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Economic News Release
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U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes News Release

Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until					USDL-16-0464
8:30 a.m. (EST) Friday, March 11, 2016

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 - FEBRUARY 2016

U.S. import prices fell 0.3 percent in February following a 1.0-percent drop in January, the U.S. Bureau of 
Labor Statistics reported today. The February decrease was mostly led by declining fuel prices. The price 
index for U.S. exports decreased 0.4 percent in February, after falling 0.8 percent the previous month.  

Imports

All Imports: U.S. import prices fell 0.3 percent in February and have not recorded a monthly advance since 
the index ticked up 0.1 percent in June 2015. The February decrease followed declines of 1.0 percent in 
January and 1.2 percent in December. The price index for overall imports decreased 6.1 percent between 
February 2015 and February 2016. Despite the downward trend over the past 8 months, the 12-month drop 
recorded in February was the smallest over-the-year decline since the index fell 5.6 percent for the year 
ended in December 2014.               

Fuel Imports: Prices for import fuel declined 3.9 percent in February, after decreasing 21.9 percent over 
the previous 2 months. Fuel prices also have not recorded a monthly advance since June 2015 when the 
index rose 1.5 percent. Both petroleum and natural gas prices contributed to the February drop, falling 4.0 
percent and 6.3 percent, respectively. Prices for fuel declined 37.3 percent over the past year. A 38.5-percent 
decrease in petroleum prices over the period was the largest factor for the overall drop, although natural gas 
prices also fell for the year ended in February, declining 36.4 percent.          

All Imports Excluding Fuel: The price index for nonfuel imports edged down 0.1 percent in February, 
after recording no change the previous month. In February, lower prices for foods, feeds, and beverages; 
automotive vehicles; and nonfuel industrial supplies and materials more than offset rising consumer goods 
prices. Nonfuel import prices have not recorded a monthly increase since a 0.1-percent advance in July 2014 
and declined 2.7 percent over the past 12 months.        

Table A. Percent change in Import and Export Price Indexes, selected categories

Month IMPORTS EXPORTS
All
imports
Fuel
imports
Nonfuel
imports
All
exports
Agri-
cultural
exports
Non-
agricultural
exports

2015

February

-0.4 -1.9 -0.2 -0.2 -2.2 0.2

March

-0.2 1.5 -0.4 0.0 -1.6 0.2

April

-0.2 1.8 -0.3 -0.6 -0.9 -0.7

May

1.1 10.8 0.0 0.5 -1.3 0.6

June

0.1 1.5 -0.2 -0.3 -1.6 -0.1

July

-0.9 -6.1 -0.3 -0.4 1.0 -0.6

August

-1.8 -12.7 -0.3 -1.4 -2.5 -1.3

September

-1.1 -8.4 -0.3 -0.6 -1.4 -0.5

October

-0.3 -0.4 -0.3 -0.2 0.1 -0.3

November

-0.6 (r)-4.0 -0.3 -0.7 -0.9 -0.7

December

(r)-1.2 (r)-10.0 -0.3 -1.1 (r)-0.9 -1.1

2016

January

(r)-1.0 (r)-13.3 (r)0.0 -0.8 (r)-1.3 (r)-0.9

February

-0.3 -3.9 -0.1 -0.4 0.6 -0.4

Feb. 2014 to 2015

-10.2 -47.9 -1.1 -5.8 -9.7 -5.3

Feb. 2015 to 2016

-6.1 -37.3 -2.7 -6.0 -10.4 -5.6

Footnotes
(r) Revised

Exports

All Exports: Overall export prices decreased 0.4 percent in February as declining nonagricultural prices 
more than offset rising agricultural prices. The February decline followed decreases of 0.8 percent in 
January and 1.1 percent in December. The price index for overall exports has not recorded a 1-month 
increase since the index advanced 0.5 percent in May 2015. Export prices fell 6.0 percent over the past year. 

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: The price index for nonagricultural exports declined 0.4 percent in 
February, after decreasing 2.0 percent over the 2 previous months. In February, falling nonagricultural 
industrial supplies and materials prices drove the overall decline in nonagricultural prices, although lower 
prices for automotive vehicles and consumer goods also declined. In contrast, capital goods prices 
increased. Prices for nonagricultural exports decreased 5.6 percent for the year ended in February.

Agricultural Exports: Prices for agricultural exports rose 0.6 percent in February, the first monthly 
advance since the index ticked up 0.1 percent in October 2015. The February increase was driven by a 6.8-
percent rise in fruit prices, a 3.1-percent advance in meat prices, and a 4.4-percent increase in corn prices. 
Despite the February advance, agricultural prices fell 10.4 percent over the past 12 months led by lower 
prices for meat, nuts, and soybeans over that period.    

					SELECTED FEBRUARY HIGHLIGHTS

Import Prices

Imports by Locality of Origin: In February, prices for imports from China edged down 0.1 percent for the 
third consecutive month and have not recorded a monthly advance since the index increased 0.1 percent in 
December 2014. Import prices from China declined 1.6 percent over the past year. Led by lower fuel prices, 
prices for imports from Canada, the European Union, and Mexico also fell in February, declining 0.8 
percent, 0.5 percent, and 0.9 percent, respectively. The 0.5-percent decrease for import prices from the 
European Union was the largest monthly drop since the index fell 1.1 percent in September 2015, and the 
0.9-percent decline for import prices from Mexico was the largest 1-month decrease since the index dropped 
1.3 percent in August 2015. In contrast, the price index for imports from Japan rose 0.1 percent in February. 

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonfuel industrial supplies and materials prices edged down 
0.1 percent, led by lower prices for chemicals and building materials. The price index for nonfuel industrial 
supplies and materials has not recorded a 1-month increase since the index rose 0.5 percent in July 2014. 

Finished Goods: Consumer goods prices rose 0.3 percent in February, after advancing 0.4 percent in 
January. Both monthly increases were driven by higher prices for medicinal, dental, and pharmaceutical 
prices which rose 2.0 percent in February and 2.2 percent in January. In contrast, automotive vehicle prices 
fell 0.1 percent. In February, the price index for capital goods was unchanged from the previous month. 
    
Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Foods, feeds, and beverages prices decreased 2.0 percent in February as a 
20.0-percent drop in vegetable prices more than offset an 8.3-percent rise in meat prices.              

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares declined 1.5 percent in February, following a 1.0-
percent drop in January and a 0.6-percent decrease in December. In February, a 6.7-percent decline in Asian 
fares led the overall drop. Import air passenger fares decreased 3.3 percent for the year ended in February. 
The price index for import air freight fell 1.8 percent in February, after recording declines of 4.6 percent in 
January and 2.8 percent in December. Import air freight prices decreased 9.5 percent over the past year.      

Export Prices

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: The price index for nonagricultural industrial 
supplies and materials decreased 2.1 percent in February and 15.2 percent over the past 12 months. Both 
declines were driven by lower fuel prices which declined 6.1 percent in February and 33.0 percent between 
February 2015 and February 2016.      

Finished Goods: The major export finished goods categories were mixed in February. Capital goods prices 
rose 0.3 percent, led by a 4.2-percent increase in prices for civilian aircraft engines. The last monthly 
increase for capital goods prices larger than 0.3 percent was a 0.7-percent advance in January 2013. In 
contrast, prices for automotive vehicles fell 0.2 percent, and consumer goods prices edged down 0.1 percent. 

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares decreased 14.3 percent in February, driven by a 16.4-
percent drop in Asian fares and a 15.9-percent decline in Latin American/Caribbean fares. The February 
decrease was the largest monthly drop since the index was first published monthly in December 2000. 
Export air passenger fares fell 11.8 percent over the past year. Prices for export air freight recorded no 
change in February and decreased 0.4 percent over the past year.           

Import and Export Price Index data for March 2016 are scheduled for release on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at 
8:30 a.m. (EDT).    



Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: February 2015 to February 2016 [2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description End
Use
Relative
import-
ance
Jan.
2016(1)
Index Percent change
Jan.
2016
Feb.
2016
Annual Monthly
Feb.
2015
to
Feb.
2016
Oct.
2015
to
Nov.
2015
Nov.
2015
to
Dec.
2015
Dec.
2015
to
Jan.
2016
Jan.
2016
to
Feb.
2016

All commodities

  100.000 118.1 117.8 -6.1 -0.6 -1.2 -1.0 -0.3

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

  87.209 98.2 98.3 -2.5 -0.2 -0.3 -0.1 0.1

All imports excluding petroleum

  94.086 110.8 110.7 -2.9 -0.3 -0.4 0.0 -0.1

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)

  93.459 114.9 114.8 -2.7 -0.3 -0.3 0.0 -0.1

Foods, feeds, & beverages

0

6.250 173.4 170.0 -5.1 -0.2 -0.2 0.7 -2.0

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

00

4.859 190.8 186.1 -5.7 0.1 -0.4 0.5 -2.5

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

01

1.391 134.0 133.8 -3.0 -0.8 0.5 1.3 -0.1

Industrial supplies & materials

1

19.936 140.4 138.5 -21.4 -2.1 -4.8 -5.3 -1.4

Industrial supplies & materials excluding petroleum

  14.021 137.3 136.9 -10.7 -1.1 -1.4 -0.9 -0.3

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

  13.394 156.0 155.8 -9.9 -0.9 -1.3 -0.8 -0.1

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

  7.949 141.9 142.1 -11.8 -1.0 -1.7 -1.1 0.1

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable excluding petroleum

  5.445 131.3 130.2 -9.3 -1.0 -1.1 -0.5 -0.8

Fuels & lubricants

10

6.542 117.7 113.1 -37.3 -4.0 -10.0 -13.3 -3.9

Petroleum & petroleum products

100

5.916 123.8 118.9 -38.5 -4.0 -10.5 -14.3 -4.0

Crude

10000

4.155 121.8 118.7 -38.1 -6.2 -12.4 -12.9 -2.5

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

101

0.434 84.3 80.0 -30.6 -3.3 -5.3 -5.7 -5.1

Gas-natural

10110

0.342 68.5 64.2 -36.4 -4.7 -7.5 -4.3 -6.3

Paper & paper base stocks

11

0.591 107.8 107.8 -3.7 0.2 -0.9 -0.6 0.0

Materials associated with nondurable supplies & materials

12

4.921 151.5 150.7 -7.4 -0.8 -0.6 -0.3 -0.5

Selected building materials

13

1.299 134.1 133.0 -4.9 1.4 -0.3 -0.1 -0.8

Unfinished metals related to durable goods

14

3.142 174.2 174.3 -21.3 -2.6 -3.4 -1.8 0.1

Finished metals related to durable goods

15

1.714 144.6 144.5 -6.5 -0.7 -1.0 -0.6 -0.1

Nonmetals related to durable goods

16

1.727 106.9 108.2 -2.7 -0.3 -0.4 -1.3 1.2

Capital goods

2

29.278 89.6 89.6 -2.1 -0.2 -0.2 -0.2 0.0

Electric generating equipment

20

3.559 116.8 116.6 -2.4 -0.2 -0.3 0.2 -0.2

Nonelectrical machinery

21

22.945 82.0 82.1 -2.3 -0.2 -0.2 -0.4 0.1

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

22

2.774 137.3 137.5 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

3

16.470 110.6 110.5 -0.8 -0.1 -0.1 0.1 -0.1

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

4

28.067 107.5 107.8 0.0 0.0 -0.1 0.4 0.3

Nondurables, manufactured

40

13.383 120.2 121.1 1.9 0.0 0.0 0.8 0.7

Durables, manufactured

41

13.148 94.9 94.8 -1.5 -0.1 -0.3 -0.1 -0.1

Nonmanufactured consumer goods

42

1.536 119.8 120.1 -1.8 0.3 1.5 -0.4 0.3

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2014 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.
Dash = Not available


Table 2. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: February 2015 to February 2016 [2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description End
Use
Relative
import-
ance
Jan.
2016(1)
Index Percent change
Jan.
2016
Feb.
2016
Annual Monthly
Feb.
2015
to
Feb.
2016
Oct.
2015
to
Nov.
2015
Nov.
2015
to
Dec.
2015
Dec.
2015
to
Jan.
2016
Jan.
2016
to
Feb.
2016

All commodities

  100.000 118.8 118.3 -6.0 -0.7 -1.1 -0.8 -0.4

Agricultural commodities

  9.073 173.4 174.4 -10.4 -0.9 -0.9 -1.3 0.6

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

  85.495 97.9 97.8 -3.2 -0.4 -0.5 -0.3 -0.1

Nonagricultural commodities

  90.927 114.6 114.1 -5.6 -0.7 -1.1 -0.9 -0.4

Foods, feeds, & beverages

0

8.479 174.7 176.2 -10.1 -0.7 -1.2 -1.4 0.9

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

00

7.811 174.9 176.1 -10.6 -0.9 -1.1 -1.5 0.7

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

01

0.668 180.0 186.0 -3.9 1.4 -1.3 -1.1 3.3

Industrial supplies & materials

1

28.005 134.6 131.9 -15.0 -2.0 -2.9 -2.1 -2.0

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

  10.388 147.4 147.3 -9.8 -1.4 -1.8 -0.2 -0.1

Industrial supplies & materials, nondurable

  17.617 128.6 124.6 -17.8 -2.3 -3.6 -3.2 -3.1

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials

10

1.262 169.5 169.4 -9.2 -1.5 0.4 -0.2 -0.1

Nonagricultural industrial supplies & materials

  26.743 133.4 130.6 -15.2 -2.0 -3.1 -2.2 -2.1

Fuels & lubricants

11

6.026 126.3 118.6 -33.0 -3.6 -8.9 -7.7 -6.1

Nonagricultural supplies & materials excluding fuels & building materials

12

19.671 146.2 144.9 -9.0 -1.6 -1.3 -0.5 -0.9

Selected building materials

13

1.046 114.8 113.9 -4.9 0.5 0.6 0.3 -0.8

Capital goods

2

39.504 106.8 107.1 -0.6 -0.1 -0.2 -0.1 0.3

Electrical generating equipment

20

4.019 112.1 111.9 -2.5 -0.2 -0.4 -0.2 -0.2

Nonelectrical machinery

21

26.747 94.3 94.3 -1.4 0.0 -0.2 -0.2 0.0

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

22

8.739 162.2 164.5 2.6 -0.1 -0.1 0.2 1.4

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

3

10.916 113.5 113.3 -0.4 -0.1 -0.1 0.0 -0.2

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

4

13.096 110.5 110.4 -2.3 0.0 -0.4 -0.8 -0.1

Nondurables, manufactured

40

5.909 105.6 105.2 -3.6 0.0 -0.6 -1.4 -0.4

Durables, manufactured

41

5.524 108.8 109.1 -1.4 0.0 -0.5 -0.5 0.3

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2014 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.
Dash = Not available


Table 3. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: February 2015 to February 2016 [December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
Jan.
2016(1)
Index Percent change
Jan.
2016
Feb.
2016
Annual Monthly
Feb.
2015
to
Feb.
2016
Oct.
2015
to
Nov.
2015
Nov.
2015
to
Dec.
2015
Dec.
2015
to
Jan.
2016
Jan.
2016
to
Feb.
2016

Nonmanufactured articles

  6.896 69.8 67.1 -30.5 -4.3 -8.4 -8.3 -3.9

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

11

2.111 179.0 167.8 -5.6 0.9 1.5 1.3 -6.3

Crop production

111

1.729 194.6 179.1 -4.6 0.6 2.8 1.5 -8.0

Animal production (Dec. 2014=100)

112

0.210 78.9 82.0 -12.3 4.6 -6.4 3.7 3.9

Mining

21

4.785 56.0 54.5 -37.2 -5.9 -11.5 -11.9 -2.7

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

212

0.239 93.0 93.1 -19.3 0.5 -0.2 -4.5 0.1

Manufactured articles

  92.825 108.4 108.3 -3.7 -0.2 -0.5 -0.5 -0.1

Manufactured goods, part 1

31

12.340 122.7 122.8 -2.4 -0.2 -0.3 -0.1 0.1

Food manufacturing

311

3.432 147.0 147.9 -6.7 -0.4 -1.0 -0.1 0.6

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

1.113 118.0 118.2 0.7 -0.2 -0.3 0.2 0.2

Textile mills (Dec. 2011=100)

313

0.418 99.7 99.6 -2.6 -0.5 -0.2 0.2 -0.1

Textile product mills

314

0.926 110.1 109.6 -3.2 -0.4 -0.1 -0.6 -0.5

Apparel manufacturing

315

4.477 111.6 111.6 -0.4 -0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0

Leather and allied product manufacturing

316

1.974 123.9 123.7 -0.5 0.0 -0.1 -0.4 -0.2

Manufactured goods, part 2

32

16.827 113.6 113.4 -7.6 0.2 -0.9 -2.1 -0.2

Wood product manufacturing

321

0.773 110.8 110.0 -7.3 1.8 -0.6 0.1 -0.7

Paper manufacturing

322

1.098 105.4 105.4 -4.7 0.0 -0.8 -0.4 0.0

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

1.642 60.4 55.9 -40.4 1.7 -5.9 -18.7 -7.5

Chemical manufacturing

325

9.748 132.0 133.4 -1.0 -0.2 -0.2 0.8 1.1

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

2.303 116.2 116.4 -3.4 -0.1 -0.3 -1.8 0.2

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

1.058 129.9 129.8 -0.3 0.2 -0.1 -0.3 -0.1

Manufactured goods, part 3

33

63.659 103.3 103.3 -2.8 -0.3 -0.4 -0.2 0.0

Primary metal manufacturing

331

3.902 117.9 117.6 -20.5 -2.4 -3.4 -2.1 -0.3

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

3.204 123.4 123.0 -2.8 -0.4 -0.3 -0.4 -0.3

Machinery manufacturing

333

7.929 117.3 117.3 -1.8 -0.2 -0.4 -0.3 0.0

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

18.571 77.1 77.0 -2.0 -0.1 -0.1 -0.3 -0.1

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

5.017 116.5 116.2 -2.1 -0.2 -0.5 0.3 -0.3

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

17.710 109.8 109.8 -0.5 0.0 -0.1 0.1 0.0

Furniture and related product manufacturing

337

1.703 115.3 115.1 -0.9 0.1 -0.3 0.2 -0.2

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

5.623 119.1 120.0 -0.8 0.0 -0.2 0.2 0.8

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2014 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.
Dash = Not available


Table 4. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: February 2015 to February 2016 [December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
Jan.
2016(1)
Index Percent change
Jan.
2016
Feb.
2016
Annual Monthly
Feb.
2015
to
Feb.
2016
Oct.
2015
to
Nov.
2015
Nov.
2015
to
Dec.
2015
Dec.
2015
to
Jan.
2016
Jan.
2016
to
Feb.
2016

Nonmanufactured articles

  6.946 120.8 118.7 -12.3 -3.4 -0.4 0.8 -1.7

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

11

4.659 152.6 154.2 -7.7 -1.6 -1.1 -1.0 1.0

Crop production

111

4.382 158.0 159.3 -8.0 -1.6 -1.2 -1.1 0.8

Mining

21

2.287 64.3 59.5 -21.1 -7.0 0.8 4.9 -7.5

Mining (except oil and gas)

212

1.113 75.6 73.0 -19.7 -1.5 -1.9 -2.1 -3.4

Manufactured articles

  91.845 109.8 109.5 -5.2 -0.5 -1.0 -0.9 -0.3

Manufactured goods, part 1

31

6.720 132.2 132.3 -10.2 -0.4 -0.6 -1.0 0.1

Food manufacturing

311

4.486 147.7 147.4 -12.5 -0.4 -1.0 -1.1 -0.2

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

0.610 104.9 105.8 -8.8 -0.2 0.8 -2.2 0.9

Manufactured goods, part 2

32

22.666 101.9 100.1 -12.7 -1.3 -2.8 -2.7 -1.8

Paper manufacturing

322

1.767 121.7 122.3 -1.5 -0.9 -0.3 -0.4 0.5

Printing and related support activities (Dec. 2015=100)

323

0.272 100.0 100.0 - - - 0.0 0.0

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

3.694 69.5 65.3 -37.7 -3.3 -11.8 -10.3 -6.0

Chemical manufacturing

325

13.080 113.5 111.9 -7.5 -1.2 -0.8 -1.3 -1.4

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

2.450 116.8 116.7 -2.1 0.0 -0.2 0.3 -0.1

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

0.872 111.9 112.0 -0.6 0.1 0.1 -0.7 0.1

Manufactured goods, part 3

33

62.459 110.8 111.0 -1.6 -0.3 -0.4 -0.2 0.2

Primary metal manufacturing

331

4.073 126.8 126.0 -13.0 -2.0 -3.0 -0.4 -0.6

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

3.340 130.1 130.2 0.5 0.2 -0.1 0.2 0.1

Machinery manufacturing

333

11.718 125.4 125.5 0.5 -0.1 -0.1 0.2 0.1

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

14.762 84.3 84.2 -3.1 -0.2 -0.4 -0.5 -0.1

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

3.874 111.9 111.9 -2.4 -0.4 -0.5 -0.4 0.0

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

18.523 121.7 122.3 1.0 -0.1 -0.1 0.1 0.5

Furniture and related product manufacturing (Dec. 2011=100)

337

0.397 110.5 112.9 2.5 0.0 0.1 0.3 2.2

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

5.772 121.8 121.9 -1.3 0.1 -0.2 -0.2 0.1

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2014 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.
Dash = Not available


Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: February 2015 to February 2016 [2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Harmo-
nized
system
Relative
import-
ance
Jan.
2016(1)
Index Percent change
Jan.
2016
Feb.
2016
Annual Monthly
Feb.
2015
to
Feb.
2016
Oct.
2015
to
Nov.
2015
Nov.
2015
to
Dec.
2015
Dec.
2015
to
Jan.
2016
Jan.
2016
to
Feb.
2016

Live animals; animal products

I

1.435 180.1 183.9 -5.9 0.5 -1.5 1.5 2.1

Meat and edible meat offal

02

0.378 218.1 232.3 -8.8 1.8 -2.0 -1.8 6.5

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates

03

0.783 132.7 132.0 -3.9 -1.5 0.6 2.8 -0.5

Vegetable products

II

2.183 212.1 195.9 -3.5 0.1 3.1 1.5 -7.6

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers

07

0.663 589.0 447.7 14.2 0.0 4.3 13.3 -24.0

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

08

0.579 93.2 91.7 -9.7 0.3 2.7 -4.5 -1.6

Coffee, tea, mate and spices

09

0.364 225.3 225.9 -12.0 -0.9 2.0 -2.6 0.3

Oilseeds & misc grains, seeds, plants, straw & fodder (Dec. 2015=100)

12

0.171 103.0 102.2 - - - 3.0 -0.8

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

III

0.262 97.8 97.9 -9.6 -0.4 -5.3 0.7 0.1

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco

IV

2.797 158.1 157.8 -3.1 0.0 -0.4 -0.6 -0.2

Sugars and sugar confectionary (Dec. 2012=100)

17

0.192 84.8 84.9 -7.6 0.1 -0.6 -0.1 0.1

Cocoa and cocoa preparations (Dec. 2009=100)

18

0.239 108.6 105.7 -5.8 1.7 -0.3 -6.1 -2.7

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

19

0.290 132.0 131.8 -0.8 -0.1 -0.1 0.0 -0.2

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

20

0.327 153.4 152.1 -7.7 1.1 -0.1 -0.5 -0.8

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar

22

1.051 128.0 128.3 0.6 -0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2

Mineral products

V

6.587 117.6 113.1 -37.7 -4.1 -10.1 -13.5 -3.8

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

27

6.323 114.4 109.9 -38.3 -4.1 -10.4 -13.9 -3.9

Products of the chemical or allied industries

VI

9.148 148.4 149.7 0.8 -0.2 -0.1 1.5 0.9

Inorganic chemicals

28

0.595 271.4 269.1 -12.3 -1.2 -1.9 -2.5 -0.8

Organic chemicals

29

2.503 124.1 123.6 0.3 -0.1 0.1 2.4 -0.4

Pharmaceutical products

30

3.880 140.1 143.6 5.4 0.3 0.2 0.9 2.5

Fertilizers (Dec. 2009=100)

31

0.317 84.2 83.5 -27.1 0.1 0.9 -9.0 -0.8

Tanning extracts; dye, pigments, varnish, paints & putty (Dec. 2011=100)

32

0.190 96.8 97.5 -6.7 0.0 -0.2 -1.0 0.7

Miscellaneous chemical products

38

0.688 102.4 102.6 13.7 -3.5 -0.7 14.7 0.2

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

3.543 135.5 135.5 -6.2 -0.3 -0.5 -1.5 0.0

Plastics and articles thereof

39

2.275 139.1 138.9 -6.8 -0.2 -0.3 -1.9 -0.1

Rubber and articles thereof

40

1.268 130.6 130.8 -5.1 -0.4 -0.8 -0.9 0.2

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

VIII

0.739 126.6 125.7 -2.0 -0.1 0.0 -0.3 -0.7

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

42

0.700 129.9 129.6 -0.8 -0.1 0.0 -0.1 -0.2

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

IX

0.811 135.3 134.4 -6.7 1.8 -0.4 0.0 -0.7

Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal (Dec. 2014=100)

44

0.785 92.8 92.1 -7.0 1.9 -0.4 0.0 -0.8

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

X

1.179 109.9 109.8 -2.7 0.1 -0.5 -0.5 -0.1

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

48

0.795 104.0 104.2 -2.4 -0.3 -0.1 -0.8 0.2

Printed matter (Dec. 2015=100)

49

0.215 100.0 100.0 - - - 0.0 0.0

Textile and textile articles

XI

5.627 113.7 113.6 -1.0 -0.1 -0.2 0.0 -0.1

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted

61

2.331 104.0 104.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted

62

1.945 119.8 119.8 -0.5 -0.1 -0.2 0.3 0.0

Made-up or worn textile articles

63

0.656 104.1 103.6 -3.2 -0.4 -0.2 -0.7 -0.5

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.

XII

1.569 123.1 123.1 0.2 -0.1 -0.1 -0.2 0.0

Footwear and parts of such articles

64

1.362 122.1 122.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.2 -0.3 0.0

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

XIII

0.981 131.3 131.2 -0.8 0.2 -0.4 -0.4 -0.1

Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, or mica (Dec. 2015=100)

68

0.340 99.3 99.0 - - - -0.7 -0.3

Ceramic products

69

0.291 138.5 138.5 0.1 -0.1 0.1 0.3 0.0

Glass and glassware

70

0.350 128.1 128.2 -0.6 0.0 -1.0 -0.5 0.1

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

XIV

2.954 160.4 162.6 -7.7 -0.9 -2.6 0.6 1.4

Base metals and articles of base metals

XV

5.433 151.9 150.8 -13.5 -1.4 -1.2 -1.8 -0.7

Iron and steel

72

1.209 150.7 148.6 -26.5 -4.0 -1.7 -4.3 -1.4

Articles of iron or steel

73

1.782 140.3 139.2 -8.1 -0.8 -0.9 -1.2 -0.8

Copper and articles thereof

74

0.376 247.2 240.1 -16.0 -0.9 -1.5 -2.6 -2.9

Aluminum and articles thereof

76

0.738 120.6 120.1 -13.7 -1.5 -0.7 -0.7 -0.4

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

82

0.467 125.6 125.6 -2.6 -0.7 -0.2 -0.2 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

83

0.541 137.3 137.1 -0.7 0.4 -0.2 -0.2 -0.1

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

XVI

31.562 81.6 81.4 -2.2 -0.1 -0.2 -0.1 -0.2

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

84

16.028 86.6 86.6 -2.0 -0.1 -0.3 -0.1 0.0

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

85

15.534 76.7 76.4 -2.3 -0.1 -0.3 -0.1 -0.4

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

14.723 114.3 114.2 -0.4 -0.1 -0.2 0.2 -0.1

Motor vehicles and their parts

87

13.184 112.8 112.8 -0.4 -0.1 -0.2 0.1 0.0

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

88

1.466 120.3 120.3 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.4 0.0

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

XVIII

4.080 102.6 104.0 0.0 0.0 -0.2 -0.3 1.4

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical instruments

90

3.744 99.4 100.8 0.1 0.0 -0.2 -0.4 1.4

Clocks and watches and parts thereof

91

0.270 140.3 141.3 -1.1 0.3 -0.7 0.2 0.7

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

XX

4.299 112.2 112.2 -1.2 0.0 -0.3 0.1 0.0

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

94

2.628 116.7 116.7 -1.5 0.0 -0.4 0.1 0.0

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

95

1.384 103.8 103.7 -1.2 -0.1 0.1 -0.1 -0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

96

0.286 135.4 135.4 0.4 0.0 -0.1 1.1 0.0

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2014 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.
Dash = Not available


Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: February 2015 to February 2016 [2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Harmo-
nized
system
Relative
import-
ance
Jan.
2016(1)
Index Percent change
Jan.
2016
Feb.
2016
Annual Monthly
Feb.
2015
to
Feb.
2016
Oct.
2015
to
Nov.
2015
Nov.
2015
to
Dec.
2015
Dec.
2015
to
Jan.
2016
Jan.
2016
to
Feb.
2016

Live animals; animal products

I

1.690 179.4 181.8 -15.6 0.5 -1.6 -1.5 1.3

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

02

0.958 135.6 141.5 -18.3 -0.4 -1.4 -2.4 4.4

Vegetable products

II

4.380 194.4 197.2 -8.7 -0.8 -1.8 -1.0 1.4

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

08

1.047 172.4 172.3 -5.6 0.3 -2.9 1.4 -0.1

Cereals

10

1.270 178.9 184.6 -11.1 -1.3 -4.1 -3.5 3.2

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

12

1.513 185.7 187.8 -12.9 -2.9 0.4 -1.6 1.1

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and tobacco

IV

2.965 146.7 145.3 -9.6 -0.4 -0.4 -1.2 -1.0

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

20

0.385 119.3 118.9 0.4 -0.3 0.5 0.3 -0.3

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

22

0.524 104.5 104.3 -5.4 -0.7 -1.3 -1.5 -0.2

Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal feed

23

0.652 194.6 192.8 -19.2 -1.3 -0.7 -2.2 -0.9

Mineral products

V

6.007 145.6 136.6 -32.8 -4.0 -9.0 -5.8 -6.2

Ores, slag and ash (Dec. 2012=100)

26

0.441 68.7 67.8 -23.6 -1.9 -2.6 -2.1 -1.3

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

27

5.366 138.1 128.7 -34.2 -4.2 -9.7 -6.2 -6.8

Products of the chemical or allied industries

VI

10.976 136.9 134.9 -6.4 -0.5 -0.6 -1.2 -1.5

Inorganic chemicals

28

0.981 184.0 170.5 -6.4 -0.2 0.4 0.1 -7.3

Organic chemicals

29

2.508 133.1 132.6 -10.0 -0.9 -0.5 -1.6 -0.4

Pharmaceutical products

30

2.952 106.5 105.5 -5.6 0.1 -1.0 -2.5 -0.9

Tanning or dyeing extracts, dyes, paints varnish, putty, & inks (Dec. 2015=100)

32

0.559 99.6 98.9 - - - -0.4 -0.7

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery cosmetic or toilet preparations

33

0.846 134.3 134.1 -1.3 0.1 0.0 -0.9 -0.1

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

34

0.524 116.0 116.0 2.0 0.3 -0.4 3.3 0.0

Miscellaneous chemical products

38

1.897 147.9 144.5 -5.9 -0.7 -1.0 -0.4 -2.3

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

5.152 136.0 135.1 -6.5 -1.4 -0.4 -0.4 -0.7

Plastics and articles thereof

39

4.156 131.3 130.4 -6.9 -1.6 -0.4 -0.6 -0.7

Rubber and articles thereof

40

0.996 155.9 155.2 -4.7 -0.6 -0.6 0.5 -0.4

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

VIII

0.335 120.0 120.8 -18.7 -3.4 0.0 -0.5 0.7

Raw hides and skins other than furskins and leather (Dec.2014=100)

41

0.180 68.0 67.8 -29.7 -5.2 -0.4 -1.3 -0.3

Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw, baskets and wickerwork (Dec. 2014=100)

IX

0.666 96.3 95.1 -4.3 1.1 0.8 0.0 -1.2

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

X

2.142 120.7 120.6 -2.3 -0.7 -0.6 -1.0 -0.1

Woodpulp and recovered paper

47

0.602 119.5 119.1 -2.9 -2.8 -1.3 -1.5 -0.3

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

48

1.154 120.3 120.2 -2.8 0.2 -0.8 -1.1 -0.1

Printed material (Dec. 2014=100)

49

0.386 100.4 100.4 0.1 0.1 1.2 0.0 0.0

Textile and textile articles

XI

1.742 120.1 119.7 -2.8 -0.7 0.4 -0.4 -0.3

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics thereof

52

0.389 114.1 112.2 -6.3 -1.2 0.0 -1.7 -1.7

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

XIII

0.882 122.9 123.0 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.1

Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, or mica (Dec. 2015=100)

68

0.297 100.5 100.5 - - - 0.5 0.0

Glass and glassware

70

0.445 99.4 99.4 -0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0

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

XIV

4.231 219.7 223.4 -7.2 -1.4 -2.5 0.7 1.7

Base metals and articles of base metals

XV

4.971 141.3 139.7 -9.8 -1.5 -1.3 -0.4 -1.1

Iron and steel

72

0.978 136.3 134.7 -20.5 -4.0 -2.8 -1.0 -1.2

Copper and articles thereof

74

0.408 144.5 144.3 -21.2 -3.4 -6.3 -4.4 -0.1

Aluminum and articles thereof

76

0.779 103.5 98.3 -17.7 -2.7 0.0 -0.1 -5.0

Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal (Dec. 2015=100)

82

0.399 100.2 99.6 - - - 0.2 -0.6

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

83

0.361 148.2 148.2 0.3 0.0 -0.2 -0.1 0.0

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

XVI

30.271 96.0 96.3 -1.3 -0.1 -0.2 -0.2 0.3

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

84

18.055 112.6 113.4 -0.5 -0.2 -0.2 -0.2 0.7

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts and accessories thereof

85

12.216 77.9 77.8 -2.6 -0.1 -0.3 -0.4 -0.1

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

15.331 131.0 131.0 0.5 -0.1 -0.1 0.1 0.0

Motor vehicles and their parts

87

9.359 114.8 114.6 -0.2 -0.1 -0.1 0.0 -0.2

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

XVIII

6.355 107.2 107.1 -0.3 0.1 -0.3 0.2 -0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

XX

1.565 111.1 111.6 0.3 -0.6 0.2 0.0 0.5

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings nesoi;

94

0.923 124.4 124.9 1.3 -0.6 0.2 0.2 0.4

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

95

0.483 90.1 90.1 0.2 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2014 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.
Dash = Not available


Table 7. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes by locality of origin: February 2015 to February 2016 [2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Relative
import-
ance
Jan.
2016(1)
Index Percent change
Jan.
2016
Feb.
2016
Annual Monthly
Feb.
2015
to
Feb.
2016
Oct.
2015
to
Nov.
2015
Nov.
2015
to
Dec.
2015
Dec.
2015
to
Jan.
2016
Jan.
2016
to
Feb.
2016

Industrialized Countries(2)

100.000 114.4 114.4 -5.8 -0.4 -1.1 -0.9 0.0

Nonmanufactured articles

6.451 102.2 99.9 -26.7 -3.7 -9.2 -4.5 -2.3

Manufactured articles

93.173 115.0 115.2 -3.8 -0.1 -0.5 -0.6 0.2

Other Countries(3)

100.000 115.9 115.3 -6.6 -0.7 -1.3 -1.2 -0.5

Nonmanufactured articles

7.343 144.3 137.3 -30.5 -4.8 -8.3 -7.9 -4.9

Manufactured articles

92.434 102.6 102.3 -3.9 -0.2 -0.5 -0.6 -0.3

Canada

100.000 111.9 111.0 -11.9 -0.6 -2.9 -2.1 -0.8

Nonmanufactured articles

19.043 96.7 94.3 -27.3 -3.8 -9.8 -4.7 -2.5

Manufactured articles

80.288 120.1 119.7 -7.4 0.3 -1.1 -1.6 -0.3

European Union(4)

100.000 132.1 131.5 -2.3 -0.4 -0.4 0.1 -0.5

Manufactured articles

99.563 128.8 128.2 -2.2 -0.4 -0.3 0.1 -0.5

France (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 122.3 122.4 -0.1 -0.2 -0.2 1.0 0.1

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 113.2 113.7 -3.1 -0.1 -0.3 -2.7 0.4

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 122.0 121.7 -0.2 -0.5 -0.7 2.1 -0.2

Latin America(5)

100.000 135.2 133.3 -10.1 -1.1 -1.9 -1.6 -1.4

Nonmanufactured articles

14.300 164.8 153.7 -30.3 -5.2 -8.0 -6.2 -6.7

Manufactured articles

85.278 119.0 118.3 -5.6 -0.3 -0.7 -0.8 -0.6

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 125.2 124.1 -5.2 -0.4 -0.8 -0.6 -0.9

Nonmanufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100)

7.567 95.0 85.9 -28.2 -4.9 -6.6 -2.0 -9.6

Manufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100)

92.006 89.0 88.9 -2.7 0.1 -0.3 -0.4 -0.1

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

100.000 99.0 98.9 -2.3 -0.1 -0.2 -0.3 -0.1

China (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 101.8 101.7 -1.6 -0.3 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1

Japan

100.000 95.1 95.2 -2.0 0.1 -0.2 0.0 0.1

Asian NICs(7)

100.000 84.7 85.2 -2.6 -0.6 -0.4 -0.5 0.6

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)(8)

100.000 97.0 98.2 -2.0 -0.1 -0.4 -0.7 1.2

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

100.000 127.6 125.7 -23.6 -2.6 -5.3 -6.5 -1.5

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2014 trade values.
(2) Western Europe, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
(3) Eastern Europe, Latin America, OPEC countries, and other countries in Asia, Africa and the Western Hemisphere.
(4) European Union countries.
(5) Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.
(6) China, Japan, Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines and the Asian Newly Industrialized Countries.
(7) Asian Newly Industrialized Countries - Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.
(8) Association of Southeast Asian Nations - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
(9) 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 3 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: February 2015 to February 2016 [2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Relative
import-
ance
Jan.
2016(1)
Index Percent change
Jan.
2016
Feb.
2016
Annual Monthly
Feb.
2015
to
Feb.
2016
Oct.
2015
to
Nov.
2015
Nov.
2015
to
Dec.
2015
Dec.
2015
to
Jan.
2016
Jan.
2016
to
Feb.
2016

Air Freight

Import Air Freight

100.000 154.5 151.7 -9.5 0.4 -2.8 -4.6 -1.8

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

23.942 141.0 138.9 -9.2 -1.2 -3.4 0.4 -1.5

Asia

62.480 137.3 133.3 -11.7 1.7 -3.1 -7.4 -2.9

Export Air Freight

100.000 158.7 158.7 -0.4 0.4 -0.1 1.4 0.0

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)

38.159 151.7 151.8 0.2 0.3 0.3 1.3 0.1

Inbound Air Freight

100.000 148.7 147.2 -7.4 0.3 -1.9 -2.5 -1.0

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

27.877 135.4 133.7 -6.0 0.0 -2.0 0.3 -1.3

Asia

57.771 132.8 130.6 -10.3 1.1 -2.2 -4.3 -1.7

Outbound Air Freight

100.000 144.0 144.2 -3.8 -0.7 -0.3 -0.2 0.1

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

34.793 158.0 158.3 -7.2 -0.9 0.5 0.1 0.2

Asia

42.340 133.1 133.4 -5.4 -1.4 -1.0 -0.8 0.2

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares

100.000 192.4 189.5 -3.3 3.7 -0.6 -1.0 -1.5

Europe

45.393 228.3 236.6 -2.2 5.1 -11.6 11.0 3.6

Asia

23.568 143.8 134.2 -3.0 -0.7 13.2 -10.1 -6.7

Latin America/Caribbean

8.236 142.5 146.6 -11.7 0.2 14.2 -16.4 2.9

Export Air Passenger Fares

100.000 168.4 144.3 -11.8 -0.4 4.5 4.7 -14.3

Europe

27.474 197.9 194.6 -6.7 2.6 -5.9 -0.7 -1.7

Asia

29.329 152.0 127.0 -7.9 -1.0 5.0 9.0 -16.4

Latin America/Caribbean

23.427 176.5 148.4 -17.1 1.4 5.4 8.3 -15.9

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2014 trade values.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 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 2-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 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 Producer Price Index (PPI) 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 indexes and excluded from 
the export air passenger fares indexes. 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 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 3 months after original publication. After 3 months, no further data 
revisions take place. For example, data first published 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 (NIPA) 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 NIPA, 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.

Email Subscription - The U.S. import and export price indexes news release is available through an 
email subscription service at www.bls.gov/bls/list.htm. 
 
Additional Information - More detailed data are available on the Import/Export Price Indexes home 
page at www.bls.gov/mxp. For import and export price indexes data requests, send an email 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: March 11, 2016