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Import/Export Price Indexes
Bureau of Labor Statistics > Import/Export Price Indexes > Contact > Notices

Publication Status of Select Import and Export Price Indexes

Import and Export Price Indexes (MXP) are reviewed annually to assess publishability. For 2021, a decision was made to continue publication of 18 price indexes previously published in 2020, despite the fact that the coverage level publication guideline was not met. Coverage level is the ratio of the monthly average of usable item prices collected relative to the number of items fielded in the sample. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted data collection; coverage levels declined for nearly all price indexes and fell below the coverage guideline for the 18 price indexes listed in the table. The publication decision was made with the expectation that coverage levels would soon return to pre-pandemic levels.

Despite low coverage levels, these 18 price indexes continued to maintain the integrity and quality of all MXP published price indexes. By continuously publishing select import and export price indexes during the COVID-19 period that had low coverage levels but were otherwise statistically robust, BLS sought to support data user needs to retain price indexes during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

By 2024, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) determined that 11 of the 18 price indexes did not have sufficient usable item prices to meet the minimum coverage level and thus were removed from publication. For the seven remaining price indexes, sufficient usable item prices were collected to meet coverage levels and remain published. All published indexes ensure confidentiality of respondents, sample representativeness, and robustness of coverage for items and companies.

Import and export price indexes not meeting minimum coverage levels in 2021
Price Index Category News release table number  Product/Industry Detailed Description  2024 Publication Status

Import, End Use, 13

 1 Selected building materials Not Published

Import, End Use, 15

 1 Finished metals related to durable goods Published

Import, NAICS, 315

 3 Apparel Manufacturing Published

Import, NAICS, 316

 3 Leather and allied product manufacturing Not Published

Import, NAICS, 321

 3 Wood product manufacturing Not Published

Export, NAICS, 327

 4 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing Published

Export, NAICS, 332

 4 Fabricated metal product manufacturing Not Published

Import, Harmonized, 42

 5 Articles of leather; travel goods, bags, etc. of various materials Not Published

Import, Harmonized, 44

 5 Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal Not Published

Import, Harmonized, 48

 5 Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, paper, or paperboard Not Published

Import, Harmonized, 63

 5 Made-up or worn textile articles Published

Import, Harmonized, 64

 5 Footwear and parts of such articles Published

Import, Harmonized, 72

 5 Iron and steel Not Published

Import, Harmonized, IX

 5 Wood, wood charcoal, cork, straw, basketware and wickerwood Not Published

Import, Harmonized, XI

 5 Textile and textile articles Published

Export, Harmonized, 29

 6 Organic chemicals Not Published

Export, Harmonized, 39

 6 Plastics and articles thereof Not Published

Export, Harmonized, XIII

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

Last Modified Date: June 14, 2024