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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-11-0016
8:30 a.m. (EST) Wednesday, January 12, 2011

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Media contact:	       (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov



			U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES - DECEMBER 2010

U.S. import prices rose 1.1 percent in December, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, after 
increasing 1.5 percent in November and 1.1 percent in October. Import prices advanced 4.8 percent in 2010. 
The price index for U.S. exports increased 0.7 percent in December and 6.5 percent over the past year.

Imports

All Imports: Import prices rose 1.1 percent in December, and higher prices for both fuel and nonfuel prices 
contributed to the overall advance. The price index for overall imports rose 3.7 percent in the fourth quarter 
of 2010, the largest three-month increase since import prices advanced a similar 3.7 percent between May 
and August 2009. Import prices rose for the second consecutive year in 2010, increasing 4.8 percent after an 
8.6 percent advance in 2009. 

Fuel Imports: Fuel prices increased 4.1 percent following similar advances of 4.2 percent and 4.3 percent 
the two previous months. The price indexes for petroleum and natural gas contributed to the December 
increase, rising 3.9 percent and 14.4 percent, respectively. Prices for imported fuel rose 11.9 percent in 2010 
after a 62.2 percent jump in 2009. The increase in 2010 was led by a 13.7 percent advance in petroleum 
prices, which more than offset an 11.3 percent drop in prices for natural gas.        

All Imports Excluding Fuel: The price index for nonfuel prices advanced 0.3 percent in December after a 
0.8 percent rise the previous month. Rising prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials and foods, 
feeds, and beverages led the advance in December. Nonfuel prices rose 3.0 percent in 2010, primarily driven 
by a 12.0 percent increase in the price index for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials. The 2010 increase 
in nonfuel prices was the largest calendar-year increase for the index since a 3.1 percent advance in 2007.   


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

2009

December

0.2 -0.2 0.4 0.7 1.8 0.6

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

(r)1.1 (r)4.3 (r)0.4 0.8 (r)2.8 0.6

November

(r)1.5 (r)4.2 0.8 1.5 (r)7.6 0.8

December

1.1 4.1 0.3 0.7 1.7 0.6

Dec. 2008 to 2009

8.6 62.2 0.3 3.4 9.2 2.9

Dec. 2009 to 2010

4.8 11.9 3.0 6.5 20.2 5.1

Footnotes
(r) Revised

Exports
 

All Exports: Prices of overall exports rose 0.7 percent in December following a 1.5 percent increase the 
previous month. Higher prices for both agricultural and nonagricultural exports contributed to the advances 
in each of the past two months. Export prices increased 6.5 percent in 2010 after a 3.4 percent rise the 
previous year. The 2010 advance was the largest calendar-year increase since the index was first published in 
December 1983. 

Agricultural Exports: Agricultural prices rose 1.7 percent led by a 10.5 percent increase in cotton prices 
and a 5.0 percent advance in soybeans prices. The December increase followed a 7.6 percent jump in 
November. Prices for agricultural exports rose 20.2 percent in 2010, the largest calendar-year increase since a 
23.3 percent advance in 2007. While a 107.0 percent increase in cotton prices was the largest single factor 
for the rise in agricultural prices in 2010, higher prices for corn, wheat, soybeans, and meat also contributed 
to the advance. 

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: The price index for nonagricultural exports rose 0.6 percent in 
December after increasing 0.8 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively, in November and October. 
Nonagricultural prices advanced 5.1 percent in 2010, the largest calendar-year increase for the index since  
December 1987. The 2010 increase was driven by a 13.5 percent advance in nonagricultural industrial 
supplies and materials prices. 
 				
				     SELECTED DECEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

Import Prices

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials advanced 
0.9 percent in December, led up by a 1.6 percent increase in chemicals prices and a 1.0 percent advance in 
unfinished metals prices. The price index for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials rose 12.0 percent in 
2010. Prices for unfinished metals and chemicals, up 19.7 percent and 12.0 percent, respectively, were also 
the largest contributors to the increase over the past year.      

Finished Goods: Finished goods prices were mostly flat in December. Capital goods prices ticked up 0.1 
percent, while the price indexes for consumer goods and automotive vehicles were unchanged. Each of the 
major finished goods categories also recorded little price movement over the past 12 months. Prices for 
automotive vehicles and capital goods rose 1.1 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively, in 2010, while in 
contrast, consumer goods prices fell 0.3 percent.
 
Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Foods, feeds, and beverages prices rose 1.3 percent in December and 13.1 
percent over the past 12 months. Higher prices for vegetables, fish, food oils, and meat led the increase in 
December.   

Imports by Locality of Origin: Prices of imports from China and from Japan each rose 0.3 percent in 
December. Driven by a 0.9 percent increase in the fourth quarter, import prices from China advanced 0.8 
percent over the past year after declining 1.8 percent in 2009. Import prices from Japan rose 2.0 percent in 
2010, similar to the 1.9 percent advances recorded in each of the previous two years.  

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares rose 2.1 percent in December and 11.6 percent in 2010. 
The 2010 increase followed a 3.2 percent decline in 2009. The December increase was led by a 9.8 percent 
increase in Asian fares and a 9.2 percent advance in Latin American and Caribbean fares, which more than 
offset a 5.8 percent decline in European fares. Higher prices for all three regions contributed to the 2010 
advance in overall air passenger fares. The price index for import air freight declined 0.3 percent in 
December. Despite the December decrease, the index rose 3.2 percent in 2010.  

Export Prices
 
Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials 
advanced 1.4 percent in December led by rising fuel and metals prices. Higher prices for fuels, metals, and 
chemicals drove overall nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials prices up 13.5 percent in 2010.  
 
Finished Goods: Finished goods prices were mostly up in December. Consumer goods prices rose 0.2 
percent, capital goods prices ticked up 0.1 percent, while prices for automotive vehicles were unchanged. 
Prices for each of the major finished goods categories increased in 2010. Consumer goods prices increased 
3.4 percent, prices for capital goods rose 0.6 percent, and automotive vehicles prices advanced 0.8 percent. 

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares advanced 2.3 percent in December and 6.8 percent in 
2010. The increase over the past 12 months was driven by a 22.9 percent increase in Asian fares and 
followed a 5.2 percent drop in 2009. Export air freight prices rose 0.6 percent in December and 4.1 percent 
over the past year. 
		
Import and Export Price Index data for January 2011 are scheduled for release on Tuesday, February 
15, 2011 at 8:30 a.m. (EST).

Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: December 2009 to December 2010
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description End
Use
Relative
import-
ance
Nov.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Nov.
2010
Dec.
2010
Annual Monthly
Dec.
2009
to
Dec.
2010
Aug.
2010
to
Sept.
2010
Sept.
2010
to
Oct.
2010
Oct.
2010
to
Nov.
2010
Nov.
2010
to
Dec.
2010

All commodities

  100.000 129.0 130.4 4.8 0.0 1.1 1.5 1.1

All imports excluding petroleum

  79.974 112.2 112.7 2.7 0.3 0.3 0.8 0.4

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)

  78.613 116.1 116.4 3.0 0.3 0.4 0.8 0.3

Foods, feeds, & beverages

0

5.044 160.4 162.5 13.1 0.6 2.1 2.5 1.3

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

00

3.926 180.0 182.3 13.4 0.5 2.2 3.0 1.3

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

01

1.118 116.1 117.9 12.4 1.0 1.8 1.0 1.6

Industrial supplies & materials

1

36.130 213.7 219.7 12.0 -0.4 3.2 3.5 2.8

Industrial supplies & materials excluding petroleum

  16.104 156.8 159.2 9.6 0.6 1.5 2.3 1.5

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

  14.743 176.1 177.6 12.0 1.1 1.7 2.5 0.9

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

  9.274 169.8 170.8 12.0 1.2 1.8 2.6 0.6

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable excluding petroleum

  5.469 141.6 145.6 6.8 -0.1 0.9 2.0 2.8

Fuels & lubricants

10

21.387 268.4 279.5 11.9 -1.5 4.3 4.2 4.1

Petroleum & petroleum products

100

20.026 294.7 306.1 13.7 -1.3 4.7 4.4 3.9

Crude

10000

14.751 300.3 311.8 13.4 -1.1 4.8 3.7 3.8

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

101

1.105 117.3 129.5 -10.1 -4.4 -2.5 1.4 10.4

Gas-natural

10110

0.800 101.3 115.9 -11.3 -5.9 -3.5 1.9 14.4

Paper & paper base stocks

11

0.739 118.4 118.5 14.9 1.1 -0.3 1.1 0.1

Materials associated with nondurable supplies & materials

12

4.805 154.1 156.3 11.2 0.8 1.8 2.5 1.4

Selected building materials

13

1.324 126.6 127.5 5.5 -0.3 0.6 1.0 0.7

Unfinished metals related to durable goods

14

4.471 262.7 265.2 19.7 2.1 2.9 4.5 1.0

Finished metals related to durable goods

15

1.866 151.6 152.1 8.3 1.2 1.6 1.1 0.3

Nonmetals related to durable goods

16

1.538 108.6 108.4 2.8 0.1 0.2 0.6 -0.2

Capital goods

2

22.811 92.0 92.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1

Electric generating equipment

20

2.931 113.5 113.5 2.0 0.4 0.0 0.7 0.0

Nonelectrical machinery

21

17.918 86.2 86.4 0.0 0.1 0.2 -0.1 0.2

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

22

1.962 121.8 121.8 -0.7 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

3

11.981 110.0 110.0 1.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.0

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

4

24.034 104.0 104.0 -0.3 0.1 -0.5 0.3 0.0

Nondurables, manufactured

40

11.324 109.8 110.1 2.0 0.1 -0.5 0.3 0.3

Durables, manufactured

41

11.508 98.4 98.1 -2.7 0.1 -0.6 0.3 -0.3

Nonmanufactured consumer goods

42

1.202 103.6 103.7 1.6 -0.1 0.6 0.0 0.1

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2008 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: December 2009 to December 2010
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description End
Use
Relative
import-
ance
Nov.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Nov.
2010
Dec.
2010
Annual Monthly
Dec.
2009
to
Dec.
2010
Aug.
2010
to
Sept.
2010
Sept.
2010
to
Oct.
2010
Oct.
2010
to
Nov.
2010
Nov.
2010
to
Dec.
2010

All commodities

  100.000 126.6 127.5 6.5 0.6 0.8 1.5 0.7

Agricultural commodities

  10.056 194.7 198.0 20.2 2.4 2.8 7.6 1.7

Nonagricultural commodities

  89.945 121.7 122.4 5.1 0.4 0.6 0.8 0.6

Foods, feeds, & beverages

0

8.858 189.4 190.7 15.5 2.0 2.4 5.9 0.7

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

00

8.274 193.4 194.2 15.7 2.1 2.4 6.3 0.4

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

01

0.584 153.3 160.5 13.9 1.5 2.3 0.3 4.7

Industrial supplies & materials

1

32.358 169.6 172.5 14.9 0.9 1.7 2.5 1.7

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

  12.456 172.4 175.1 11.0 1.2 1.4 1.8 1.6

Industrial supplies & materials, nondurable

  19.903 168.7 171.9 17.6 0.6 1.9 3.0 1.9

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials

10

1.782 206.4 222.4 45.8 4.0 4.8 13.7 7.8

Nonagricultural industrial supplies & materials

  30.577 168.1 170.5 13.5 0.7 1.5 1.9 1.4

Fuels & lubricants

11

6.239 227.3 232.6 22.7 -0.7 3.1 3.5 2.3

Nonagricultural supplies & materials excluding fuels & building materials

12

23.356 162.6 164.6 11.7 1.2 1.3 1.6 1.2

Selected building materials

13

0.982 116.9 116.3 2.5 -0.2 -0.4 0.3 -0.5

Capital goods

2

37.137 103.8 103.9 0.6 0.1 -0.1 0.4 0.1

Electrical generating equipment

20

3.475 109.9 109.8 0.5 0.1 0.6 0.5 -0.1

Nonelectrical machinery

21

27.058 94.4 94.5 0.0 0.1 -0.2 0.3 0.1

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

22

6.604 140.6 141.0 3.3 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.3

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

3

8.906 109.1 109.1 0.8 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.0

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

4

12.741 112.9 113.1 3.4 1.0 0.5 0.4 0.2

Nondurables, manufactured

40

5.837 114.2 114.0 3.6 0.6 0.4 0.7 -0.2

Durables, manufactured

41

5.627 111.0 111.0 1.6 1.6 0.9 0.1 0.0

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2008 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: December 2009 to December 2010
[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
Nov.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Nov.
2010
Dec.
2010
Annual Monthly
Dec.
2009
to
Dec.
2010
Aug.
2010
to
Sept.
2010
Sept.
2010
to
Oct.
2010
Oct.
2010
to
Nov.
2010
Nov.
2010
to
Dec.
2010

Nonmanufactured articles

  18.618 134.1 139.6 12.7 -1.3 4.1 3.4 4.1

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

11

1.924 161.2 165.4 20.2 -0.3 2.5 2.5 2.6

Crop production

111

1.363 167.3 170.7 17.3 -0.9 2.6 2.3 2.0

Mining

21

16.694 131.2 136.8 11.9 -1.3 4.2 3.6 4.3

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

212

0.540 140.3 140.5 9.0 0.1 -0.1 0.8 0.1

Manufactured articles

  80.833 111.8 112.3 3.1 0.3 0.5 1.0 0.4

Manufactured goods, part 1

31

10.315 113.2 113.9 5.9 0.3 0.9 1.2 0.6

Food manufacturing

311

2.797 139.4 141.3 16.5 0.8 2.3 2.8 1.4

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

0.909 110.2 110.2 1.3 -0.1 0.5 1.0 0.0

Textile product mills

314

0.787 104.9 106.4 6.1 0.3 0.3 0.9 1.4

Apparel manufacturing

315

3.915 102.6 103.0 2.1 0.0 0.5 0.4 0.4

Leather and allied product manufacturing

316

1.504 108.5 108.6 1.5 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.1

Manufactured goods, part 2

32

18.113 125.2 126.6 7.0 -0.2 0.8 2.3 1.1

Wood product manufacturing

321

0.804 104.3 105.1 9.4 -0.3 0.6 1.8 0.8

Paper manufacturing

322

1.254 111.2 111.2 10.1 0.7 0.0 0.8 0.0

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

4.232 134.1 139.5 13.0 -2.1 4.1 6.7 4.0

Chemical manufacturing

325

8.942 127.7 128.1 5.0 0.5 -0.2 1.2 0.3

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

1.783 116.1 116.2 2.6 0.2 -0.3 0.3 0.1

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

0.992 123.3 123.6 3.6 0.2 0.7 0.2 0.2

Manufactured goods, part 3

33

52.405 107.4 107.5 1.1 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.1

Primary metal manufacturing

331

5.160 171.5 173.2 18.5 2.0 2.7 3.9 1.0

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

2.709 120.3 121.0 4.0 0.1 0.8 0.3 0.6

Machinery manufacturing

333

6.729 114.8 114.9 1.5 0.2 0.6 0.3 0.1

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

14.436 85.5 85.3 -3.7 0.1 -0.7 -0.2 -0.2

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

3.761 113.3 113.5 0.5 0.2 -0.2 0.5 0.2

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

13.196 106.9 106.8 0.7 0.1 0.3 0.4 -0.1

Furniture and related product manufacturing

337

1.305 106.7 107.3 -0.6 0.2 0.3 0.0 0.6

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

5.109 114.0 114.2 1.5 0.3 0.4 0.7 0.2

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2008 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: December 2009 to December 2010
[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
Nov.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Nov.
2010
Dec.
2010
Annual Monthly
Dec.
2009
to
Dec.
2010
Aug.
2010
to
Sept.
2010
Sept.
2010
to
Oct.
2010
Oct.
2010
to
Nov.
2010
Nov.
2010
to
Dec.
2010

Nonmanufactured articles

  8.073 163.5 165.1 30.2 3.5 2.7 10.1 1.0

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

11

5.766 184.5 189.5 32.0 3.8 3.6 13.5 2.7

Crop production

111

5.414 192.6 197.9 33.6 4.1 4.0 14.5 2.8

Mining

21

2.307 116.3 112.4 25.7 2.7 0.4 2.6 -3.4

Mining (except oil and gas)

212

1.858 137.2 130.3 39.4 2.4 1.3 1.8 -5.0

Manufactured articles

  89.099 114.5 115.1 4.6 0.3 0.6 0.9 0.5

Manufactured goods, part 1

31

6.819 133.4 135.2 10.5 0.9 1.6 1.8 1.3

Food manufacturing

311

4.631 149.8 152.1 10.9 1.0 1.5 2.0 1.5

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

0.548 115.4 115.3 7.1 1.2 2.0 0.4 -0.1

Apparel manufacturing

315

0.370 105.6 105.6 3.1 0.9 0.0 0.0 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 2

32

23.868 123.5 124.5 10.0 0.2 1.2 1.6 0.8

Wood product manufacturing

321

0.456 119.1 118.8 9.0 -0.5 -0.3 4.9 -0.3

Paper manufacturing

322

1.997 123.4 122.1 8.6 1.0 -0.4 0.0 -1.1

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

3.856 133.8 139.8 23.5 -2.9 4.7 5.1 4.5

Chemical manufacturing

325

14.746 124.8 125.1 8.8 0.8 0.7 1.1 0.2

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

1.995 107.5 107.5 0.1 0.1 0.2 -0.6 0.0

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

0.818 114.4 113.9 1.8 0.4 0.6 0.4 -0.4

Manufactured goods, part 3

33

58.411 109.3 109.7 2.0 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.4

Primary metal manufacturing

331

5.186 157.2 160.3 16.2 1.5 2.5 3.4 2.0

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

2.678 121.8 122.1 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2

Machinery manufacturing

333

12.274 115.4 115.3 2.1 0.0 0.1 0.3 -0.1

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

14.895 91.5 91.7 -1.4 0.1 -0.4 0.4 0.2

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

3.340 109.5 109.6 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.7 0.1

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

14.750 111.7 111.8 1.5 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

4.947 112.5 113.2 2.4 1.3 0.9 -0.1 0.6

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2008 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: December 2009 to December 2010
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Harmo-
nized
system
Relative
import-
ance
Nov.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Nov.
2010
Dec.
2010
Annual Monthly
Dec.
2009
to
Dec.
2010
Aug.
2010
to
Sept.
2010
Sept.
2010
to
Oct.
2010
Oct.
2010
to
Nov.
2010
Nov.
2010
to
Dec.
2010

Live animals; animal products

I

1.165 152.1 156.0 18.1 1.5 1.8 1.1 2.6

Meat and edible meat offal

02

0.254 183.0 186.2 16.7 0.3 0.3 -0.4 1.7

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates

03

0.620 117.5 120.0 19.6 2.0 2.9 1.0 2.1

Vegetable products

II

1.603 186.5 190.3 17.5 0.1 2.5 2.1 2.0

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers

07

0.389 307.8 325.1 13.2 -4.6 -1.2 -0.8 5.6

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

08

0.422 113.7 114.1 14.8 3.2 3.8 -2.2 0.4

Coffee, tea, mate and spices

09

0.362 218.1 218.6 30.7 4.5 -1.0 9.3 0.2

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

III

0.247 123.6 130.7 30.7 2.0 5.0 5.1 5.7

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco

IV

2.365 148.8 149.1 7.1 -0.2 1.5 2.4 0.2

Cocoa and cocoa preparations (Dec. 2009=100)

18

0.195 95.5 96.3 -3.7 -2.0 -1.0 2.2 0.8

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

19

0.285 138.0 132.2 17.6 -0.1 2.9 7.7 -4.2

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

20

0.315 145.5 147.8 16.7 0.1 6.5 5.5 1.6

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar

22

0.899 120.4 120.5 1.5 -0.1 0.6 1.4 0.1

Mineral products

V

21.341 270.0 281.0 11.8 -1.5 4.0 4.0 4.1

Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plaster materials, lime & cement (Dec. 2009=100)

25

0.190 104.9 105.0 5.0 0.0 0.7 1.7 0.1

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

27

20.904 266.4 277.5 11.7 -1.5 4.1 4.1 4.2

Products of the chemical or allied industries

VI

8.264 141.9 142.7 5.5 0.6 0.2 1.4 0.6

Inorganic chemicals

28

1.097 322.5 323.7 29.6 4.1 7.7 4.8 0.4

Organic chemicals

29

2.725 134.9 136.1 4.9 -0.1 0.4 0.6 0.9

Pharmaceutical products

30

2.691 114.6 114.5 -1.5 0.0 -3.2 0.2 -0.1

Fertilizers (Dec. 2009=100)

31

0.320 106.0 109.5 9.5 1.2 1.6 4.3 3.3

Tanning & dyeing extracts; dye & pigments; varnish & paints; putty

32

0.162 108.0 107.9 -1.0 0.0 0.2 0.9 -0.1

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec. 2001=100)

33

0.417 124.6 124.9 3.9 0.7 1.1 3.9 0.2

Miscellaneous chemical products

38

0.511 98.3 99.6 10.1 0.8 2.0 2.6 1.3

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

3.016 140.2 141.0 8.3 0.4 0.5 1.0 0.6

Plastics and articles thereof

39

1.865 133.2 133.6 5.5 0.3 -0.2 0.8 0.3

Rubber and articles thereof

40

1.151 153.5 155.2 13.0 0.7 1.5 1.3 1.1

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

VIII

0.582 115.1 115.1 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0

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

42

0.527 115.2 115.2 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0

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

IX

0.822 125.8 126.7 8.7 -0.4 0.6 1.6 0.7

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

X

1.393 114.7 114.8 8.0 0.8 0.0 0.7 0.1

Pulp wood, waste paper, and paperboard (Dec. 2009=100)

47

0.225 129.8 129.3 29.3 2.4 -1.8 1.3 -0.4

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

48

0.902 107.2 107.5 5.5 0.3 0.6 0.6 0.3

Printed matter

49

0.266 122.7 122.7 1.7 0.7 0.0 0.2 0.0

Textile and textile articles

XI

4.954 105.1 105.8 3.3 0.1 0.5 0.8 0.7

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted

61

1.900 100.2 100.7 3.2 0.1 0.6 0.4 0.5

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted

62

1.842 103.8 104.2 1.5 -0.1 0.5 0.4 0.4

Made-up or worn textile articles

63

0.544 97.9 100.2 9.0 0.5 0.5 1.5 2.3

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.

XII

1.206 108.7 108.8 1.3 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.1

Footwear and parts of such articles

64

1.027 107.9 108.0 1.6 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1

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

XIII

0.878 126.1 126.6 1.7 0.2 1.3 0.2 0.4

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

68

0.310 118.6 119.9 2.0 0.3 0.7 -0.3 1.1

Ceramic products

69

0.269 138.3 138.3 -1.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0

Glass and glassware

70

0.299 120.6 120.6 4.1 0.1 3.1 1.0 0.0

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

XIV

2.938 172.3 176.2 13.1 0.9 3.0 3.7 2.3

Base metals and articles of base metals

XV

6.198 187.0 187.0 12.0 1.6 1.2 2.0 0.0

Iron and steel

72

1.365 228.9 228.9 16.3 0.0 -1.4 1.5 0.0

Articles of iron or steel

73

1.845 151.9 151.8 8.5 0.8 0.4 -0.5 -0.1

Copper and articles thereof

74

0.755 372.5 380.1 20.0 5.6 5.7 5.8 2.0

Nickel and articles thereof (Dec. 2009=100)

75

0.201 133.8 128.0 28.0 3.3 3.4 5.9 -4.3

Aluminum and articles thereof

76

0.862 144.3 144.1 14.5 1.8 2.4 3.9 -0.1

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

82

0.360 119.3 120.4 2.4 0.1 0.6 0.3 0.9

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

83

0.404 127.7 127.8 0.2 0.0 0.3 0.2 0.1

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

XVI

24.770 86.1 86.0 -1.4 0.1 -0.1 0.0 -0.1

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

84

12.620 88.6 88.7 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.0 0.1

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

85

12.150 83.6 83.4 -3.0 0.1 -0.8 0.0 -0.2

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

11.193 111.2 111.1 0.7 0.2 0.3 0.4 -0.1

Motor vehicles and their parts

87

10.118 110.3 110.2 0.9 0.1 0.4 0.4 -0.1

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

88

0.980 113.8 113.8 -1.4 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0

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

XVIII

3.197 101.2 101.3 -1.1 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.1

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical instruments

90

2.893 98.8 99.0 -1.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.2

Clocks and watches and parts thereof

91

0.226 123.7 123.4 -1.3 -0.2 0.5 0.5 -0.2

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

XX

3.800 107.2 107.4 0.4 0.1 0.4 0.1 0.2

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

94

1.932 110.0 110.5 -0.4 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.5

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

95

1.662 101.3 101.4 0.5 0.0 0.5 -0.1 0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

96

0.206 124.5 125.0 6.9 0.9 1.3 0.4 0.4

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2008 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: December 2009 to December 2010
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Harmo-
nized
system
Relative
import-
ance
Nov.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Nov.
2010
Dec.
2010
Annual Monthly
Dec.
2009
to
Dec.
2010
Aug.
2010
to
Sept.
2010
Sept.
2010
to
Oct.
2010
Oct.
2010
to
Nov.
2010
Nov.
2010
to
Dec.
2010

Live animals; animal products

I

1.764 178.1 179.2 16.7 1.7 2.2 -0.7 0.6

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

02

0.998 145.5 144.7 17.5 -0.6 2.1 -0.8 -0.5

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates

03

0.330 162.0 173.2 25.7 2.6 3.4 0.0 6.9

Vegetable products

II

5.028 223.0 225.6 20.8 2.7 2.8 10.9 1.2

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

08

0.742 127.0 129.4 15.1 -1.3 4.2 3.5 1.9

Cereals

10

2.282 259.2 256.1 32.4 9.9 2.8 16.4 -1.2

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

12

1.544 241.2 251.0 19.8 -3.4 3.7 11.9 4.1

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

III

0.344 124.6 140.5 40.5 1.9 4.6 7.8 12.8

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and tobacco

IV

2.490 146.2 147.0 3.7 0.4 1.0 1.2 0.5

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

20

0.330 103.3 104.6 4.6 -1.7 0.3 -0.8 1.3

Miscellaneous edible preparations

21

0.398 119.0 119.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.0 0.1

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

22

0.329 106.1 105.8 1.9 0.6 2.1 0.8 -0.3

Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal feed

23

0.647 216.3 218.7 10.2 1.2 2.4 6.3 1.1

Mineral products

V

6.227 272.6 278.0 23.8 -0.6 2.9 3.9 2.0

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

27

5.489 263.7 270.3 23.6 -1.0 3.1 4.1 2.5

Products of the chemical or allied industries

VI

11.921 147.7 148.1 7.6 0.6 0.3 1.0 0.3

Inorganic chemicals

28

1.078 191.6 192.2 13.2 0.1 2.0 0.9 0.3

Organic chemicals

29

2.979 153.1 153.7 6.1 0.1 -1.2 0.7 0.4

Pharmaceutical products

30

2.956 126.5 126.0 7.3 0.9 0.7 1.2 -0.4

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

32

0.553 122.4 118.2 3.0 1.7 1.6 1.7 -3.4

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery cosmetic or toilet preparations

33

0.708 126.5 126.4 -0.4 0.5 0.5 1.0 -0.1

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

34

0.431 121.2 121.2 3.1 3.1 -2.4 1.0 0.0

Miscellaneous chemical products

38

2.034 143.3 143.1 6.9 -0.3 0.2 0.1 -0.1

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

4.987 139.5 140.2 4.5 0.4 0.1 0.8 0.5

Plastics and articles thereof

39

4.045 133.1 133.8 4.4 0.5 0.2 0.9 0.5

Rubber and articles thereof

40

0.942 168.4 168.7 4.8 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.2

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

VIII

0.370 122.1 123.0 15.5 -0.2 0.4 0.7 0.7

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

IX

0.545 110.6 110.4 5.3 -0.4 -0.2 1.3 -0.2

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

X

2.559 123.8 123.6 11.9 1.2 0.7 0.7 -0.2

Woodpulp and recovered paper

47

0.759 146.2 146.9 32.7 3.6 1.9 3.2 0.5

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

48

1.311 117.8 116.9 6.5 0.4 0.0 -0.4 -0.8

Printed material

49

0.490 117.2 117.2 0.8 0.1 0.9 0.0 0.0

Textile and textile articles

XI

2.329 137.4 143.5 31.4 3.0 3.8 9.7 4.4

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics thereof

52

1.019 204.3 224.5 96.4 7.8 10.6 24.9 9.9

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

XIII

0.767 116.1 115.7 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.1 -0.3

Glass and glassware

70

0.409 98.6 98.0 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.4 -0.6

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

XIV

5.339 232.0 238.2 20.9 2.8 4.0 3.5 2.7

Base metals and articles of base metals

XV

5.818 165.3 167.9 9.2 1.5 0.5 0.5 1.6

Iron and steel

72

1.668 190.1 197.6 14.4 2.0 -1.8 -1.0 3.9

Articles of iron or steel

73

1.475 159.4 159.5 1.3 0.5 -0.3 0.4 0.1

Copper and articles thereof

74

0.627 252.5 263.9 23.5 2.8 4.2 2.1 4.5

Aluminum and articles thereof

76

0.906 129.7 128.9 11.0 2.7 2.9 2.2 -0.6

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

82

0.403 125.5 125.5 1.4 0.0 1.1 0.0 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

83

0.303 124.2 124.9 2.1 -0.5 0.4 -0.4 0.6

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

XVI

29.212 95.6 95.7 0.2 -0.1 -0.1 0.5 0.1

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

84

17.193 107.1 106.9 0.8 -0.2 -0.1 0.7 -0.2

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts and accessories thereof

85

12.019 83.2 83.6 -0.6 0.2 -0.1 0.4 0.5

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

12.908 122.0 122.2 1.7 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2

Motor vehicles and their parts

87

8.295 108.9 108.9 1.0 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.0

Ships, boats and floating structures (Dec. 2009=100)

89

0.287 101.7 101.7 1.7 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0

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

XVIII

5.782 107.0 106.8 -1.6 0.2 0.0 0.2 -0.2

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

XX

1.464 107.5 107.2 -0.5 0.1 -0.2 -0.1 -0.3

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings nesoi;

94

0.732 118.5 118.3 0.6 0.3 -0.1 -0.2 -0.2

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

95

0.622 92.2 91.6 -1.8 0.1 -0.4 0.1 -0.7

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2008 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: December 2009 to December 2010
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Percent
of
U.S.
imports(1)
Index Percent change
Nov.
2010
Dec.
2010
Annual Monthly
Dec.
2009
to
Dec.
2010
Aug.
2010
to
Sept.
2010
Sept.
2010
to
Oct.
2010
Oct.
2010
to
Nov.
2010
Nov.
2010
to
Dec.
2010

Industrialized Countries(2)

41.082 126.6 127.7 3.1 -0.3 -0.1 1.8 0.9

Nonmanufactured articles

5.687 199.8 210.0 5.6 -2.7 0.9 5.2 5.1

Manufactured articles

34.943 120.6 121.0 2.6 -0.1 -0.2 1.3 0.3

Other Countries(3)

58.918 126.7 128.3 5.1 0.1 1.3 1.1 1.3

Nonmanufactured articles

15.714 272.3 282.8 14.1 -0.7 4.7 2.4 3.9

Manufactured articles

43.010 106.3 106.8 2.2 0.3 0.3 0.7 0.5

Canada

15.923 143.9 146.5 6.4 -0.3 0.6 2.3 1.8

Nonmanufactured articles

5.257 192.7 202.7 5.3 -2.7 0.5 5.3 5.2

Manufactured articles

10.335 134.9 135.7 6.6 0.5 0.5 1.3 0.6

European Union(4)

16.799 129.0 128.9 1.2 0.2 -0.2 0.6 -0.1

Nonmanufactured articles

0.211 251.9 259.0 3.5 -0.1 0.0 0.0 2.8

Manufactured articles

16.491 126.5 126.3 1.1 0.2 -0.2 0.6 -0.2

France (Dec. 2003=100)

1.948 121.6 121.3 -2.3 0.1 -0.1 0.2 -0.2

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)

4.572 112.7 112.4 -0.7 0.4 0.4 0.4 -0.3

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)

2.566 126.9 127.8 2.4 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.7

Latin America(5)

17.999 160.4 162.6 5.6 -0.1 1.7 1.4 1.4

Nonmanufactured articles

6.186 295.9 307.3 12.2 -0.7 4.1 2.0 3.9

Manufactured articles

11.730 131.7 131.8 1.9 0.2 0.6 1.1 0.1

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)

10.275 138.8 139.6 3.0 0.2 1.3 0.8 0.6

Nonmanufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100)

2.141 159.0 166.7 15.2 0.1 5.3 2.4 4.8

Manufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100)

8.085 96.2 95.6 -0.5 0.2 0.1 0.3 -0.6

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

31.500 101.4 102.0 1.7 0.3 -0.1 0.1 0.6

China (Dec. 2003=100)

16.449 101.1 101.4 0.8 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3

Japan

6.678 99.5 99.8 2.0 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.3

Asian NICs(7)

5.003 87.6 88.5 2.3 0.1 -1.0 -0.1 1.0

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)(8)

5.274 98.5 100.4 3.2 0.5 0.3 0.9 1.9

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

5.380 213.3 219.5 10.2 0.5 2.3 2.4 2.9

Footnotes
(1) Percentage of trade figures are based on 2008 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: December 2009 to December 2010
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Relative
import-
ance
Nov.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Nov.
2010
Dec.
2010
Annual Monthly
Dec.
2009
to
Dec.
2010
Aug.
2010
to
Sept.
2010
Sept.
2010
to
Oct.
2010
Oct.
2010
to
Nov.
2010
Nov.
2010
to
Dec.
2010

Air Freight

Import Air Freight

100.000 169.7 169.2 3.2 0.2 1.0 3.0 -0.3

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

22.389 142.3 142.9 1.6 1.0 3.2 4.7 0.4

Asia

74.640 156.0 155.2 2.8 0.1 0.3 2.5 -0.5

Export Air Freight

100.000 127.2 127.9 4.1 0.4 0.5 0.7 0.6

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)

37.759 115.2 117.2 3.4 -0.5 0.6 0.2 1.7

Inbound Air Freight

100.000 152.8 153.0 3.9 0.3 1.6 2.2 0.1

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

22.892 132.1 132.7 2.5 1.4 2.2 3.9 0.5

Asia

66.784 140.8 140.5 3.3 0.0 0.7 2.1 -0.2

Outbound Air Freight

100.000 124.7 125.9 9.9 0.9 1.3 0.2 1.0

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

41.187 144.3 147.3 11.8 -0.2 1.8 0.3 2.1

Asia

41.935 113.3 113.0 7.5 1.3 1.3 0.2 -0.3

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares

100.000 166.4 169.9 11.6 -3.1 4.8 -1.3 2.1

Europe

42.540 181.3 170.7 9.4 -3.0 5.8 -3.2 -5.8

Asia

27.746 142.8 156.8 11.7 -6.4 3.9 -1.9 9.8

Latin America/Caribbean

13.527 156.7 171.1 16.7 -2.8 5.0 4.5 9.2

Export Air Passenger Fares

100.000 162.9 166.7 6.8 -8.6 -2.3 -3.2 2.3

Europe

30.500 185.2 187.3 -0.1 -6.8 -0.9 -13.6 1.1

Asia

32.861 159.3 156.5 22.9 -16.6 -6.1 3.9 -1.8

Latin America/Caribbean

22.346 172.0 187.0 8.9 -0.5 -1.5 3.8 8.7

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2008 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: January 12, 2011