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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-13-0628
8:30 a.m. (EDT) Thursday, April 11, 2013

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 - MARCH 2013

The price index for U.S. imports declined 0.5 percent in March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 
today, following increases of 0.6 percent in February and 0.5 percent in January. The March decrease was 
primarily led by a downturn in fuel prices. U.S. export prices fell 0.4 percent in March after rising 0.7 
percent in February. 



Imports

All Imports: Import prices fell 0.5 percent in March, the first monthly decline since a 0.6 percent decrease in 
December 2012. Falling fuel prices were the main contributor to the March drop. The price index for imports 
decreased 2.7 percent for the 12 months ended in March, the largest year-over-year decline since a 3.3 
percent drop between July 2011 and July 2012. Import prices have not risen on a 12-month basis since April 
2012.

Fuel Imports: The price index for import fuel decreased 1.9 percent in March following a 2.8 percent 
increase in February and a 1.8 percent advance in January. The March downturn was driven mostly by a 1.9 
percent drop in petroleum prices. Natural gas prices also fell in March, decreasing 1.5 percent. Overall fuel 
prices declined 9.1 percent for the March 2012-13 period, led by a 10.4 percent drop in petroleum prices, 
which more than offset a 47.1 percent rise in natural gas prices.              

All Imports Excluding Fuel: Prices for nonfuel imports declined 0.2 percent in March after ticking up 0.1 
percent in February and advancing 0.2 percent in January. Lower prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and 
materials, consumer goods, automotive vehicles, and capital goods all contributed to the March decrease in 
nonfuel import prices. Prices for nonfuel imports fell 0.5 percent over the past 12 months.     

Table A. Percent changes

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

2012

March

1.4 4.4 0.4 0.8 2.4 0.5

April

-0.1 -0.9 0.2 0.4 2.0 0.2

May

-1.5 -5.6 -0.1 -0.5 0.5 -0.6

June

-2.3 -8.5 -0.3 -1.7 -3.5 -1.5

July

-0.7 -2.0 -0.4 0.4 6.0 -0.2

August

1.2 6.1 -0.2 0.9 4.8 0.4

September

1.0 3.9 0.2 0.8 1.3 0.7

October

0.3 0.1 0.2 0.1 -1.7 0.3

November

-0.7 -2.2 -0.2 -0.6 0.5 -0.7

December

-0.6 -2.2 -0.1 -0.1 0.1 -0.2

2013

January

(r)0.5 (r)1.8 0.2 (r)0.4 -1.2 0.5

February

(r)0.6 (r)2.8 (r)0.1 (r)0.7 (r)2.1 0.6

March

-0.5 -1.9 -0.2 -0.4 -1.8 -0.2

Mar. 2011 to 2012

3.5 7.9 2.0 1.1 -5.4 1.9

Mar. 2012 to 2013

-2.7 -9.1 -0.5 0.3 8.8 -0.7

Footnotes
(r) Revised



Exports 

All Exports: Export prices decreased 0.4 percent in March after rising 0.7 percent in February and 0.4 
percent in January. Lower prices for agricultural and nonagricultural exports each contributed to the March 
downturn in overall export prices. Led by higher agricultural prices, prices for exports increased 0.3 percent 
for the March 2012-13 period, the smallest year-over-year advance since September 2012.

Agricultural Exports: Prices for agricultural exports fell 1.8 percent in March after advancing 2.1 percent in 
February. The decline in March was driven by a 7.1 percent decrease in fruit prices and a 5.1 percent drop in 
wheat prices. Notwithstanding the March decline, agricultural prices rose 8.8 percent over the past year, led 
by higher prices for soybeans, nuts, corn, vegetables, and wheat.                  

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: The price index for nonagricultural exports fell 0.2 percent in March 
after increasing 0.6 percent and 0.5 percent the previous two months. In March, falling nonagricultural 
industrial supplies and materials prices and consumer goods prices led the overall decline. Overall 
nonagricultural prices decreased 0.7 percent for the year ended in March.



                                      SELECTED MARCH HIGHLIGHTS

Import Prices

Imports by Locality of Origin: Prices for imports from China fell 0.2 percent in March, after recording no 
change the previous month. Import prices from China fell 1.1 percent over the past 12 months, and have not 
increased on a monthly basis since February 2012. The March 12-month drop was the largest year-over-year 
decline since a 1.3 percent decrease between February 2009 and February 2010. The price index for imports 
from Japan also fell 0.2 percent in March following a 0.4 percent drop the previous month. Prices for imports 
from the European Union decreased 0.7 percent in March, while declining fuel prices drove import prices 
from Mexico and Canada down, 0.4 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively.        

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonfuel industrial supplies and materials prices fell 0.4 
percent, the first monthly decline since a 0.5 percent decrease in November 2012. The price index also fell 
on a year-over-year basis, declining 2.1 percent.      

Finished Goods: Each of the major finished goods categories recorded decreases in March. Consumer 
goods prices fell 0.2 percent, led by a 0.8 percent drop in the price index for medicinal, dental, and 
pharmaceutical materials. Prices for import automotive vehicles declined 0.3 percent in March, driven by a 
0.5 percent drop in passenger car prices. Capital goods prices also fell in March, edging down 0.1 percent.

Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Prices for import foods, feeds, and beverages rose 1.3 percent in March 
following a 1.2 percent rise the previous month. The March advance was led by a 7.7 percent increase in 
vegetable prices and a 3.8 percent rise in fish and shellfish prices.

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares fell for the third consecutive month, declining 1.6 
percent in March. A 4.4 percent drop in European fares led the March decrease, after lower Asian fares had 
been the primary factor for the decreases in February and January. Despite the recent declines, import air 
passenger fares rose 1.7 percent over the past 12 months. The price index for import air freight fell 0.6 
percent in March, while advancing 0.4 percent over the past year.

Export Prices

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials 
prices fell 0.5 percent after a 1.3 percent increase in February. The March decline was driven by a downturn 
in fuel oil prices which fell 5.0 percent after rising 6.0 percent the previous month. A 2.6 percent drop in 
nonferrous metal prices also contributed to the decline.

Finished Goods: Consumer goods prices fell 0.2 percent in March following a 0.3 percent decline the 
previous month. Prices for consumer goods fell 0.9 percent over the past year, the largest 12-month decline 
since the index was first published in September 1983. The price indexes for capital goods and automotive 
vehicles were each unchanged in March after rising 0.4 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively, the previous 
month.

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares increased 0.5 percent in March following an 8.2 
percent decline in February. Higher Latin American/Caribbean fares and European fares more than offset 
declining Asian fares. Export air passenger fares edged down 0.1 percent for the year ended in March. 
Export air freight prices rose 0.3 percent in March and over the past 12 months.      

Import and Export Price Index data for April 2013 are scheduled for release on Tuesday, May 14, 
2013 at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).

Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: March 2012 to March 2013
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description End
Use
Relative
import-
ance
Feb.
2013(1)
Index Percent change
Feb.
2013
Mar.
2013
Annual Monthly
Mar.
2012
to
Mar.
2013
Nov.
2012
to
Dec.
2012
Dec.
2012
to
Jan.
2013
Jan.
2013
to
Feb.
2013
Feb.
2013
to
Mar.
2013

All commodities

  100.000 141.0 140.3 -2.7 -0.6 0.5 0.6 -0.5

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

  73.645 103.6 103.4 -0.4 -0.1 0.2 0.0 -0.2

All imports excluding petroleum

  79.531 116.6 116.5 -0.2 0.1 0.1 0.0 -0.1

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)

  78.581 120.7 120.5 -0.5 -0.1 0.2 0.1 -0.2

Foods, feeds, & beverages

0

4.936 170.9 173.1 -0.7 -0.3 -0.2 1.2 1.3

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

00

3.835 191.9 193.6 -1.4 -0.1 -0.5 1.2 0.9

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

01

1.101 123.3 126.5 1.4 -0.7 0.8 1.6 2.6

Industrial supplies & materials

1

34.952 256.9 253.6 -6.8 -1.4 1.3 1.7 -1.3

Industrial supplies & materials excluding petroleum

  14.484 167.8 167.2 -0.2 1.0 0.1 -0.1 -0.4

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

  13.534 189.5 188.8 -2.1 0.1 0.5 0.1 -0.4

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

  8.040 178.3 178.0 -2.9 -0.3 0.6 -0.1 -0.2

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable excluding petroleum

  5.494 155.1 154.1 3.1 2.6 -0.5 0.0 -0.6

Fuels & lubricants

10

21.417 343.6 337.1 -9.1 -2.2 1.8 2.8 -1.9

Petroleum & petroleum products

100

20.467 382.3 374.9 -10.4 -2.9 2.2 3.0 -1.9

Crude

10000

15.583 393.9 383.7 -11.3 -2.5 2.2 3.0 -2.6

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

101

0.739 123.9 122.8 39.2 14.7 -5.3 -1.9 -0.9

Gas-natural

10110

0.611 109.9 108.3 47.1 16.6 -6.1 -2.0 -1.5

Paper & paper base stocks

11

0.555 113.0 112.9 -1.0 -0.6 0.4 0.9 -0.1

Materials associated with nondurable supplies & materials

12

5.017 176.8 175.5 -1.2 0.9 0.5 0.2 -0.7

Selected building materials

13

1.040 148.5 149.8 11.5 1.5 2.8 0.6 0.9

Unfinished metals related to durable goods

14

3.807 264.6 263.6 -7.2 -0.8 0.2 0.1 -0.4

Finished metals related to durable goods

15

1.590 160.8 160.1 -2.3 -0.8 0.3 -0.9 -0.4

Nonmetals related to durable goods

16

1.525 114.5 114.4 -0.9 0.0 0.2 -0.1 -0.1

Capital goods

2

23.912 93.2 93.1 -0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.1

Electric generating equipment

20

2.974 119.6 119.4 0.4 0.2 0.0 -0.1 -0.2

Nonelectrical machinery

21

19.104 86.0 86.0 -0.7 -0.1 0.1 -0.1 0.0

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

22

1.834 134.9 135.3 1.7 0.4 0.2 -0.1 0.3

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

3

12.143 114.9 114.5 0.7 -0.1 0.2 -0.2 -0.3

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

4

24.056 107.8 107.6 0.0 -0.1 0.1 0.1 -0.2

Nondurables, manufactured

40

11.688 115.9 115.5 0.9 0.0 0.3 0.3 -0.3

Durables, manufactured

41

11.068 99.5 99.4 -0.8 -0.1 0.0 -0.2 -0.1

Nonmanufactured consumer goods

42

1.301 115.7 116.4 -1.4 -0.3 0.0 0.3 0.6

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2011 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: March 2012 to March 2013
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description End
Use
Relative
import-
ance
Feb.
2013(1)
Index Percent change
Feb.
2013
Mar.
2013
Annual Monthly
Mar.
2012
to
Mar.
2013
Nov.
2012
to
Dec.
2012
Dec.
2012
to
Jan.
2013
Jan.
2013
to
Feb.
2013
Feb.
2013
to
Mar.
2013

All commodities

  100.000 135.1 134.5 0.3 -0.1 0.4 0.7 -0.4

Agricultural commodities

  10.680 229.4 225.2 8.8 0.1 -1.2 2.1 -1.8

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

  80.590 103.4 103.2 -0.3 0.0 0.4 0.3 -0.2

Nonagricultural commodities

  89.320 128.3 128.0 -0.7 -0.2 0.5 0.6 -0.2

Foods, feeds, & beverages

0

9.949 230.2 226.0 9.7 -0.2 -1.4 1.9 -1.8

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

00

9.266 234.6 229.7 10.1 -0.1 -1.6 2.0 -2.1

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

01

0.683 190.9 193.5 3.9 -1.7 1.5 0.1 1.4

Industrial supplies & materials

1

34.428 184.1 183.2 -2.7 -0.3 0.6 1.3 -0.5

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

  12.274 185.4 183.4 -4.0 0.3 -0.7 0.3 -1.1

Industrial supplies & materials, nondurable

  22.155 184.3 183.9 -1.9 -0.6 1.4 1.9 -0.2

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials

10

1.414 205.7 205.6 2.1 1.3 2.0 2.7 0.0

Nonagricultural industrial supplies & materials

  33.014 183.5 182.5 -2.9 -0.3 0.6 1.3 -0.5

Fuels & lubricants

11

9.461 265.6 264.6 -5.6 -1.2 0.9 3.7 -0.4

Nonagricultural supplies & materials excluding fuels & building materials

12

22.561 173.6 172.4 -2.2 -0.1 0.4 0.3 -0.7

Selected building materials

13

0.992 119.8 121.3 3.5 0.0 0.8 0.8 1.3

Capital goods

2

34.989 106.8 106.8 0.8 -0.1 0.7 0.4 0.0

Electrical generating equipment

20

3.450 115.1 114.9 1.6 -0.1 0.5 0.2 -0.2

Nonelectrical machinery

21

25.464 95.8 95.9 0.6 -0.1 0.7 0.2 0.1

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

22

6.074 151.3 151.5 2.0 0.0 0.7 0.9 0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

3

8.818 113.5 113.5 0.9 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

4

11.816 115.9 115.7 -0.9 -0.2 -0.1 -0.3 -0.2

Nondurables, manufactured

40

5.400 115.2 114.9 0.0 -0.1 0.1 -0.4 -0.3

Durables, manufactured

41

5.051 112.7 112.3 -1.7 -0.3 -0.5 -0.5 -0.4

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2011 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: March 2012 to March 2013
[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
Feb.
2013(1)
Index Percent change
Feb.
2013
Mar.
2013
Annual Monthly
Mar.
2012
to
Mar.
2013
Nov.
2012
to
Dec.
2012
Dec.
2012
to
Jan.
2013
Jan.
2013
to
Feb.
2013
Feb.
2013
to
Mar.
2013

Nonmanufactured articles

  18.595 169.1 166.0 -8.7 -1.8 1.5 2.9 -1.8

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

11

1.778 169.8 175.2 0.9 -0.4 -0.8 3.5 3.2

Crop production

111

1.242 174.0 180.5 0.7 -0.2 -2.4 4.4 3.7

Forestry and logging (Dec. 2012=100)

113

0.205 106.9 104.5 - - 5.9 0.9 -2.2

Mining

21

16.817 168.6 164.6 -9.7 -1.9 1.7 2.8 -2.4

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

212

0.322 134.7 134.0 -8.3 0.3 -3.2 -0.1 -0.5

Manufactured articles

  80.952 117.7 117.5 -1.0 -0.3 0.3 0.1 -0.2

Manufactured goods, part 1

31

10.419 123.7 123.3 -1.7 0.2 0.0 0.0 -0.3

Food manufacturing

311

2.843 154.9 153.6 -4.9 1.0 0.2 -0.3 -0.8

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

0.867 113.5 113.5 1.7 -0.3 1.3 0.1 0.0

Textile mills (Dec. 2011=100)

313

0.388 102.1 102.0 0.5 -0.1 -0.3 0.1 -0.1

Textile product mills

314

0.783 115.7 115.2 -1.0 0.1 -0.2 0.0 -0.4

Apparel manufacturing

315

3.899 110.5 110.4 -1.5 -0.1 -0.5 0.2 -0.1

Leather and allied product manufacturing

316

1.640 121.2 121.3 1.8 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.1

Manufactured goods, part 2

32

18.002 139.6 139.4 -1.1 -0.9 0.9 1.0 -0.1

Wood product manufacturing

321

0.631 129.6 131.1 16.9 2.5 4.1 0.9 1.2

Paper manufacturing

322

1.022 110.3 110.1 -1.2 -0.5 -0.3 0.5 -0.2

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

4.335 168.6 168.4 -7.4 -3.9 2.1 2.8 -0.1

Chemical manufacturing

325

9.167 136.4 136.0 1.1 0.0 0.6 0.6 -0.3

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

1.937 127.1 127.1 -0.1 0.0 -0.5 0.2 0.0

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

0.826 129.1 129.0 -0.4 -0.2 0.3 -0.3 -0.1

Manufactured goods, part 3

33

52.531 109.8 109.6 -0.8 -0.1 0.1 -0.1 -0.2

Primary metal manufacturing

331

4.445 173.5 172.6 -7.2 -0.9 0.5 -0.3 -0.5

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

2.666 129.9 129.3 -0.3 -0.3 -0.2 0.0 -0.5

Machinery manufacturing

333

6.583 122.1 121.8 0.7 0.1 0.3 -0.2 -0.2

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

15.963 81.5 81.5 -1.6 0.0 -0.1 -0.2 0.0

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

3.988 119.8 119.9 1.5 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

12.868 112.5 112.2 1.2 0.1 0.3 -0.2 -0.3

Furniture and related product manufacturing

337

1.238 113.9 114.5 1.1 0.0 0.2 -0.1 0.5

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

4.780 120.6 120.8 -1.2 -0.4 0.0 -0.1 0.2

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2011 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: March 2012 to March 2013
[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
Feb.
2013(1)
Index Percent change
Feb.
2013
Mar.
2013
Annual Monthly
Mar.
2012
to
Mar.
2013
Nov.
2012
to
Dec.
2012
Dec.
2012
to
Jan.
2013
Jan.
2013
to
Feb.
2013
Feb.
2013
to
Mar.
2013

Nonmanufactured articles

  8.036 176.8 174.1 5.6 -0.2 -1.7 2.5 -1.5

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

11

5.937 219.9 216.1 10.8 -0.2 -1.9 3.2 -1.7

Crop production

111

5.490 228.9 224.2 10.7 -0.1 -1.9 3.0 -2.1

Mining

21

2.099 93.8 92.8 -9.9 0.1 -1.4 0.6 -1.1

Mining (except oil and gas)

212

1.435 108.1 105.9 -18.2 1.3 -1.6 0.7 -2.0

Manufactured articles

  89.398 121.9 121.7 -0.1 -0.2 0.5 0.5 -0.2

Manufactured goods, part 1

31

6.995 152.9 152.5 4.8 -0.1 0.2 0.2 -0.3

Food manufacturing

311

4.933 175.9 175.3 5.7 -0.3 0.1 0.3 -0.3

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

0.571 129.2 128.9 8.5 0.2 1.2 1.2 -0.2

Manufactured goods, part 2

32

26.482 135.3 135.0 -1.2 -0.5 0.9 1.4 -0.2

Wood product manufacturing

321

0.406 115.3 117.3 2.8 -0.4 0.3 1.5 1.7

Paper manufacturing

322

1.776 120.3 121.0 2.0 -0.1 1.1 0.1 0.6

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

7.170 171.4 170.8 -4.2 -1.4 1.4 4.6 -0.4

Chemical manufacturing

325

14.168 132.1 131.7 -1.1 -0.4 0.9 0.2 -0.3

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

2.192 119.8 119.4 2.0 0.4 0.3 0.1 -0.3

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

0.769 110.5 111.8 0.1 -0.4 -0.4 0.1 1.2

Manufactured goods, part 3

33

55.921 113.8 113.6 -0.1 -0.1 0.3 0.3 -0.2

Primary metal manufacturing

331

5.156 169.7 167.3 -6.8 -0.5 -1.3 -0.4 -1.4

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

2.731 132.1 131.8 2.0 -0.2 0.0 0.2 -0.2

Machinery manufacturing

333

11.479 122.1 122.1 1.6 0.0 0.7 0.2 0.0

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

14.110 89.5 89.5 -1.1 -0.2 0.2 0.3 0.0

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

3.261 113.8 113.6 1.4 0.1 0.6 0.1 -0.2

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

13.948 117.8 117.9 1.2 0.0 0.3 0.5 0.1

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

337

0.310 105.4 105.5 3.7 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.1

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

4.926 122.9 122.3 0.2 -0.2 0.9 0.1 -0.5

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2011 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: March 2012 to March 2013
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Harmo-
nized
system
Relative
import-
ance
Feb.
2013(1)
Index Percent change
Feb.
2013
Mar.
2013
Annual Monthly
Mar.
2012
to
Mar.
2013
Nov.
2012
to
Dec.
2012
Dec.
2012
to
Jan.
2013
Jan.
2013
to
Feb.
2013
Feb.
2013
to
Mar.
2013

Live animals; animal products

I

1.068 167.7 172.4 1.2 -0.7 1.2 1.6 2.8

Meat and edible meat offal

02

0.252 221.4 216.9 -2.4 -0.6 1.4 0.5 -2.0

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates

03

0.567 118.7 125.4 2.1 -1.3 1.9 3.0 5.6

Vegetable products

II

1.615 209.3 211.9 -1.4 1.9 -1.3 3.0 1.2

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers

07

0.340 333.5 357.9 20.9 -0.2 -10.3 6.3 7.3

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

08

0.426 116.1 118.4 -7.3 -0.6 2.3 4.3 2.0

Coffee, tea, mate and spices

09

0.379 247.7 250.6 -8.4 -0.3 3.0 3.6 1.2

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

III

0.258 121.5 119.7 -11.1 -2.4 0.8 1.7 -1.5

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco

IV

2.375 157.2 157.3 -0.4 0.0 0.1 -0.4 0.1

Sugars and sugar confectionary (Dec. 2012=100)

17

0.210 100.6 101.1 - - 0.9 -0.3 0.5

Cocoa and cocoa preparations (Dec. 2009=100)

18

0.194 87.3 86.4 -1.8 4.4 -0.7 -4.7 -1.0

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

19

0.237 131.0 131.6 4.4 0.2 0.5 0.6 0.5

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

20

0.306 161.5 160.6 -8.3 -1.4 -2.2 -0.7 -0.6

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar

22

0.856 124.4 124.4 2.0 -0.2 1.6 0.0 0.0

Mineral products

V

21.326 345.7 339.0 -9.0 -2.1 1.8 2.8 -1.9

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

27

21.042 342.4 335.7 -9.0 -2.1 1.9 2.8 -2.0

Products of the chemical or allied industries

VI

8.619 151.8 151.0 2.0 -0.3 0.3 0.2 -0.5

Inorganic chemicals

28

0.840 376.6 366.3 7.7 -1.8 -1.3 -1.0 -2.7

Organic chemicals

29

2.688 140.8 138.4 -1.3 -0.2 0.6 0.1 -1.7

Pharmaceutical products

30

3.275 121.6 122.1 5.7 0.1 0.9 0.6 0.4

Fertilizers (Dec. 2009=100)

31

0.400 127.7 129.7 -8.5 -0.5 -1.5 -0.8 1.6

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

32

0.162 94.0 93.8 -9.1 -0.1 0.8 0.2 -0.2

Miscellaneous chemical products

38

0.482 102.8 103.0 -0.8 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.2

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

3.215 154.0 153.8 0.6 0.5 0.9 0.4 -0.1

Plastics and articles thereof

39

1.958 148.9 149.0 3.6 1.0 1.6 0.7 0.1

Rubber and articles thereof

40

1.257 164.3 163.6 -3.9 -0.5 -0.2 0.0 -0.4

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

VIII

0.594 126.4 126.1 -0.2 -0.1 0.2 0.0 -0.2

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

42

0.548 127.1 127.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 -0.1 0.1

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

IX

0.669 157.7 159.5 17.5 2.3 4.3 1.2 1.1

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

X

1.119 113.4 113.3 -0.5 -0.3 -0.2 0.4 -0.1

Pulp wood, waste paper, and paperboard (Dec. 2011=100)

47

0.173 101.1 101.6 0.7 -0.3 0.9 2.7 0.5

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

48

0.747 107.6 107.4 -1.4 -0.5 -0.6 0.1 -0.2

Textile and textile articles

XI

4.913 114.1 114.0 -1.5 -0.1 -0.5 0.2 -0.1

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted

61

1.934 104.1 103.6 -2.8 0.0 -0.7 0.0 -0.5

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted

62

1.800 116.9 117.1 -0.8 -0.3 -0.7 0.5 0.2

Made-up or worn textile articles

63

0.545 108.3 107.8 -2.0 -0.1 -0.3 0.0 -0.5

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.

XII

1.347 120.8 120.9 2.1 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.1

Footwear and parts of such articles

64

1.134 120.1 120.1 2.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.0

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

XIII

0.759 132.0 132.1 0.5 -0.2 0.7 -0.2 0.1

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

68

0.244 124.9 125.6 0.8 -0.6 0.2 0.1 0.6

Ceramic products

69

0.238 140.6 140.3 -1.3 0.1 -0.3 0.0 -0.2

Glass and glassware

70

0.277 128.3 128.3 1.6 -0.2 1.8 -0.8 0.0

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

XIV

3.320 203.0 201.1 -4.8 -0.6 -0.8 -0.6 -0.9

Base metals and articles of base metals

XV

5.027 185.4 185.5 -3.9 -0.4 0.9 0.1 0.1

Iron and steel

72

1.132 218.8 220.2 -10.4 -1.3 -0.5 0.7 0.6

Articles of iron or steel

73

1.481 157.3 156.7 -3.2 -0.3 0.2 -0.4 -0.4

Copper and articles thereof

74

0.491 361.5 356.4 -5.2 0.3 2.7 -0.9 -1.4

Nickel and articles thereof (Dec. 2009=100)

75

0.148 102.6 104.5 -11.4 -6.5 5.2 0.2 1.9

Aluminum and articles thereof

76

0.677 140.3 140.9 -1.2 0.5 2.0 0.1 0.4

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

82

0.380 129.6 129.8 2.4 -0.1 1.3 -0.1 0.2

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

83

0.426 136.5 136.5 2.9 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0

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

XVI

26.354 85.7 85.5 -0.7 0.1 0.0 -0.1 -0.2

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

84

13.602 90.1 90.0 0.2 0.0 0.1 -0.1 -0.1

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

85

12.752 81.4 81.2 -1.7 0.1 -0.1 -0.2 -0.2

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

10.632 116.5 116.3 1.0 -0.1 0.3 -0.3 -0.2

Motor vehicles and their parts

87

9.708 115.4 115.1 0.7 -0.1 0.3 -0.3 -0.3

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

88

0.856 119.4 119.9 1.7 0.7 0.0 0.1 0.4

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

XVIII

3.300 103.6 103.7 -0.6 -0.9 -0.2 0.0 0.1

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical instruments

90

2.990 100.4 100.4 -1.5 -0.9 -0.3 0.0 0.0

Clocks and watches and parts thereof

91

0.252 142.2 142.3 11.0 0.1 0.7 0.1 0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

XX

3.430 113.1 113.6 1.2 0.1 0.3 0.0 0.4

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

94

1.916 117.0 117.9 1.6 0.1 0.3 0.0 0.8

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

95

1.322 105.3 105.3 0.4 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

96

0.191 137.8 138.3 3.8 -0.2 2.3 -0.6 0.4

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2011 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: March 2012 to March 2013
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Harmo-
nized
system
Relative
import-
ance
Feb.
2013(1)
Index Percent change
Feb.
2013
Mar.
2013
Annual Monthly
Mar.
2012
to
Mar.
2013
Nov.
2012
to
Dec.
2012
Dec.
2012
to
Jan.
2013
Jan.
2013
to
Feb.
2013
Feb.
2013
to
Mar.
2013

Live animals; animal products

I

2.084 222.8 218.8 7.7 1.8 -2.5 2.0 -1.8

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

02

1.177 169.5 169.5 0.4 -0.1 -0.7 1.3 0.0

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates

03

0.401 203.8 207.5 3.8 -2.7 0.9 -0.4 1.8

Vegetable products

II

5.470 278.7 273.9 12.7 -0.1 -1.3 1.5 -1.7

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

08

1.031 163.4 156.2 16.3 3.9 3.2 1.7 -4.4

Cereals

10

2.166 322.6 313.7 10.1 0.5 -7.9 4.2 -2.8

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

12

1.719 296.5 296.3 13.1 -2.4 -2.7 3.1 -0.1

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

III

0.307 136.2 135.1 -10.9 -1.3 0.6 2.6 -0.8

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and tobacco

IV

2.984 168.1 167.0 8.3 -1.2 0.4 0.8 -0.7

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

20

0.339 112.0 112.4 1.9 0.1 0.4 0.1 0.4

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

22

0.629 114.0 113.4 3.6 -0.4 2.3 1.2 -0.5

Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal feed

23

0.783 273.2 267.3 22.9 -3.2 -2.5 0.6 -2.2

Mineral products

V

9.373 309.9 308.9 -6.5 -1.0 0.8 3.5 -0.3

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

26

0.482 100.3 96.4 - - -1.8 2.1 -3.9

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

27

8.709 306.6 306.2 -6.3 -1.3 0.9 3.7 -0.1

Products of the chemical or allied industries

VI

11.391 154.8 154.1 -0.8 -0.3 0.6 -0.3 -0.5

Inorganic chemicals

28

1.004 183.8 183.5 -0.6 -0.5 0.2 -0.5 -0.2

Organic chemicals

29

3.263 168.8 167.7 -1.5 0.1 1.0 0.6 -0.7

Pharmaceutical products

30

2.673 124.3 123.2 -1.3 -0.2 0.7 -1.0 -0.9

Fertilizers (Dec. 2012=100)

31

0.371 95.2 96.8 - - -2.2 -2.7 1.7

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery cosmetic or toilet preparations

33

0.705 137.0 139.3 2.7 0.0 0.4 0.0 1.7

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

34

0.448 121.3 120.7 -1.8 -0.1 -1.2 0.0 -0.5

Miscellaneous chemical products

38

1.731 153.9 151.4 -1.3 -0.4 1.3 0.2 -1.6

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

5.236 150.5 150.6 -0.2 -0.5 0.9 1.1 0.1

Plastics and articles thereof

39

4.188 142.3 142.3 0.7 -0.5 1.1 1.4 0.0

Rubber and articles thereof

40

1.048 188.4 189.4 -3.8 -0.4 0.1 0.3 0.5

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

VIII

0.391 143.0 144.3 11.1 1.2 3.4 1.3 0.9

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

IX

0.563 110.9 115.7 7.7 0.0 0.1 0.7 4.3

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

X

2.198 119.9 120.5 2.0 0.1 2.2 0.0 0.5

Woodpulp and recovered paper

47

0.587 123.5 126.3 -0.6 1.0 6.4 -2.4 2.3

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

48

1.177 118.8 118.5 1.3 -0.3 1.0 0.5 -0.3

Printed material

49

0.434 128.3 128.9 7.9 0.2 0.3 1.7 0.5

Textile and textile articles

XI

1.794 129.9 129.8 -1.1 0.6 1.3 1.7 -0.1

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics thereof

52

0.538 145.7 145.0 -8.7 2.0 2.8 7.1 -0.5

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

XIII

0.747 117.9 118.0 0.2 0.0 -0.4 0.1 0.1

Glass and glassware

70

0.383 97.2 97.4 -1.4 -0.1 -1.5 0.0 0.2

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

XIV

5.255 282.3 276.6 -5.3 -0.1 -1.2 -0.1 -2.0

Base metals and articles of base metals

XV

5.399 171.6 170.2 -5.2 0.5 -0.8 0.5 -0.8

Iron and steel

72

1.548 199.5 198.7 -12.0 1.1 -1.5 0.4 -0.4

Articles of iron or steel

73

1.304 169.2 169.2 -2.3 -0.6 -1.5 0.4 0.0

Copper and articles thereof

74

0.650 260.2 250.9 -6.0 2.6 0.4 2.1 -3.6

Aluminum and articles thereof

76

0.857 126.8 124.5 -3.4 0.2 0.6 0.0 -1.8

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

82

0.396 131.7 131.7 1.9 0.0 -1.1 0.0 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

83

0.321 146.7 146.3 6.0 -0.3 0.0 0.8 -0.3

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

XVI

27.682 97.7 97.7 0.4 -0.1 0.5 0.4 0.0

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

84

16.519 111.6 111.6 1.0 -0.2 0.6 0.4 0.0

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts and accessories thereof

85

11.163 82.6 82.7 -0.5 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.1

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

11.817 127.8 127.9 1.3 0.1 0.5 0.2 0.1

Motor vehicles and their parts

87

8.015 113.7 113.7 0.8 0.0 0.4 0.2 0.0

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

XVIII

5.835 107.5 107.2 1.7 -0.1 0.9 0.1 -0.3

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

XX

1.323 110.8 110.8 1.7 0.2 -0.1 -0.2 0.0

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings nesoi;

94

0.712 121.0 121.0 1.3 0.3 -0.2 -0.3 0.0

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

95

0.505 90.9 90.9 -0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2011 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: March 2012 to March 2013
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Relative
import-
ance
Feb.
2013(1)
Index Percent change
Feb.
2013
Mar.
2013
Annual Monthly
Mar.
2012
to
Mar.
2013
Nov.
2012
to
Dec.
2012
Dec.
2012
to
Jan.
2013
Jan.
2013
to
Feb.
2013
Feb.
2013
to
Mar.
2013

Industrialized Countries(2)

100.000 132.4 132.1 -0.6 -0.7 0.4 0.6 -0.2

Nonmanufactured articles

11.160 220.0 216.3 -5.8 -6.3 -0.7 2.9 -1.7

Manufactured articles

88.249 125.3 125.2 0.2 0.1 0.6 0.3 -0.1

Other Countries(3)

100.000 140.7 139.8 -3.6 -0.2 0.4 1.0 -0.6

Nonmanufactured articles

23.080 361.5 353.8 -9.3 -0.3 2.2 3.1 -2.1

Manufactured articles

76.574 110.9 110.6 -1.4 -0.3 -0.1 0.4 -0.3

Canada

100.000 151.1 150.8 -1.8 -1.9 0.3 0.9 -0.2

Nonmanufactured articles

28.128 209.6 205.9 -5.1 -6.3 -0.6 3.1 -1.8

Manufactured articles

70.799 139.6 140.1 -0.4 -0.1 0.6 0.1 0.4

European Union(4)

100.000 136.7 135.8 -0.4 -1.0 1.6 0.6 -0.7

Nonmanufactured articles

1.100 384.9 379.2 -6.0 -0.1 4.0 0.0 -1.5

Manufactured articles

98.427 132.9 132.0 -0.3 -1.1 1.5 0.6 -0.7

France (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 121.0 122.1 0.6 -0.1 0.5 0.0 0.9

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 116.2 115.9 0.7 -0.3 0.7 0.8 -0.3

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 133.4 129.1 -5.5 -1.3 0.6 0.1 -3.2

Latin America(5)

100.000 178.6 177.1 -4.5 0.3 1.0 1.6 -0.8

Nonmanufactured articles

32.546 386.6 378.9 -9.5 0.4 3.1 4.0 -2.0

Manufactured articles

67.028 133.8 133.4 -1.3 0.3 0.0 0.5 -0.3

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 146.3 145.7 -2.5 -0.1 0.7 1.8 -0.4

Nonmanufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100)

19.893 213.9 211.0 -6.6 -0.5 3.6 8.3 -1.4

Manufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100)

79.770 94.5 94.4 -1.0 0.0 0.1 0.3 -0.1

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

100.000 104.0 103.9 -0.9 0.0 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1

China (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 104.4 104.2 -1.1 0.0 -0.1 0.0 -0.2

Japan

100.000 102.4 102.2 -0.2 -0.1 0.0 -0.4 -0.2

Asian NICs(7)

100.000 89.9 90.0 -0.6 -0.1 -0.1 0.0 0.1

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)(8)

100.000 104.3 103.8 -2.3 0.3 0.1 0.0 -0.5

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

100.000 277.5 272.1 -6.8 -0.5 0.3 2.2 -1.9

Footnotes
(1) Relative figures are based on 2011 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 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: March 2012 to March 2013
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Relative
import-
ance
Feb.
2013(1)
Index Percent change
Feb.
2013
Mar.
2013
Annual Monthly
Mar.
2012
to
Mar.
2013
Nov.
2012
to
Dec.
2012
Dec.
2012
to
Jan.
2013
Jan.
2013
to
Feb.
2013
Feb.
2013
to
Mar.
2013

Air Freight

Import Air Freight

100.000 175.5 174.4 0.4 -0.7 0.2 -0.4 -0.6

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

21.993 167.6 168.1 0.9 -2.7 1.9 1.4 0.3

Asia

73.702 154.8 153.3 0.5 -0.1 -0.3 -1.0 -1.0

Export Air Freight

100.000 148.9 149.3 0.3 -0.7 1.6 -0.3 0.3

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)

35.646 133.0 133.6 -0.4 -0.3 2.6 0.0 0.5

Inbound Air Freight

100.000 164.5 163.7 3.1 -0.6 -1.1 -0.7 -0.5

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

22.179 152.1 151.4 1.2 -1.7 1.5 0.5 -0.5

Asia

67.332 149.2 148.3 4.7 -0.1 -2.1 -1.2 -0.6

Outbound Air Freight

100.000 147.9 148.8 1.7 -0.8 -0.1 0.1 0.6

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

27.822 161.6 161.6 -2.2 -0.6 -0.1 0.0 0.0

Asia

52.419 141.3 142.8 4.1 -1.0 -0.4 0.1 1.1

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares

100.000 184.7 181.7 1.7 6.8 -3.7 -1.2 -1.6

Europe

44.926 215.9 206.3 14.2 2.1 1.7 2.4 -4.4

Asia

25.023 148.0 147.6 0.1 16.1 -7.7 -6.4 -0.3

Latin America/Caribbean

9.182 163.7 167.9 -5.8 9.4 -11.7 0.1 2.6

Export Air Passenger Fares

100.000 184.0 185.0 -0.1 1.9 7.5 -8.2 0.5

Europe

28.267 218.5 221.8 6.1 -0.1 0.2 0.8 1.5

Asia

29.225 162.6 160.4 -3.9 8.7 10.0 -18.0 -1.4

Latin America/Caribbean

22.191 194.2 201.5 -14.7 -7.5 6.6 -8.6 3.8

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2011 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: April 11, 2013