percent changes
Month IMPORTS EXPORTS
All
imports
Fuel
imports
Nonfuel
imports
All
exports
Agri-
cultural
exports
Non-
agricultural
exports

2010

January

1.2 4.4 0.4 0.8 1.3 0.7

February

-0.1 -0.7 0.1 -0.3 -4.0 0.1

March

0.4 1.4 0.2 0.7 1.9 0.6

April

1.1 2.6 0.6 1.1 -0.4 1.3

May

-0.8 -5.1 0.4 0.5 1.6 0.3

June

-1.2 -3.8 -0.4 -0.7 0.0 -0.8

July

0.0 1.0 -0.3 -0.2 -0.2 -0.2

August

0.4 1.0 0.3 0.8 4.2 0.5

September

0.0 -1.5 0.3 0.6 2.4 0.4

October

1.1 4.3 (r)0.3 0.8 2.8 0.6

November

(r)1.6 (r)4.7 0.8 1.5 7.6 0.8

December

(r)1.2 (r)4.4 0.3 (r)0.6 1.7 0.6

2011

January

1.5 3.9 0.8 1.2 3.2 0.9

Jan. 2009 to 2010

11.4 77.8 1.3 3.5 4.4 3.3

Jan. 2010 to 2011

5.3 12.4 3.4 6.8 22.6 5.3

Footnotes
(r) Revised


Exports 

All Exports: Export prices increased 1.2 percent in January, led up by rising prices for both agricultural and 
nonagricultural export prices. Overall export prices have not recorded a decline since July, and rose 6.8 
percent over the past year. The 12-month increase in January was the largest year-over-year advance since a 
7.0 percent increase between September 2007 and September 2008. 

Agricultural Exports: Agricultural export prices rose 3.2 percent in January, and increased 23.9 percent 
since July. The January advance was driven by higher prices for soybeans, corn, and wheat, up 5.8 percent, 
8.0 percent, and 8.2 percent, respectively. In contrast, cotton prices, which rose 111.8 percent over the past 
year, fell 0.2 percent in January, the first monthly decline for the index since February 2010. The price index 
for agricultural exports increased 22.6 percent for the year ended in January.

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: The price index for nonagricultural exports advanced 0.9 percent in 
January, the largest monthly increase for the index since a 1.3 percent rise in April 2010. Higher prices for 
nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials, capital goods, and automotive vehicles more than offset a 
0.4 percent drop in prices for consumer goods. Nonagricultural prices rose 5.3 percent over the past year, led 
mostly by a 13.9 percent advance in the price index for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials.
   
 				
     
                                     SELECTED JANUARY HIGHLIGHTS


Import Prices

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonfuel industrial supplies and materials prices increased 2.3 
percent in January after a 1.1 percent advance the previous month. Following a recent trend, the January 
increase was led by higher prices for unfinished metals and chemicals, up 3.2 percent and 2.3 percent, 
respectively. The price index for unfinished metals rose 20.5 percent over the past year, while chemicals 
prices advanced 13.7 percent for the same period.       

Finished Goods: Each of the major finished goods categories increased in January. Consumer goods prices 
advanced 0.3 percent; the largest contributors to the increase were a 0.9 percent advance in apparel, 
footwear, and household goods prices and a 4.0 percent jump in jewelry prices. Prices for automotive 
vehicles rose 0.5 percent, led by a 1.2 percent increase in parts prices. The price index for capital goods 
ticked up 0.1 percent as a 0.8 percent increase in capital goods prices, excluding computers more than offset 
1.4 percent drop in computers, peripherals, and semiconductor prices. 
 
Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Foods, feeds, and beverages prices advanced 2.6 percent in January 
following a 1.4 percent increase in December. Higher prices for food oils, fish, coffee, meat, and fruit all 
contributed to the January rise.   

Imports by Locality of Origin: Prices for imports from China rose 0.3 percent for the fourth consecutive 
month in January, driving the index up 1.4 percent over the past year. The advance between January 2010 
and January 2011 was the largest 12-month increase since a 1.5 percent rise in import prices from China in 
January 2009. The price index for imports from Japan rose 0.4 percent in January, the largest monthly 
increase since a 0.7 percent advance in June 2009. Higher fuel prices contributed to rising prices for imports 
from Canada, the European Union, and Mexico, up 2.8 percent, 1.0 percent, and 1.2 percent, respectively.   

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares declined 2.6 percent in January, led by lower Asian 
and Latin American/Caribbean fares. Despite the downturn, import air passenger fares rose 12.2 percent over 
the past 12 months. The price index for import air freight fell 1.6 percent in January, but advanced 6.7 
percent over the past year.  


Export Prices
 
Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: The price index for nonagricultural industrial supplies 
and materials rose 2.3 percent in January after a 1.4 percent increase the previous month. The January 
advance was led by higher prices for fuel, metals, and chemicals.  
 
Finished Goods: Finished goods prices were mixed in January. Prices for capital goods and automotive 
vehicles increased 0.2 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively. In contrast, consumer goods prices declined 0.4 
percent.           

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares rose 7.9 percent in January, driven by a 12.4 percent 
increase in Asian fares and a 7.7 percent advance in Latin American/Caribbean fares. The index for overall 
export fares increased 15.6 percent over the past 12 months. Export air freight prices advanced 3.8 percent 
in January and 7.9 percent over the past year.
		
Import and Export Price Index data for February 2011 are scheduled for release on Tuesday, March 
15, 2011 at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).

Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: January 2010 to January 2011
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description End
Use
Relative
import-
ance
Dec.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Dec.
2010
Jan.
2011
Annual Monthly
Jan.
2010
to
Jan.
2011
Sept.
2010
to
Oct.
2010
Oct.
2010
to
Nov.
2010
Nov.
2010
to
Dec.
2010
Dec.
2010
to
Jan.
2011

All commodities

  100.000 130.7 132.6 5.3 1.1 1.6 1.2 1.5

All imports excluding food and fuels (Dec. 2010=100)

  70.969 100.0 100.6 - - - - 0.6

All imports excluding petroleum

  78.239 112.6 113.8 3.2 0.3 0.8 0.4 1.1

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)

  76.747 116.4 117.3 3.4 0.3 0.8 0.3 0.8

Foods, feeds, & beverages

0

5.778 162.9 167.1 14.8 2.1 2.6 1.4 2.6

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

00

4.492 183.0 187.8 14.6 2.2 3.0 1.6 2.6

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

01

1.286 117.6 120.2 15.4 1.8 1.0 1.3 2.2

Industrial supplies & materials

1

36.417 221.1 228.4 12.7 3.2 3.8 3.1 3.3

Industrial supplies & materials excluding petroleum

  14.656 159.3 164.6 10.5 1.5 2.4 1.5 3.3

Industrial supplies & materials excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)

  13.164 178.1 182.2 13.0 1.7 2.5 1.1 2.3

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

  8.040 171.1 174.8 12.6 1.8 2.6 0.8 2.2

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable excluding petroleum

  5.124 145.5 152.2 7.6 1.0 2.1 2.6 4.6

Fuels & lubricants

10

23.254 281.9 292.8 12.4 4.3 4.7 4.4 3.9

Petroleum & petroleum products

100

21.762 309.3 319.7 14.3 4.7 5.0 4.3 3.4

Crude

10000

16.185 316.0 325.2 14.8 4.8 4.3 4.5 2.9

Fuels, n.e.s.-coals & gas

101

1.140 124.9 139.6 -13.9 -2.5 1.2 6.7 11.8

Gas-natural

10110

1.016 110.4 124.8 -18.8 -3.5 1.7 9.2 13.0

Paper & paper base stocks

11

0.682 117.5 117.9 13.0 -0.5 0.5 0.0 0.3

Materials associated with nondurable supplies & materials

12

4.508 157.4 161.8 13.5 1.9 2.5 2.0 2.8

Selected building materials

13

1.105 127.0 129.6 5.8 0.6 1.0 0.3 2.0

Unfinished metals related to durable goods

14

3.821 265.9 274.5 20.5 2.9 4.5 1.2 3.2

Finished metals related to durable goods

15

1.604 152.4 153.6 8.5 1.6 1.3 0.3 0.8

Nonmetals related to durable goods

16

1.444 108.6 110.0 3.8 0.2 0.6 0.1 1.3

Capital goods

2

22.368 92.0 92.1 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1

Electric generating equipment

20

2.782 113.7 114.4 2.4 0.1 0.6 0.2 0.6

Nonelectrical machinery

21

17.685 86.2 86.2 0.0 0.2 -0.1 0.0 0.0

Transportation equipment excluding motor vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)

22

1.900 121.9 121.9 -0.8 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

3

9.680 109.4 109.9 1.4 0.1 0.2 -0.2 0.5

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

4

25.757 104.1 104.4 0.0 -0.5 0.4 0.0 0.3

Nondurables, manufactured

40

12.661 110.3 110.4 1.8 -0.5 0.5 0.3 0.1

Durables, manufactured

41

12.079 98.2 98.6 -1.9 -0.6 0.4 -0.3 0.4

Nonmanufactured consumer goods

42

1.017 103.7 105.9 3.7 0.6 0.0 0.1 2.1

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2009 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the three months after original publication.
Dash = Not available


Table 2. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: January 2010 to January 2011
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description End
Use
Relative
import-
ance
Dec.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Dec.
2010
Jan.
2011
Annual Monthly
Jan.
2010
to
Jan.
2011
Sept.
2010
to
Oct.
2010
Oct.
2010
to
Nov.
2010
Nov.
2010
to
Dec.
2010
Dec.
2010
to
Jan.
2011

All commodities

  100.000 127.4 128.9 6.8 0.8 1.5 0.6 1.2

Agricultural commodities

  11.443 198.2 204.5 22.6 2.8 7.6 1.7 3.2

All exports excluding food and fuels (Dec. 2010=100)

  82.057 100.0 100.5 - - - - 0.5

Nonagricultural commodities

  88.556 122.4 123.5 5.3 0.6 0.8 0.6 0.9

Foods, feeds, & beverages

0

10.138 190.9 197.7 18.0 2.4 6.0 0.7 3.6

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

00

9.454 194.4 201.3 18.0 2.4 6.4 0.5 3.5

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

01

0.684 160.9 166.8 18.4 2.3 0.3 5.0 3.7

Industrial supplies & materials

1

33.391 172.4 176.4 15.4 1.7 2.5 1.7 2.3

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

  12.017 174.8 178.8 12.0 1.5 1.7 1.4 2.3

Industrial supplies & materials, nondurable

  21.374 172.0 175.9 17.7 1.8 3.1 2.0 2.3

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials

10

1.989 222.6 225.5 48.3 4.8 13.7 7.8 1.3

Nonagricultural industrial supplies & materials

  31.402 170.4 174.4 13.9 1.5 1.9 1.4 2.3

Fuels & lubricants

11

7.804 233.2 243.8 21.9 3.1 3.6 2.6 4.5

Nonagricultural supplies & materials excluding fuels & building materials

12

22.693 164.3 167.1 12.2 1.2 1.6 1.2 1.7

Selected building materials

13

0.905 116.4 116.2 1.2 -0.2 0.3 -0.7 -0.2

Capital goods

2

35.881 103.8 104.0 0.4 -0.1 0.3 0.1 0.2

Electrical generating equipment

20

3.425 109.9 110.6 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.0 0.6

Nonelectrical machinery

21

25.265 94.3 93.9 -0.6 -0.2 0.2 0.0 -0.4

Transportation equipment excluding motor vehicles (Dec. 2001=100)

22

7.192 141.1 144.2 4.1 0.3 0.1 0.3 2.2

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

3

6.932 109.1 109.2 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.1

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

4

13.657 112.9 112.5 2.7 0.6 0.4 0.0 -0.4

Nondurables, manufactured

40

7.036 114.1 113.9 2.7 0.4 0.8 -0.2 -0.2

Durables, manufactured

41

5.550 111.1 110.6 2.6 1.0 0.1 0.0 -0.5

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2009 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the three months after original publication.
Dash = Not available


Table 3. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: January 2010 to January 2011
[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
Dec.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Dec.
2010
Jan.
2011
Annual Monthly
Jan.
2010
to
Jan.
2011
Sept.
2010
to
Oct.
2010
Oct.
2010
to
Nov.
2010
Nov.
2010
to
Dec.
2010
Dec.
2010
to
Jan.
2011

Nonmanufactured articles

  20.416 140.9 146.1 13.1 4.1 3.9 4.5 3.7

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

11

2.126 166.1 173.6 20.9 2.5 2.5 3.0 4.5

Crop production

111

1.534 170.8 176.8 16.3 2.6 2.3 2.1 3.5

Mining

21

18.290 138.1 143.2 12.3 4.2 4.2 4.6 3.7

Mining (except oil and gas) (Dec. 2006=100)

212

0.368 140.5 145.2 13.1 -0.1 0.8 0.1 3.3

Manufactured articles

  79.086 112.3 113.4 3.6 0.5 1.0 0.4 1.0

Manufactured goods, part 1

31

10.989 114.2 115.8 7.3 0.9 1.3 0.8 1.4

Food manufacturing

311

3.243 142.0 146.4 20.0 2.3 3.0 1.6 3.1

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

0.951 110.2 109.8 0.9 0.5 1.0 0.0 -0.4

Textile product mills

314

0.850 106.7 107.8 6.7 0.3 1.0 1.6 1.0

Apparel manufacturing

315

4.074 103.1 104.2 3.0 0.5 0.4 0.5 1.1

Leather and allied product manufacturing

316

1.505 108.6 109.0 2.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.4

Manufactured goods, part 2

32

18.679 127.2 129.8 7.5 0.9 2.5 1.3 2.0

Wood product manufacturing

321

0.673 104.8 108.4 10.2 0.6 1.9 0.4 3.4

Paper manufacturing

322

1.234 110.6 111.4 9.6 -0.1 0.5 -0.1 0.7

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

4.550 139.1 145.0 11.8 4.1 6.8 3.6 4.2

Chemical manufacturing

325

9.558 129.6 130.8 5.8 0.0 1.7 0.9 0.9

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

1.755 116.5 120.2 5.3 -0.3 0.3 0.3 3.2

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

0.809 123.4 125.5 4.3 0.7 0.2 0.1 1.7

Manufactured goods, part 3

33

49.418 107.4 107.9 1.5 0.3 0.5 0.1 0.5

Primary metal manufacturing

331

4.574 173.6 178.4 18.9 2.7 4.0 1.2 2.8

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

2.564 121.3 122.1 5.0 0.8 0.4 0.7 0.7

Machinery manufacturing

333

5.577 114.8 115.8 2.2 0.6 0.3 0.1 0.9

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

15.900 85.1 84.5 -4.2 -0.7 -0.2 -0.5 -0.7

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

3.658 113.7 114.0 0.8 -0.1 0.4 0.4 0.3

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

10.836 106.4 106.4 0.5 0.2 0.1 -0.1 0.0

Furniture and related product manufacturing

337

1.246 107.2 107.2 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.5 0.0

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

5.063 114.3 117.3 4.6 0.3 0.8 0.3 2.6

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2009 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the three months after original publication.
Dash = Not available


Table 4. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: January 2010 to January 2011
[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
Dec.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Dec.
2010
Jan.
2011
Annual Monthly
Jan.
2010
to
Jan.
2011
Sept.
2010
to
Oct.
2010
Oct.
2010
to
Nov.
2010
Nov.
2010
to
Dec.
2010
Dec.
2010
to
Jan.
2011

Nonmanufactured articles

  9.013 165.1 175.3 34.0 2.7 10.1 1.0 6.2

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

11

6.667 189.6 199.5 34.9 3.6 13.5 2.8 5.2

Crop production

111

6.412 198.0 208.4 36.8 4.0 14.5 2.8 5.3

Mining

21

2.346 112.3 122.2 32.1 0.4 2.5 -3.4 8.8

Mining (except oil and gas)

212

1.547 129.9 131.1 35.7 1.3 1.6 -5.1 0.9

Manufactured articles

  87.472 115.1 115.7 4.6 0.6 0.9 0.5 0.5

Manufactured goods, part 1

31

7.228 135.3 136.7 11.0 1.6 1.8 1.4 1.0

Food manufacturing

311

5.017 152.3 152.7 10.8 1.5 2.0 1.7 0.3

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

0.567 114.8 113.9 5.7 2.0 0.3 -0.3 -0.8

Apparel manufacturing

315

0.397 105.6 108.3 5.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.6

Manufactured goods, part 2

32

25.911 124.5 125.7 9.1 1.1 1.6 0.8 1.0

Wood product manufacturing

321

0.408 116.5 113.0 2.8 -0.3 4.9 -2.2 -3.0

Paper manufacturing

322

2.019 122.7 124.1 9.7 -0.4 0.0 -0.6 1.1

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

5.178 139.6 144.0 18.5 4.7 5.1 4.3 3.2

Chemical manufacturing

325

15.603 125.4 125.9 8.4 0.7 1.1 0.5 0.4

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

1.970 107.5 107.7 0.9 0.2 -0.6 0.0 0.2

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

0.734 112.5 110.7 -3.5 -0.2 0.0 -0.4 -1.6

Manufactured goods, part 3

33

54.333 109.6 110.0 2.2 0.3 0.6 0.3 0.4

Primary metal manufacturing

331

4.849 160.3 164.9 18.1 2.5 3.4 1.9 2.9

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

2.485 122.3 123.0 1.7 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.6

Machinery manufacturing

333

10.702 115.2 115.5 1.6 0.1 0.3 -0.1 0.3

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

14.634 91.4 91.0 -1.7 -0.4 0.1 0.2 -0.4

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

3.139 110.0 110.6 0.9 0.5 0.9 0.2 0.5

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

13.273 111.9 113.2 2.4 0.2 0.1 0.2 1.2

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

4.941 112.7 110.7 1.5 1.0 0.0 0.0 -1.8

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2009 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the three months after original publication.
Dash = Not available


Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: January 2010 to January 2011
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Harmo-
nized
system
Relative
import-
ance
Dec.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Dec.
2010
Jan.
2011
Annual Monthly
Jan.
2010
to
Jan.
2011
Sept.
2010
to
Oct.
2010
Oct.
2010
to
Nov.
2010
Nov.
2010
to
Dec.
2010
Dec.
2010
to
Jan.
2011

Live animals; animal products

I

1.334 155.8 160.2 21.7 1.8 1.3 2.2 2.8

Meat and edible meat offal

02

0.303 189.4 195.8 21.0 0.5 -0.1 2.9 3.4

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates

03

0.725 119.5 122.3 22.9 2.9 1.1 1.6 2.3

Vegetable products

II

1.788 190.3 195.8 16.8 2.5 2.1 2.0 2.9

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers

07

0.356 325.1 330.7 8.3 -1.2 -0.8 5.6 1.7

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

08

0.529 114.3 117.7 10.2 3.8 -2.2 0.5 3.0

Coffee, tea, mate and spices

09

0.402 218.3 230.6 39.6 -1.0 9.3 0.1 5.6

Animal or vegetable fats and oils (Dec. 2009=100)

III

0.321 135.4 152.8 49.2 5.0 7.1 7.5 12.9

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco

IV

2.651 149.3 150.5 7.0 1.5 2.4 0.3 0.8

Cocoa and cocoa preparations (Dec. 2009=100)

18

0.226 96.3 98.8 -4.3 -1.0 2.5 0.6 2.6

Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; bakers' wares (Dec. 2007=100)

19

0.292 132.9 133.2 16.1 2.9 7.7 -3.6 0.2

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts, or other parts of plants

20

0.369 147.9 149.9 14.9 6.5 5.5 1.6 1.4

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar

22

0.923 120.5 119.9 1.3 0.6 1.3 0.2 -0.5

Mineral products

V

22.864 283.0 293.5 11.8 4.0 4.5 4.3 3.7

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous substances and mineral waxes

27

22.540 279.5 289.9 11.7 4.1 4.6 4.4 3.7

Products of the chemical or allied industries

VI

9.192 143.8 145.2 5.8 0.4 1.6 0.9 1.0

Inorganic chemicals

28

1.046 327.0 341.6 38.3 7.3 5.2 1.3 4.5

Organic chemicals

29

3.022 137.1 136.8 4.0 0.4 0.9 1.3 -0.2

Pharmaceutical products

30

3.440 115.5 115.7 -2.0 -3.0 0.5 0.2 0.2

Fertilizers (Dec. 2009=100)

31

0.245 112.1 120.3 11.9 2.5 5.0 4.2 7.3

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec. 2001=100)

33

0.448 124.1 122.6 1.5 1.0 3.8 -0.2 -1.2

Miscellaneous chemical products

38

0.498 100.5 104.3 14.0 2.4 2.9 1.5 3.8

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

2.947 142.0 145.8 10.7 0.5 0.9 1.4 2.7

Plastics and articles thereof

39

1.843 134.1 135.1 6.1 -0.2 0.6 0.8 0.7

Rubber and articles thereof

40

1.104 157.0 166.4 18.8 1.5 1.3 2.3 6.0

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel goods, etc

VIII

0.545 115.5 116.4 2.4 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.8

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

42

0.498 115.6 116.6 1.7 -0.1 0.2 0.3 0.9

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw, basketware and wickerwork

IX

0.705 126.3 130.3 9.3 0.6 1.5 0.4 3.2

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

X

1.359 114.3 114.6 7.7 -0.1 0.4 0.0 0.3

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, paper or paperboard

48

0.898 106.8 107.4 5.9 0.5 0.2 0.1 0.6

Textile and textile articles

XI

5.196 105.9 107.3 4.3 0.5 0.8 0.8 1.3

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted

61

2.047 100.6 101.6 3.5 0.5 0.5 0.4 1.0

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted

62

1.898 104.4 105.6 2.7 0.5 0.4 0.6 1.1

Made-up or worn textile articles

63

0.630 100.6 101.8 9.9 0.5 1.7 2.5 1.2

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.

XII

1.257 108.8 109.1 1.9 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.3

Footwear and parts of such articles

64

1.073 107.9 108.1 1.9 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.2

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics, glass etc.

XIII

0.743 126.3 126.5 1.6 1.3 0.2 0.2 0.2

Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, or mica (Dec. 2001=100)

68

0.255 119.4 119.2 1.1 0.7 -0.4 0.8 -0.2

Ceramic products

69

0.216 138.3 138.3 -1.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0

Glass and glassware

70

0.272 120.3 121.1 4.8 3.1 1.0 -0.2 0.7

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation jewelry, and coins

XIV

2.944 176.2 181.3 16.6 3.0 3.7 2.3 2.9

Base metals and articles of base metals

XV

5.212 187.7 191.4 12.2 1.2 2.2 0.2 2.0

Iron and steel

72

0.916 231.0 240.0 19.1 -1.2 1.6 0.7 3.9

Articles of iron or steel

73

1.588 152.7 153.1 8.9 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.3

Copper and articles thereof

74

0.602 379.8 405.5 23.3 5.7 5.8 2.0 6.8

Nickel and articles thereof (Dec. 2009=100)

75

0.173 128.0 131.8 32.9 3.4 5.9 -4.3 3.0

Aluminum and articles thereof

76

0.908 144.1 145.1 8.8 2.4 3.9 -0.1 0.7

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof

82

0.332 120.3 121.8 3.1 0.6 0.3 0.8 1.2

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

83

0.379 127.8 128.8 1.0 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.8

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image and sound recorders, parts, etc.

XVI

24.930 85.9 85.7 -1.6 -0.2 0.0 -0.1 -0.2

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

84

12.348 88.5 88.2 -0.1 0.2 0.0 0.0 -0.3

Electrical machinery and equip, sound and TV recorders & reproducers, parts

85

12.582 83.3 83.2 -3.3 -0.8 0.0 -0.4 -0.1

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

9.011 110.5 110.5 0.5 0.1 0.1 -0.2 0.0

Motor vehicles and their parts

87

7.999 109.6 109.5 0.6 0.2 0.1 -0.2 -0.1

Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof (Dec. 2002=100)

88

0.925 113.8 113.8 -1.6 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical instruments; & timepieces

XVIII

3.259 101.8 104.3 2.9 0.3 0.3 0.2 2.5

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical instruments

90

3.006 99.4 102.0 2.9 0.3 0.2 0.2 2.6

Clocks and watches and parts thereof

91

0.187 124.2 125.1 0.3 0.5 0.8 0.1 0.7

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

XX

3.651 107.2 107.4 0.6 0.3 0.0 0.2 0.2

Furniture & stuffed furnishings; lamps & lighting fittings, nesoi; prefab bldgs

94

1.792 110.4 110.2 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.4 -0.2

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

95

1.652 101.0 101.4 0.3 0.2 -0.1 0.0 0.4

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

96

0.208 124.9 127.3 7.2 1.3 0.4 0.3 1.9

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2009 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the three months after original publication.
Dash = Not available


Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: January 2010 to January 2011
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Harmo-
nized
system
Relative
import-
ance
Dec.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Dec.
2010
Jan.
2011
Annual Monthly
Jan.
2010
to
Jan.
2011
Sept.
2010
to
Oct.
2010
Oct.
2010
to
Nov.
2010
Nov.
2010
to
Dec.
2010
Dec.
2010
to
Jan.
2011

Live animals; animal products

I

1.868 179.3 181.0 16.0 2.2 -0.7 0.7 0.9

Meat & edible meat offal (Dec. 2006=100)

02

1.135 144.9 145.6 17.2 2.1 -0.9 -0.3 0.5

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates

03

0.394 173.1 184.2 30.5 3.3 0.0 6.9 6.4

Vegetable products

II

5.763 225.6 239.4 24.6 2.8 10.9 1.2 6.1

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

08

0.994 129.4 134.6 7.1 4.2 3.5 1.9 4.0

Cereals

10

2.135 256.1 277.1 40.7 2.8 16.4 -1.2 8.2

Oilseeds and misc. grains, seeds, fruits, plants, straw and fodder

12

2.150 251.0 263.6 25.8 3.7 11.9 4.1 5.0

Animal or vegetable fats and oils (Dec. 2009=100)

III

0.498 140.2 150.8 46.8 4.6 8.0 12.3 7.6

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and tobacco

IV

2.710 147.1 146.6 3.3 1.0 1.2 0.5 -0.3

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants (Dec. 2009=100)

20

0.346 104.5 103.9 3.0 0.3 -0.7 1.1 -0.6

Miscellaneous edible preparations

21

0.462 119.1 120.6 1.2 0.4 0.0 0.1 1.3

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar (Dec. 2008=100)

22

0.346 104.6 103.6 -0.7 2.1 0.1 -0.8 -1.0

Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal feed

23

0.734 219.9 216.8 10.1 2.7 6.4 1.3 -1.4

Mineral products

V

7.795 277.3 289.1 21.7 2.9 3.7 2.0 4.3

Mineral fuels, oils and residuals, bituminous substances and mineral waxes

27

7.154 270.1 282.6 21.9 3.1 4.0 2.6 4.6

Products of the chemical or allied industries

VI

12.984 148.2 148.8 7.1 0.3 1.1 0.3 0.4

Inorganic chemicals

28

1.046 194.1 197.4 17.6 1.6 1.7 1.0 1.7

Organic chemicals

29

3.225 154.6 156.6 7.2 -1.1 0.9 0.6 1.3

Pharmaceutical products

30

4.076 125.9 125.7 4.2 0.7 1.1 -0.4 -0.2

Tanning or dyeing extracts, dyes, paints, varnish, putty, & inks

32

0.552 118.1 118.4 5.1 1.6 1.6 -3.4 0.3

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery cosmetic or toilet preparations

33

0.758 126.6 126.4 1.9 0.5 1.0 0.1 -0.2

Soap; lubricants; waxes, polishing or scouring products; candles, pastes

34

0.484 121.1 121.4 4.8 -2.4 0.9 0.0 0.2

Miscellaneous chemical products

38

1.829 143.5 144.4 5.9 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.6

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

5.133 140.3 141.2 6.0 0.1 0.8 0.6 0.6

Plastics and articles thereof

39

4.175 134.0 134.6 6.7 0.2 0.9 0.7 0.4

Rubber and articles thereof

40

0.958 168.6 170.5 3.0 0.1 0.4 0.1 1.1

Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins, travel goods, etc.

VIII

0.409 123.0 124.5 14.2 0.4 0.7 0.7 1.2

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw, basketware and wickerwork

IX

0.530 109.8 108.8 1.6 -0.2 1.3 -0.7 -0.9

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

X

2.758 123.8 125.4 11.7 0.7 0.7 0.0 1.3

Woodpulp and recovered paper

47

0.947 146.5 149.2 27.2 1.9 3.0 0.4 1.8

Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, paper or paperboard

48

1.309 117.5 118.9 7.9 0.0 -0.4 -0.3 1.2

Printed material

49

0.502 117.3 118.0 1.6 1.0 -0.1 0.0 0.6

Textile and textile articles

XI

2.330 143.6 145.2 32.5 3.8 9.7 4.5 1.1

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics thereof

52

1.049 224.9 226.0 96.9 10.6 24.9 10.1 0.5

Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, ceramics, glass etc. (Dec. 2008=100)

XIII

0.711 116.0 115.6 -1.6 0.1 0.3 -0.3 -0.3

Glass and glassware

70

0.394 98.2 99.1 -0.9 0.3 0.4 -0.5 0.9

Pearls, stones, precious metals, imitation jewelry, and coins

XIV

4.801 236.6 240.6 21.6 4.0 3.3 2.1 1.7

Base metals and articles of base metals

XV

5.598 167.9 174.7 10.8 0.5 0.6 1.5 4.1

Iron and steel

72

1.693 198.8 213.5 18.2 -1.8 -0.7 4.2 7.4

Articles of iron or steel

73

1.244 159.8 162.7 3.6 -0.3 0.5 0.1 1.8

Copper and articles thereof

74

0.715 259.0 278.2 24.2 4.2 2.1 2.6 7.4

Aluminum and articles thereof

76

0.941 128.9 132.3 7.2 2.9 2.1 -0.5 2.6

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof

82

0.348 125.4 125.4 1.2 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

83

0.296 124.8 121.9 -0.4 0.4 -0.4 0.5 -2.3

Machinery, electrical equipment, TV image and sound recorders, parts, etc.

XVI

27.386 95.6 96.1 0.2 -0.1 0.4 0.1 0.5

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

84

15.969 106.9 107.6 1.1 -0.1 0.5 0.0 0.7

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts and accessories thereof

85

11.417 83.4 83.5 -1.1 -0.1 0.2 0.4 0.1

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

11.024 122.2 122.6 1.7 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3

Motor vehicles and their parts

87

6.181 108.9 108.9 0.8 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.0

Optical, photo, measuring, medical & musical instruments; & timepieces

XVIII

6.137 107.1 105.5 -0.8 0.1 0.2 0.0 -1.5

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

XX

1.420 107.2 107.3 -1.2 -0.2 -0.1 -0.3 0.1

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings nesoi;

94

0.680 118.3 118.2 0.7 -0.1 -0.2 -0.2 -0.1

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

95

0.632 91.6 91.5 -3.9 -0.4 0.1 -0.7 -0.1

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2009 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the three months after original publication.
Dash = Not available


Table 7. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes by locality of origin: January 2010 to January 2011
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Percent
of
U.S.
imports(1)
Index Percent change
Dec.
2010
Jan.
2011
Annual Monthly
Jan.
2010
to
Jan.
2011
Sept.
2010
to
Oct.
2010
Oct.
2010
to
Nov.
2010
Nov.
2010
to
Dec.
2010
Dec.
2010
to
Jan.
2011

Industrialized Countries(2)

39.494 127.6 129.3 3.0 -0.1 1.8 0.7 1.3

Nonmanufactured articles

4.457 211.8 222.1 5.9 1.0 6.8 4.3 4.9

Manufactured articles

34.670 120.8 121.7 2.4 -0.2 1.3 0.2 0.7

Other Countries(3)

60.506 128.7 130.4 5.4 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.3

Nonmanufactured articles

12.079 285.8 294.9 14.9 4.8 3.6 3.7 3.2

Manufactured articles

48.226 106.8 107.6 2.5 0.3 0.8 0.4 0.7

Canada

14.271 146.8 150.9 5.7 0.6 2.6 1.7 2.8

Nonmanufactured articles

3.991 204.6 215.0 5.2 0.6 7.0 4.4 5.1

Manufactured articles

10.005 135.5 137.9 5.6 0.5 1.2 0.6 1.8

European Union(4)

17.186 129.1 130.4 2.1 -0.1 0.6 0.0 1.0

Nonmanufactured articles

0.256 270.9 272.8 10.4 0.0 4.2 3.2 0.7

Manufactured articles

16.854 126.4 127.6 1.9 -0.2 0.6 -0.1 0.9

France (Dec. 2003=100)

1.995 121.4 121.8 -1.9 0.0 0.3 -0.3 0.3

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)

4.510 112.4 112.7 -1.2 0.5 0.4 -0.3 0.3

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)

2.795 128.3 129.8 3.8 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.2

Latin America(5)

18.406 163.0 166.6 5.8 1.7 1.9 1.1 2.2

Nonmanufactured articles

5.479 309.4 318.9 11.6 4.1 3.5 3.0 3.1

Manufactured articles

12.844 131.9 134.1 2.7 0.6 1.1 0.2 1.7

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)

11.380 139.9 141.6 2.8 1.3 0.8 0.8 1.2

Nonmanufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100)

1.900 167.4 173.1 12.9 5.3 2.4 5.3 3.4

Manufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100)

9.437 95.7 96.3 -0.2 0.2 0.2 -0.5 0.6

Pacific Rim (Dec. 2003=100)(6)

34.852 102.0 102.3 1.9 -0.1 0.1 0.6 0.3

China (Dec. 2003=100)

19.595 101.4 101.7 1.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3

Japan

6.198 99.8 100.2 2.3 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.4

Asian NICs(7)

5.555 88.4 89.0 1.9 -1.0 -0.2 1.0 0.7

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)(8)

5.987 100.4 102.5 5.9 0.3 0.9 1.9 2.1

Asia Near East (Dec. 2003=100)(9)

3.795 223.3 227.9 11.8 2.4 2.4 4.5 2.1

Footnotes
(1) Percentage of trade figures are based on 2009 trade values.
(2) Includes Western Europe, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
(3) Includes Eastern Europe, Latin America, OPEC countries, and other countries in Asia, Africa and the Western Hemisphere.
(4) Includes European Union countries.
(5) Includes Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.
(6) Includes China, Japan, Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines and Asian Newly Industrialized Countries.
(7) Asian Newly Industrialized Countries. Includes Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.
(8) Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
(9) Includes Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the three months after original publication.
Regions are not mutually exclusive.
Dash = Not available


Table 8. U.S. international price indexes and percent changes for selected transportation services: January 2010 to January 2011
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Relative
import-
ance
Dec.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Dec.
2010
Jan.
2011
Annual Monthly
Jan.
2010
to
Jan.
2011
Sept.
2010
to
Oct.
2010
Oct.
2010
to
Nov.
2010
Nov.
2010
to
Dec.
2010
Dec.
2010
to
Jan.
2011

Air Freight

Import Air Freight

100.000 170.0 167.2 6.7 1.0 2.9 0.2 -1.6

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

22.167 142.5 141.4 2.2 3.2 4.6 0.3 -0.8

Asia

74.272 156.4 153.2 7.6 0.3 2.5 0.3 -2.0

Export Air Freight

100.000 127.9 132.8 7.9 0.5 0.7 0.6 3.8

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)

39.289 117.2 120.7 6.5 0.6 0.2 1.7 3.0

Inbound Air Freight

100.000 153.5 153.1 6.3 1.6 2.1 0.5 -0.3

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

22.632 132.5 132.4 2.8 2.2 3.8 0.4 -0.1

Asia

65.649 141.1 140.6 6.7 0.7 2.1 0.2 -0.4

Outbound Air Freight

100.000 126.4 129.8 12.4 1.3 0.2 1.4 2.7

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

37.653 147.3 149.4 11.5 1.8 0.3 2.1 1.4

Asia

43.312 114.2 118.3 11.8 1.3 0.2 0.8 3.6

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares

100.000 169.9 165.4 12.2 4.8 -1.3 2.1 -2.6

Europe

36.664 170.7 176.9 15.2 5.8 -3.2 -5.8 3.6

Asia

27.808 156.8 142.1 6.9 3.9 -1.9 9.8 -9.4

Latin America/Caribbean

15.109 171.1 157.7 20.6 5.0 4.5 9.2 -7.8

Export Air Passenger Fares

100.000 169.0 182.3 15.6 -2.3 -3.2 3.7 7.9

Europe

28.787 189.3 185.9 -0.2 -0.9 -13.6 2.2 -1.8

Asia

30.859 157.6 177.1 31.3 -6.1 3.9 -1.1 12.4

Latin America/Caribbean

21.673 189.0 203.5 15.4 -1.5 3.8 9.9 7.7

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2009 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the three months after original publication.
Dash = Not available


                                          TECHNICAL NOTE


Import and Export Merchandise and Services Price Indexes -- All indexes use a modified Laspeyres 
formula and are not seasonally adjusted.  Price indexes are reweighted annually, with a two-year lag in 
the weights.  Published series use a base year of 2000=100 where possible.  More detailed index series 
and additional information may be obtained at http://www.bls.gov/mxp, or by calling (202) 691-7101.

Merchandise Goods Classification Systems -- The merchandise price indexes are published using 
three classification systems.  Items are classified by end use according to the Bureau of Economic 
Analysis Classification System, by industry according to the North American Industry Classification 
System (NAICS), and by product category according to the Harmonized System (HS).  While 
classification by end use and product category are self-explanatory, some notes are in order for 
classifying items by industry.  In the NAICS imports and exports tables, items are classified by output 
industry, not input industry.  As an example, NAICS import index 326 (plastics and rubber products 
manufacturing) include outputs such as manufactured plastic rather than inputs such as petroleum.  The 
NAICS classification structure also matches the classification system used by the PPI (Producer Price 
Index) to produce the NAICS primary products indexes.

Import Price Indexes -- Products have been classified by the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United 
States Annotated (TSUSA).  Import prices are based on U.S. dollar prices paid by the U.S. importer.  
The prices are generally either "free on board" (f.o.b.) foreign port or "cost, insurance, and freight" 
(c.i.f.) U.S. port transaction prices, depending on the practices of the individual industry.  The index for 
crude petroleum is calculated from data collected by the U.S. Department of Energy.  

Export Price Indexes -- Products have been classified by the Harmonized Schedule B classification 
system of the U.S. Bureau of the Census.  The prices used are generally either "free alongside ship" 
(f.a.s.) factory or "free on board" (f.o.b.) transaction prices, depending on the practices of the individual 
industry.  Prices used in the grain index, excluding rice, are obtained from the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture.

Services Price Indexes -- Starting in September 2008 the Import Air Passenger Fares Indexes represent 
changes in the average revenue per passenger received by foreign carriers from U.S. residents and are 
calculated from data obtained from an airline consulting service.  These data include tickets sold by 
travel agencies and travel websites.  Tickets sold directly by the airlines are excluded, as are frequent 
flyer tickets generally.  Starting in January 2008 the Export Air Passenger Fares Indexes represent 
changes in the average revenue per passenger received by U.S. carriers from foreign residents and are 
calculated from data collected directly from airlines. These data include frequent flyer tickets and those 
sold by consolidators. Taxes and fees are included in the Import Air Passenger Fares Index and excluded 
from the Export Air Passenger Fares Index. The Air Freight Indexes are calculated from data collected 
directly from airlines. These data exclude mail and passenger baggage. The scope of the service being 
priced is the movement of freight from airport to airport only, and does not include any ground 
transportation or port service. The Air Freight Indexes are presented using two definitions: Balance of 
Payments (which represent transactions between U.S. and foreign residents) and International (which 
represent transactions inbound to and outbound from the U.S.). Fact sheets specifying detailed 
information for each services industry are available at http://www.bls.gov/mxp under "MXP 
Publications."

Import Indexes by Locality of Origin -- Prices used in these indexes are a subset of the data collected 
for the Import Price Indexes.  Beginning with January 2002, the indexes are defined by locality of origin 
using a nomenclature based upon the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).  
Nonmanufactured goods are defined as NAICS 11 and 21 and manufactured goods are defined as 
NAICS 31-33. 
 
Revision Policy -- To reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by respondents, monthly data 
may be revised in each of the three months after original publication.  After three months, no further data 
revisions take place.  So, for example, data released in the January release will be subject to revision in 
the releases for February, March, and April.

Uses of the Data -- The primary use of the indexes is to deflate trade statistics, notably the foreign trade 
sector of the National Income and Product Accounts constructed by the Department of Commerce.  
Other published indexes are useful for general market analysis.  For trade in international services, 
Balance of Payments indexes are used for deflating National Income and Product Accounts, while 
International indexes are more appropriate for market analysis.  Merchandise and services indexes also 
can be used to study U.S. competitiveness and to compute price elasticities, and the merchandise import 
indexes by country or region of origin are useful in terms of trade analysis.

E-Mail Subscription -- The U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes news release is available through an 
e-mail subscription service at (http://www.bls.gov/bls/list.htm).
 
Additional Information -- More detailed data are available on the Import/Export Price Indexes home 
page at (http://www.bls.gov/mxp).  Flat Files and the FTP server are available for users requiring access 
to either a large volume of time series data or other related documentation. The FTP site can be accessed 
at ftp://ftp.bls.gov.   For technical assistance in using the BLS Internet site, send e-mail to 
(labstat.helpdesk@bls.gov).  For Import/Export Price Index data requests, send e-mail to 
(mxpinfo@bls.gov). 

Information from this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request.  
Voice phone: 202-691-5200; Federal Relay Service: 1-800-877-8339.

Last Modified Date: February 23, 2011