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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-18-0037
8:30 a.m. (EST) Wednesday, January 10, 2018

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 - DECEMBER 2017

Prices for U.S. imports ticked up 0.1 percent in December, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 
today, following a 0.8-percent rise the previous month. Higher fuel prices more than offset a decline in the 
price index for nonfuel prices in December. In contrast, U.S. export prices edged down 0.1 percent in 
December, after advancing 0.5 percent in November.

Imports

All Imports: Import prices rose 0.1 percent in December following 0.8-percent advances in 2 of the 
previous 3 months. The index has not recorded a monthly decline since falling 0.2 percent in July. Prices for 
U.S imports increased 3.0 percent in 2017, after advancing 1.9 percent the previous year. The advance in 
2017 was the largest calendar-year increase since import prices rose 8.5 percent in 2011. 

Fuel Imports: Import fuel prices increased 1.8 percent in December, after rising 8.4 percent in November. 
The price index for import fuel has not recorded a monthly decline since falling 1.0 percent in July. The 
December rise was driven by a 2.0-percent increase in petroleum prices which more than offset a 4.9-
percent decline in natural gas prices. Import fuel prices rose 18.4 percent in 2017 following a 24.7-percent 
advance the previous year. Prior to 2016, import fuel prices had not recorded a calendar-year increase since 
2011. In 2017, a 20.6-percent gain in petroleum prices more than offset a 15.7-percent drop in natural gas 
prices. 

All Imports Excluding Fuel: In contrast, the price index for nonfuel imports edged down 0.1 percent in 
December, the first monthly decline since a 0.1-percent drop in July. The decline in December was led by 
lower prices for foods, feeds, and beverages; consumer goods; and nonfuel industrial supplies and materials. 
Despite the December downturn, nonfuel import prices increased 1.4 percent in 2017, after a 0.2-percent 
advance the previous year. The 2017 rise was the largest calendar-year increase since the index advanced 
3.4 percent in 2011. In 2017, rising prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials; capital goods; 
consumer goods; and foods, feeds, and beverages all contributed to the advance in nonfuel prices. Of the 
major import areas, only prices for automotive vehicles decreased in 2017. 

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

2016

December

0.4 5.8 0.0 0.4 -0.2 0.4

2017

January

0.6 6.1 -0.1 0.2 0.4 0.2

February

0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 1.4 0.3

March

-0.2 -3.0 0.2 0.1 1.1 0.0

April

0.2 -0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.3

May

-0.1 -0.9 0.1 -0.6 -1.6 -0.4

June

-0.2 -3.6 0.1 -0.1 -1.4 0.0

July

-0.2 -1.0 -0.1 0.5 1.8 0.3

August

0.6 4.0 0.3 0.6 0.0 0.7

September

0.8 5.7 0.3 0.8 -0.7 0.9

October

(r)0.2 (r)0.3 (r)0.0 0.1 (r)2.0 -0.1

November

(r)0.8 (r)8.4 (r)0.1 0.5 (r)-0.8 0.6

December

0.1 1.8 -0.1 -0.1 -0.4 0.0

Dec. 2015 to 2016

1.9 24.7 0.2 1.3 -0.3 1.4

Dec. 2016 to 2017

3.0 18.4 1.4 2.6 1.8 2.7

Footnotes
(r) Revised

Exports 

All Exports: Prices for U.S. exports fell 0.1 percent in December, the first monthly decline for the index 
since a 0.1-percent decrease in June. The December drop was led by falling agricultural prices; the price 
index for nonagricultural prices recorded no change. Export prices rose 2.6 percent in 2017 following a 1.3-
percent rise in 2016. The 2017 advance was the largest calendar-year increase since 2011 when the index 
rose 3.6 percent. 

Agricultural Exports: Agricultural export prices declined 0.4 percent in December, after decreasing 0.8 
percent in November. The December drop was driven by a 14.4-percent decline in vegetable prices, 
although lower fruit prices also contributed. Despite the December decrease, the price index for agricultural 
exports rose 1.8 percent in 2017, after a 0.3-percent drop the previous year. The 2017 advance was the first 
calendar-year rise since the index increased 13.4 percent in 2012. Higher meat prices were the largest 
contributor to the advance in agricultural prices in 2017. 

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: Prices for nonagricultural exports recorded no change in December 
following a 0.6-percent advance in November. In December, prices for capital goods and consumer goods 
advanced and prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials and automotive vehicles decreased. 
The price index for nonagricultural exports rose 2.7 percent in 2017, the largest calendar-year increase since 
the index advanced 4.0 percent in 2011. The 2017 increase was primarily led by higher prices for 
nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials. 

                                     SELECTED DECEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

Import Prices

Imports by Locality of Origin: Import prices from China declined 0.1 percent in December following a 
0.3-percent advance in November. Prices for imports from China fell 0.2 percent in 2017 and have not 
recorded a calendar-year advance since the index rose 3.6 percent in 2011. The price index for imports from 
Japan recorded no change in December, after falling 0.1 percent in November and 0.3 percent in October. 
Import prices from Japan fell 1.2 percent in 2017 following a 1.6-percent rise the previous 12 months. Prices 
for imports from the European Union increased 0.4 percent in December, the largest monthly advance since 
the index rose 0.8 percent in August. The price indexes for imports from Canada and Mexico each recorded 
no change in December following increases of 2.3 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively, in November. 

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonfuel industrial supplies and materials prices edged down 
0.1 percent in December. The downturn was led by falling prices for unfinished metals and selected building 
materials. 

Finished Goods: Finished goods prices were mostly unchanged in December. Import consumer goods 
prices fell 0.1 percent and the indexes for capital goods and automotive vehicles each recorded no change. 

Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Prices for foods, feeds, and beverages declined 0.7 percent following a 
decrease of 1.7 percent in November. Both drops were driven by lower prices for fruit which fell 3.4 percent 
in December and 11.4 percent the previous month.

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares increased 6.5 percent in December, after falling 2.3 
percent in November. The December advance was led by higher fares from Asia and the Latin 
America/Caribbean region. The index for import air passenger fares rose 4.2 percent in 2017 following a 
4.2-percent drop the previous year. The 2017 increase was the first calendar-year advance since the index 
rose 2.7 percent in 2014 and the largest since an 8.2-percent increase in 2013. Import air freight prices 
advanced 3.4 percent in December and 17.1 percent over the past year. 

Export Prices

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: The price index for nonagricultural industrial 
supplies and materials fell 0.3 percent in December following a 2.1-percent increase in November. Lower 
prices for fuel and chemicals each contributed to the decline.

Finished Goods: Finished goods prices were mixed in December. The price indexes for capital goods and 
consumer goods rose 0.1 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively. Capital goods prices increased 1.5 percent in 
2017, the largest calendar-year advance since the index rose 1.8 percent in 2009. Prices for consumer goods 
advanced 0.5 percent over the past year, the first calendar-year rise since the index increased 3.5 percent in 
2011. In contrast, automotive vehicle prices edged down 0.1 percent in December.

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares rose 2.9 percent in December, after rising 0.5 percent 
in November. The December advance was led by a 12.5-percent rise in Asian fares which more than offset 
declining European fares. The index for export air passenger fares decreased 6.1 percent in 2017 following a 
4.7-percent increase the previous year. Export air freight prices declined 1.4 percent in December and 
advanced 8.2 percent over the past 12 months. 

Import and Export Price Index data for January are scheduled for release on Friday, February 16, 2018 at 
8:30 a.m. (EST).


Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: December 2016 to December 2017 [2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description End
Use
Relative
import-
ance
Nov.
2017(1)
Index Percent change
Nov.
2017
Dec.
2017
Annual Monthly
Dec.
2016
to
Dec.
2017
Aug.
2017
to
Sept.
2017
Sept.
2017
to
Oct.
2017
Oct.
2017
to
Nov.
2017
Nov.
2017
to
Dec.
2017

All commodities

  100.000 125.1 125.2 3.0 0.8 0.2 0.8 0.1

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

  83.667 99.6 99.5 1.4 0.2 0.1 0.2 -0.1

All imports excluding petroleum

  90.433 112.7 112.5 1.3 0.4 0.0 0.2 -0.2

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)

  89.826 116.8 116.7 1.4 0.3 0.0 0.1 -0.1

Foods, feeds, & beverages

0

6.103 181.5 180.3 0.6 1.8 -0.4 -1.7 -0.7

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

00

4.798 200.0 198.5 1.1 2.3 -0.7 -1.9 -0.8

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

01

1.306 139.6 138.9 -1.3 -0.4 0.5 -0.9 -0.5

Industrial supplies & materials

1

24.005 182.6 183.8 12.3 3.2 0.6 4.0 0.7

Industrial supplies & materials excluding petroleum

  14.621 153.3 152.9 7.1 1.2 0.7 1.5 -0.3

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

  13.865 174.4 174.2 8.1 1.5 0.8 1.0 -0.1

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

  8.682 165.8 164.5 9.2 2.2 0.2 0.7 -0.8

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable excluding petroleum

  5.756 137.7 138.4 4.3 -0.2 1.3 2.6 0.5

Fuels & lubricants

10

10.174 196.9 200.4 18.4 5.7 0.3 8.4 1.8

Petroleum & petroleum products

100

9.567 214.7 219.1 20.6 6.5 0.5 8.1 2.0

Crude

10000

6.789 220.1 225.5 21.4 5.6 3.0 7.4 2.5

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

101

0.457 97.6 93.9 -13.1 -7.8 -2.6 18.4 -3.8

Gas-natural

10110

0.361 81.8 77.8 -15.7 -9.7 -2.4 24.3 -4.9

Paper & paper base stocks

11

0.545 109.3 110.1 4.3 -0.1 0.9 0.6 0.7

Materials associated with nondurable supplies & materials

12

4.669 158.5 160.1 6.5 0.7 1.7 1.4 1.0

Selected building materials

13

1.504 153.5 151.3 10.2 -0.5 2.1 0.6 -1.4

Unfinished metals related to durable goods

14

3.657 227.5 224.3 12.8 4.4 -0.8 1.5 -1.4

Finished metals related to durable goods

15

1.781 157.0 157.2 8.7 2.0 0.8 0.3 0.1

Nonmetals related to durable goods

16

1.674 110.2 110.3 2.3 -0.1 0.4 -0.1 0.1

Capital goods

2

27.080 89.3 89.3 0.7 0.1 0.1 -0.1 0.0

Electric generating equipment

20

3.274 117.2 116.8 0.5 0.2 0.0 0.2 -0.3

Nonelectrical machinery

21

21.285 81.8 81.8 0.9 0.0 0.1 -0.1 0.0

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

22

2.521 134.8 135.0 -1.2 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

3

15.951 110.2 110.2 -0.3 0.1 -0.2 0.1 0.0

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

4

26.861 106.8 106.7 0.2 -0.1 -0.1 0.0 -0.1

Nondurables, manufactured

40

13.194 121.4 121.5 1.3 0.0 -0.1 0.0 0.1

Durables, manufactured

41

12.380 93.0 92.8 -0.9 -0.2 -0.1 0.0 -0.2

Nonmanufactured consumer goods

42

1.287 114.6 114.8 -0.4 0.2 0.3 -0.3 0.2

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2015 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: December 2016 to December 2017 [2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description End
Use
Relative
import-
ance
Nov.
2017(1)
Index Percent change
Nov.
2017
Dec.
2017
Annual Monthly
Dec.
2016
to
Dec.
2017
Aug.
2017
to
Sept.
2017
Sept.
2017
to
Oct.
2017
Oct.
2017
to
Nov.
2017
Nov.
2017
to
Dec.
2017

All commodities

  100.000 124.6 124.5 2.6 0.8 0.1 0.5 -0.1

Agricultural commodities

  9.321 179.0 178.3 1.8 -0.7 2.0 -0.8 -0.4

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

  82.645 99.9 99.9 1.7 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.0

Nonagricultural commodities

  90.679 120.4 120.4 2.7 0.9 -0.1 0.6 0.0

Foods, feeds, & beverages

0

8.679 181.3 180.3 2.2 -0.6 2.1 -1.0 -0.6

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

00

8.056 180.2 179.2 1.7 -0.7 2.1 -1.0 -0.6

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

01

0.623 203.9 202.9 8.0 0.5 1.7 -0.7 -0.5

Industrial supplies & materials

1

30.709 154.6 154.2 5.8 2.8 -1.0 2.0 -0.3

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

  10.693 162.1 162.0 4.9 2.5 -0.5 0.2 -0.1

Industrial supplies & materials, nondurable

  20.041 151.3 150.9 6.3 2.8 -1.2 3.0 -0.3

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials

10

1.265 176.9 178.4 2.8 -0.4 0.6 1.0 0.8

Nonagricultural industrial supplies & materials

  29.445 153.9 153.5 5.9 2.8 -1.0 2.1 -0.3

Fuels & lubricants

11

8.700 185.4 184.5 12.1 6.1 -3.0 5.1 -0.5

Nonagricultural supplies & materials excluding fuels & building materials

12

19.696 155.0 154.8 3.5 1.6 -0.3 0.8 -0.1

Selected building materials

13

1.049 123.9 123.8 5.4 0.5 1.7 0.2 -0.1

Capital goods

2

37.821 108.4 108.5 1.5 0.0 0.5 -0.1 0.1

Electrical generating equipment

20

3.984 115.5 115.9 3.7 0.1 1.9 0.1 0.3

Nonelectrical machinery

21

24.670 94.1 94.1 0.5 0.0 0.3 -0.2 0.0

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

22

9.167 171.6 172.1 3.2 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.3

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

3

10.149 113.3 113.2 0.6 0.0 0.0 -0.1 -0.1

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

4

12.642 109.1 109.3 0.5 0.0 0.0 -0.1 0.2

Nondurables, manufactured

40

6.137 105.3 105.6 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.3

Durables, manufactured

41

5.128 107.6 107.5 0.5 0.0 -0.2 0.0 -0.1

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2015 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 industries: December 2016 to December 2017 [December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
Nov.
2017(1)
Index Percent change
Nov.
2017
Dec.
2017
Annual Monthly
Dec.
2016
to
Dec.
2017
Aug.
2017
to
Sept.
2017
Sept.
2017
to
Oct.
2017
Oct.
2017
to
Nov.
2017
Nov.
2017
to
Dec.
2017

Nonmanufacturing

  9.462 106.2 107.5 14.5 4.6 1.8 4.9 1.2

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

11

2.033 186.0 183.2 0.1 4.9 -1.5 -3.8 -1.5

Crop production

111

1.646 201.3 197.8 0.3 6.5 -1.2 -4.9 -1.7

Animal production (Dec. 2014=100)

112

0.191 74.9 73.3 -1.9 -6.6 -3.0 2.3 -2.1

Mining

21

7.428 97.3 99.2 19.1 4.6 2.8 7.6 2.0

Oil and gas extraction

211

7.152 97.2 99.2 19.2 4.8 2.9 8.1 2.1

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

212

0.276 110.9 107.9 11.6 -1.0 1.7 -1.8 -2.7

Manufacturing

  90.245 111.1 111.0 1.8 0.5 -0.1 0.5 -0.1

Manufacturing, part 1

31

11.733 124.3 124.3 0.4 0.1 -0.1 -0.2 0.0

Food manufacturing

311

3.431 155.9 155.5 0.9 0.1 -0.1 -0.5 -0.3

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

1.052 119.4 119.5 1.4 0.3 0.2 -0.1 0.1

Textile mills (Dec. 2011=100)

313

0.397 99.5 100.0 2.1 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.5

Textile product mills

314

0.921 109.2 109.4 0.6 0.3 0.1 -0.2 0.2

Apparel manufacturing

315

4.122 110.8 110.9 -0.2 0.1 -0.3 -0.1 0.1

Leather and allied product manufacturing

316

1.810 122.7 122.7 -0.3 -0.2 0.0 0.1 0.0

Manufacturing, part 2

32

17.734 123.8 124.3 6.1 1.2 -0.2 1.8 0.4

Wood product manufacturing

321

0.949 136.7 133.6 15.1 -0.8 3.0 1.0 -2.3

Paper manufacturing

322

1.017 106.0 106.4 1.8 -0.1 0.5 0.2 0.4

Printing and related support activities (Dec. 2016=100)

323

0.216 98.9 98.9 -1.1 0.2 0.1 -0.1 0.0

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

2.497 93.3 94.0 17.5 8.4 -6.4 10.7 0.8

Chemical manufacturing

325

9.861 137.2 138.0 5.2 0.2 0.7 0.7 0.6

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

2.200 118.2 118.3 1.4 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 0.1

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

0.994 128.8 129.3 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.4

Manufacturing, part 3

33

60.778 104.3 104.1 0.9 0.3 -0.1 0.2 -0.2

Primary metal manufacturing

331

4.380 150.9 148.7 12.9 4.0 -0.1 1.3 -1.5

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

3.124 126.0 126.1 4.0 1.0 0.7 0.1 0.1

Machinery manufacturing

333

7.039 117.7 117.8 1.4 0.3 0.0 -0.1 0.1

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

17.239 75.6 75.5 -0.7 -0.4 0.0 -0.1 -0.1

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

4.864 115.5 115.1 0.3 0.1 -0.1 0.3 -0.3

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

17.183 109.3 109.3 -0.5 0.1 -0.1 0.1 0.0

Furniture and related product manufacturing

337

1.709 115.8 115.8 1.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

5.241 117.8 117.8 0.0 0.2 -0.2 0.1 0.0

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2015 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 industries: December 2016 to December 2017 [December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
Nov.
2017(1)
Index Percent change
Nov.
2017
Dec.
2017
Annual Monthly
Dec.
2016
to
Dec.
2017
Aug.
2017
to
Sept.
2017
Sept.
2017
to
Oct.
2017
Oct.
2017
to
Nov.
2017
Nov.
2017
to
Dec.
2017

Nonmanufacturing

  7.555 137.6 138.6 6.5 0.6 3.3 0.0 0.7

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

11

4.509 154.5 153.3 1.0 -0.9 4.1 -1.6 -0.8

Crop production

111

4.149 160.3 158.9 0.3 -1.0 4.2 -1.7 -0.9

Mining

21

3.046 89.7 92.3 15.4 3.0 2.1 2.4 2.9

Mining (except oil and gas)

212

1.281 108.1 108.1 15.4 2.8 0.6 0.8 0.0

Manufacturing

  90.877 114.2 114.1 2.3 0.8 -0.1 0.4 -0.1

Manufacturing, part 1

31

7.013 138.9 139.1 2.8 -0.3 0.0 -0.1 0.1

Food manufacturing

311

4.723 157.7 157.8 3.2 -0.5 0.1 -0.3 0.1

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

0.715 115.4 115.6 6.2 0.8 0.0 0.3 0.2

Textile mills (Dec. 2016=100)

313

0.660 101.2 101.7 1.7 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.5

Leather and allied product manufacturing (Dec. 2016=100)

316

0.271 95.8 96.4 -3.6 -0.5 -0.7 0.2 0.6

Manufacturing, part 2

32

24.607 112.5 111.9 3.9 2.4 -0.7 1.7 -0.5

Paper manufacturing

322

1.711 125.4 125.5 6.1 0.6 1.9 1.3 0.1

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

5.847 107.5 105.3 11.1 8.2 -5.0 6.3 -2.0

Chemical manufacturing

325

13.184 115.7 115.5 1.2 0.8 0.6 0.3 -0.2

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

2.251 114.1 114.0 0.4 0.1 0.0 -0.3 -0.1

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

0.839 114.7 114.5 1.8 0.6 0.4 -0.1 -0.2

Manufacturing, part 3

33

59.257 112.5 112.5 1.6 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.0

Primary metal manufacturing

331

4.015 139.8 139.5 5.2 3.4 -2.2 0.5 -0.2

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

3.249 137.8 137.6 5.7 0.0 0.0 -0.2 -0.1

Machinery manufacturing

333

10.068 125.4 125.5 0.1 0.0 -0.2 -0.2 0.1

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

13.998 83.2 83.2 0.4 -0.1 0.7 -0.1 0.0

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

3.996 115.6 115.7 3.2 -0.1 1.8 -0.1 0.1

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

18.220 124.8 124.9 1.7 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1

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

337

0.447 117.5 117.5 0.2 0.1 0.1 -0.1 0.0

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

5.263 119.2 119.1 0.9 0.2 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2015 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: December 2016 to December 2017 [2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Harmo-
nized
system
Relative
import-
ance
Nov.
2017(1)
Index Percent change
Nov.
2017
Dec.
2017
Annual Monthly
Dec.
2016
to
Dec.
2017
Aug.
2017
to
Sept.
2017
Sept.
2017
to
Oct.
2017
Oct.
2017
to
Nov.
2017
Nov.
2017
to
Dec.
2017

Live animals; animal products

I

1.450 190.8 189.1 0.4 -1.5 -0.2 -0.2 -0.9

Meat and edible meat offal

02

0.437 245.0 244.8 4.5 0.2 0.5 -1.1 -0.1

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates

03

0.708 137.6 135.9 -6.0 -0.7 0.5 -1.7 -1.2

Vegetable products

II

2.088 223.1 219.5 0.3 6.1 -0.9 -4.3 -1.6

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers

07

0.438 491.6 498.3 2.0 3.0 -3.1 8.3 1.4

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

08

0.914 133.4 128.5 2.8 13.5 -0.3 -11.9 -3.7

Coffee, tea, mate and spices

09

0.350 222.0 216.5 -7.5 -1.7 -2.0 -1.2 -2.5

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

III

0.301 117.2 116.2 -1.4 1.7 -1.0 0.0 -0.9

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco

IV

2.667 161.9 162.0 1.1 0.1 -0.3 -0.1 0.1

Sugars and sugar confectionary (Dec. 2012=100)

17

0.182 86.6 86.6 -2.0 0.1 1.3 -0.7 0.0

Cocoa and cocoa preparations (Dec. 2009=100)

18

0.191 95.6 94.4 -9.9 -0.5 0.0 0.6 -1.3

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

20

0.363 171.8 171.4 6.8 0.9 0.6 0.4 -0.2

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar

22

0.992 129.1 129.3 1.2 0.3 0.2 -0.1 0.2

Mineral products

V

10.048 196.4 199.4 18.3 5.4 0.4 8.3 1.5

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

27

9.786 194.1 197.3 18.6 5.6 0.3 8.6 1.6

Products of the chemical or allied industries

VI

9.287 153.7 155.1 5.5 0.1 0.7 0.8 0.9

Inorganic chemicals

28

0.552 282.4 306.5 21.3 -3.9 4.5 3.8 8.5

Organic chemicals

29

2.426 127.8 130.0 8.0 1.1 0.9 1.6 1.7

Pharmaceutical products

30

4.250 148.2 148.1 3.3 -0.2 -0.2 0.1 -0.1

Fertilizers (Dec. 2009=100)

31

0.282 81.4 80.9 8.0 2.9 9.0 3.6 -0.6

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

32

0.185 105.4 106.3 4.7 -2.1 -0.7 -0.5 0.9

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec. 2016=100)

33

0.550 102.6 102.3 2.3 0.9 0.2 0.1 -0.3

Miscellaneous chemical products

38

0.684 105.8 105.9 3.5 0.1 0.4 0.3 0.1

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

3.407 140.4 140.3 2.3 0.3 0.3 -0.1 -0.1

Plastics and articles thereof

39

2.180 143.3 142.8 2.8 0.2 0.6 0.2 -0.3

Rubber and articles thereof

40

1.228 136.8 137.2 1.2 0.4 -0.2 -0.7 0.3

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

VIII

0.677 124.1 124.1 0.6 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0

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

42

0.647 129.5 129.4 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.0 -0.1

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

IX

0.985 166.3 162.4 14.9 -0.7 2.9 1.0 -2.3

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

44

0.961 114.8 112.1 15.4 -0.6 3.0 1.0 -2.4

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

X

1.080 111.2 111.6 1.5 0.0 0.5 0.3 0.4

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

48

0.707 103.0 103.0 -0.6 -0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0

Printed matter (Dec. 2015=100)

49

0.214 104.9 104.8 -1.0 0.2 0.2 0.0 -0.1

Textile and textile articles

XI

5.261 113.2 113.5 0.4 0.1 -0.1 -0.2 0.3

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted

61

2.153 103.5 103.6 -0.1 0.0 -0.3 -0.1 0.1

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted

62

1.789 118.4 118.7 -0.3 0.1 -0.3 -0.3 0.3

Made-up or worn textile articles

63

0.641 103.9 104.4 0.8 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.5

Headgear, umbrellas, artificial flowers, etc.

XII

1.489 121.7 121.9 -0.4 -0.1 -0.1 0.1 0.2

Footwear and parts of such articles

64

1.261 120.8 120.9 -0.5 -0.2 0.0 0.0 0.1

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

XIII

0.932 130.9 131.2 0.5 0.2 0.3 -0.1 0.2

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

68

0.323 97.2 98.2 1.1 0.1 0.5 0.0 1.0

Ceramic products

69

0.267 136.5 136.7 -0.3 0.2 0.4 0.1 0.1

Glass and glassware

70

0.342 131.1 130.5 0.5 0.3 0.1 -0.2 -0.5

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

XIV

2.800 172.0 171.0 3.7 2.5 -2.5 0.8 -0.6

Base metals and articles of base metals

XV

5.727 175.5 174.3 9.1 2.4 0.9 0.7 -0.7

Iron and steel

72

1.384 204.1 202.9 15.4 1.7 1.7 0.0 -0.6

Articles of iron or steel

73

1.729 149.4 149.6 8.5 1.9 1.4 0.2 0.1

Copper and articles thereof

74

0.420 301.2 293.6 8.8 5.3 -2.9 3.2 -2.5

Aluminum and articles thereof

76

0.846 137.5 135.6 11.1 2.9 2.6 0.9 -1.4

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

82

0.424 121.9 121.9 0.1 -0.1 -0.8 0.0 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

83

0.517 137.8 137.8 1.8 0.6 0.1 0.1 0.0

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

XVI

29.372 80.7 80.6 0.0 -0.1 0.1 0.0 -0.1

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

84

14.693 86.6 86.6 1.4 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.0

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

85

14.679 75.1 74.9 -1.4 -0.4 -0.3 0.1 -0.3

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

14.324 113.7 113.8 -0.3 0.1 -0.2 0.0 0.1

Motor vehicles and their parts

87

12.885 112.7 112.7 -0.1 0.1 -0.2 0.0 0.0

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

88

1.309 115.9 116.0 -2.4 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1

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

XVIII

3.802 101.8 101.8 -0.7 0.2 -0.1 -0.1 0.0

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical instruments

90

3.477 98.4 98.3 -0.9 0.3 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1

Clocks and watches and parts thereof

91

0.266 143.9 144.4 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

XX

4.228 111.4 111.3 -0.3 0.0 0.1 0.2 -0.1

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

94

2.622 117.3 117.1 0.8 0.1 0.0 0.3 -0.2

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

95

1.335 101.3 101.4 -1.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

96

0.271 129.7 129.6 -1.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.1

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2015 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: December 2016 to December 2017 [2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Harmo-
nized
system
Relative
import-
ance
Nov.
2017(1)
Index Percent change
Nov.
2017
Dec.
2017
Annual Monthly
Dec.
2016
to
Dec.
2017
Aug.
2017
to
Sept.
2017
Sept.
2017
to
Oct.
2017
Oct.
2017
to
Nov.
2017
Nov.
2017
to
Dec.
2017

Live animals; animal products

I

1.882 206.6 207.3 7.5 -1.8 0.1 -1.1 0.3

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

02

1.104 164.5 166.6 12.1 -2.7 0.0 -1.3 1.3

Fish and crustaceans, mollusks and aquatic invertebrates (Dec. 2016=100)

03

0.410 112.2 111.2 11.2 0.5 2.5 -0.6 -0.9

Vegetable products

II

4.234 195.7 192.9 0.4 -0.6 4.9 -2.2 -1.4

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

08

0.868 148.3 146.0 0.1 1.4 1.9 2.6 -1.6

Cereals

10

1.209 180.0 180.7 7.7 -3.8 2.7 0.7 0.4

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

12

1.625 200.0 204.6 -1.2 -0.3 -0.2 0.3 2.3

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and tobacco

IV

3.042 149.0 148.9 0.5 0.3 -0.1 -0.3 -0.1

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

20

0.377 117.1 117.1 0.3 -0.4 0.6 -0.1 0.0

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

22

0.530 109.3 107.5 -4.6 0.4 -0.2 -2.7 -1.6

Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal feed

23

0.715 198.5 201.6 -0.4 1.5 0.4 1.9 1.6

Mineral products

V

9.148 222.4 221.9 14.8 6.3 -2.5 5.1 -0.2

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

26

0.612 105.1 105.0 17.2 6.4 1.5 2.1 -0.1

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

27

8.346 213.3 212.8 14.9 6.4 -2.8 5.4 -0.2

Products of the chemical or allied industries

VI

10.737 135.5 136.2 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.5

Inorganic chemicals

28

0.748 158.7 162.7 -8.9 -3.4 0.6 0.4 2.5

Organic chemicals

29

2.621 138.4 139.7 3.8 2.1 1.0 0.9 0.9

Pharmaceutical products

30

3.122 104.8 105.3 -1.7 0.1 0.0 -0.6 0.5

Fertilizers (Dec. 2016=100)

31

0.242 106.4 106.3 6.3 -1.3 0.0 1.7 -0.1

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

32

0.535 101.9 101.4 3.6 1.1 2.6 -0.1 -0.5

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery cosmetic or toilet preparations

33

0.804 132.6 132.7 1.3 0.2 -0.3 0.4 0.1

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

34

0.553 126.6 126.6 8.8 -0.6 -2.2 0.4 0.0

Miscellaneous chemical products

38

1.726 144.4 144.4 -1.7 0.0 0.3 -0.2 0.0

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

5.116 140.4 138.8 1.7 1.0 1.4 0.4 -1.1

Plastics and articles thereof

39

4.193 137.0 135.2 2.5 1.1 1.4 0.8 -1.3

Rubber and articles thereof

40

0.923 153.7 153.3 -1.5 0.6 1.5 -1.5 -0.3

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

VIII

0.321 114.9 116.2 -4.1 -0.7 -1.4 0.2 1.1

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

IX

0.664 104.5 103.8 11.3 1.6 3.0 0.7 -0.7

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

X

2.136 128.8 129.1 4.1 -2.6 -3.9 6.4 0.2

Woodpulp and recovered paper

47

0.668 136.8 139.0 3.2 -7.9 -15.6 21.2 1.6

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

48

1.109 124.4 123.6 4.5 0.1 1.7 0.0 -0.6

Printed material (Dec. 2014=100)

49

0.359 105.1 105.1 4.5 0.0 0.0 3.5 0.0

Textile and textile articles

XI

1.711 120.1 120.2 0.5 -0.3 0.0 0.3 0.1

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics thereof

52

0.443 125.4 127.0 4.0 -1.8 -1.5 1.9 1.3

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

XIII

0.824 123.5 123.5 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.0

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

68

0.274 101.3 101.3 0.0 0.0 0.1 -0.1 0.0

Glass and glassware

70

0.419 99.0 99.1 -0.5 0.4 0.3 0.0 0.1

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

XIV

4.188 235.4 235.0 5.1 2.9 -2.5 0.3 -0.2

Base metals and articles of base metals

XV

4.992 156.3 156.6 6.3 2.3 -0.2 -0.3 0.2

Iron and steel

72

1.030 158.5 160.5 5.5 5.4 -2.0 -4.2 1.3

Copper and articles thereof

74

0.543 195.8 197.4 15.5 5.2 1.0 2.7 0.8

Aluminum and articles thereof

76

0.881 119.0 118.1 10.6 3.7 0.1 2.7 -0.8

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

82

0.342 99.5 99.5 -0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

83

0.341 148.2 148.1 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.0 -0.1

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

XVI

28.382 96.6 96.6 1.2 -0.2 0.5 -0.1 0.0

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

84

16.609 113.8 113.8 1.0 -0.2 0.1 -0.1 0.0

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts and accessories thereof

85

11.773 78.0 78.0 1.3 -0.1 1.0 -0.1 0.0

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

14.786 133.3 133.4 1.3 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.1

Motor vehicles and their parts

87

8.550 115.3 115.2 0.7 0.1 -0.1 0.0 -0.1

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

XVIII

5.972 107.0 106.9 0.9 0.1 0.3 -0.1 -0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

XX

1.456 112.0 111.8 -0.4 -0.1 0.0 -0.2 -0.2

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings nesoi;

94

0.880 127.9 128.0 -0.1 0.0 0.0 -0.2 0.1

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

95

0.428 88.8 88.1 -1.3 0.0 0.1 0.0 -0.8

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2015 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: December 2016 to December 2017 [2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Relative
import-
ance
Nov.
2017(1)
Index Percent change
Nov.
2017
Dec.
2017
Annual Monthly
Dec.
2016
to
Dec.
2017
Aug.
2017
to
Sept.
2017
Sept.
2017
to
Oct.
2017
Oct.
2017
to
Nov.
2017
Nov.
2017
to
Dec.
2017

Industrialized Countries(2)

100.000 121.5 121.7 3.0 0.7 0.0 0.8 0.2

Nonmanufacturing

9.071 147.2 149.4 14.3 2.2 0.9 6.2 1.5

Manufacturing

90.455 118.9 119.0 2.1 0.5 -0.1 0.3 0.1

Other Countries(3)

100.000 121.7 121.7 2.2 0.8 -0.1 1.1 0.0

Nonmanufacturing

9.688 218.4 221.6 14.3 6.3 1.1 3.9 1.5

Manufacturing

90.109 103.9 103.8 1.0 0.2 -0.2 0.8 -0.1

Canada

100.000 129.6 129.6 6.2 1.0 0.7 2.3 0.0

Nonmanufacturing

24.596 140.3 142.6 13.8 1.9 0.8 6.4 1.6

Manufacturing

74.624 130.5 129.7 3.8 0.7 0.7 1.0 -0.6

European Union(4)

100.000 134.2 134.7 2.4 0.3 -0.1 0.2 0.4

Manufacturing

99.394 130.9 131.3 2.4 0.3 -0.1 0.3 0.3

France (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 125.9 125.9 3.3 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.0

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 115.2 115.3 3.3 0.2 0.3 -0.2 0.1

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 118.9 119.3 1.5 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3

Latin America(5)

100.000 148.3 148.7 4.4 1.6 0.4 1.0 0.3

Nonmanufacturing

19.567 249.9 252.9 12.1 7.9 -0.9 3.1 1.2

Manufacturing

80.100 122.1 122.2 2.7 0.1 0.8 0.5 0.1

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 129.0 129.0 3.6 1.5 -0.2 0.1 0.0

Nonmanufacturing (Dec. 2008=100)

9.390 133.3 135.5 15.6 14.1 -6.2 -2.6 1.7

Manufacturing (Dec. 2008=100)

90.307 89.1 89.0 2.5 0.2 0.5 0.5 -0.1

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

100.000 98.3 98.3 0.0 -0.1 -0.1 0.0 0.0

China (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 100.1 100.0 -0.2 -0.3 0.0 0.3 -0.1

Japan

100.000 95.4 95.4 -1.2 0.1 -0.3 -0.1 0.0

Asian NICs(7)

100.000 87.2 87.7 3.9 0.7 0.2 -0.3 0.6

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)(8)

100.000 98.0 98.1 0.8 0.2 0.0 -0.1 0.1

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

100.000 168.9 170.3 11.6 4.0 5.1 4.1 0.8

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2015 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: December 2016 to December 2017 [2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Relative
import-
ance
Nov.
2017(1)
Index Percent change
Nov.
2017
Dec.
2017
Annual Monthly
Dec.
2016
to
Dec.
2017
Aug.
2017
to
Sept.
2017
Sept.
2017
to
Oct.
2017
Oct.
2017
to
Nov.
2017
Nov.
2017
to
Dec.
2017

Air Freight

Import Air Freight

100.000 187.0 193.4 17.1 0.4 -4.3 6.9 3.4

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

22.646 143.9 144.0 5.2 2.1 -3.0 0.5 0.1

Asia

66.102 183.3 192.5 25.3 0.0 -5.5 10.5 5.0

Export Air Freight

100.000 169.9 167.5 8.2 0.5 5.4 1.8 -1.4

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)

31.332 150.1 148.9 2.2 0.7 1.5 0.0 -0.8

Inbound Air Freight

100.000 170.8 176.8 14.1 0.5 -2.6 5.5 3.5

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

23.423 127.3 131.6 0.2 1.6 -5.1 -1.7 3.4

Asia

64.384 170.5 177.6 22.5 0.1 -2.3 9.5 4.2

Outbound Air Freight

100.000 142.4 141.1 3.4 -1.4 1.0 1.4 -0.9

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

30.607 147.5 144.6 1.0 -1.5 0.0 2.6 -2.0

Asia

46.525 136.8 136.1 5.7 -2.4 0.2 2.1 -0.5

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares

100.000 182.2 194.0 4.2 8.5 8.8 -2.3 6.5

Europe

44.308 218.9 216.8 10.3 18.8 9.9 3.2 -1.0

Asia

20.594 129.2 152.0 3.8 4.4 0.3 -4.6 17.6

Latin America/Caribbean

9.758 162.4 180.0 2.7 -5.7 1.6 4.7 10.8

Export Air Passenger Fares

100.000 153.7 158.2 -6.1 -8.2 3.6 0.5 2.9

Europe

33.069 214.7 203.5 -6.6 13.6 3.1 1.0 -5.2

Asia

23.753 119.3 134.2 -5.0 -20.5 -2.4 2.8 12.5

Latin America/Caribbean

24.435 163.8 169.5 -0.8 -3.6 -1.7 2.4 3.5

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2015 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. 

Relative Importance - A relative importance is a specific index's price-updated value share (expressed 
as a percentage) of overall imports or exports at a specific point in time. Relative importance values are 
affected by the trade weights at the point indexes are reweighted and index changes relative to other 
indexes since the reweight point. If an index is rising in value relative to other indexes over time, the 
relative importance will increase as well. 
 
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: January 10, 2018