Department of Labor Logo United States Department of Labor
Dot gov

The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Economic News Release
PRINT:Print
MXP MXP Program Links

U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes News Release

Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until					USDL-11-0510
8:30 a.m. (EDT) Tuesday, April 12, 2011

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 2011

U.S. import prices rose 2.7 percent in March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, following a 
1.4 percent advance in February. The March increase was driven by both higher fuel and nonfuel prices. The 
price index for U.S. exports increased 1.5 percent in March after rising 1.4 percent the previous month.


Imports 

All Imports: Import prices continued a six-month upward trend in March, rising 2.7 percent. The increase 
was the largest one-month advance since a similar 2.7 percent rise in June 2009. Prices of imports rose 9.7 
percent for the year ended in March, the largest 12-month rise since April 2010. Rising fuel and nonfuel 
prices each contributed to the increase over the past year.

Fuel Imports: The price index for import fuel jumped 9.0 percent in March, the largest monthly rise since a 
16.0 percent advance in June 2009. Fuel prices increased 28.7 percent for the year ended in March, driven 
by a 36.6 percent advance over the past six months. Higher petroleum prices drove both the March increase 
in fuel prices and the rise over the past 12 months, increasing 10.5 percent in March and 31.3 percent over 
the past year. In contrast, natural gas prices declined 14.0 percent in March and fell 11.6 percent over the 
past 12 months. 

All Imports Excluding Fuel: Nonfuel import prices rose 0.6 percent in March following a 0.5 percent 
advance the month before. Rising prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials, and foods, feeds, and 
beverages each contributed to the March increase. Import prices, excluding fuel advanced 4.2 percent for the 
March 2010-11 period, the largest 12-month increase since a 4.8 percent rise for the year ended October 
2008. A 14.2 percent increase in nonfuel industrial supplies and materials prices and an 18.9 percent rise in 
foods, feeds, and beverage prices led the recent 12 month advance in nonfuel prices. 

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

2010

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

1.1 4.3 0.3 0.8 2.8 0.6

November

1.7 4.8 0.8 1.5 7.6 0.8

December

1.4 5.6 0.3 0.7 (r)2.0 0.6

2011

January

(r)1.5 (r)4.1 0.7 (r)1.2 (r)3.0 1.0

February

1.4 (r)4.2 (r)0.5 (r)1.4 (r)4.6 (r)1.0

March

2.7 9.0 0.6 1.5 2.3 1.3

Mar. 2009 to 2010

11.2 61.7 2.7 4.9 7.7 4.6

Mar. 2010 to 2011

9.7 28.7 4.2 9.5 34.0 7.0

Footnotes
(r) Revised


Exports 

All Exports: Export prices advanced 1.5 percent in March after rising 1.4 percent in February. The March 
increase matched a similar 1.5 percent advance in November 2010, and those were the largest increases since 
July 2008. Prices for overall exports rose 9.5 percent for the year ended in March, the largest 12-month 
advance since July 2008. Higher prices for both agricultural and nonagricultural exports contributed to both 
the monthly and 12-month increases in overall export prices. 

Agricultural Exports: The price index for agricultural exports rose 2.3 percent in March, led by a 9.2 
percent increase in corn prices and a 10.5 percent advance in cotton prices. Agricultural prices rose 34.0 
percent over the past year, the largest 12-month increase since a 39.7 percent advance in July 2008. Rising 
corn and cotton prices, up 77.7 percent and 153.8 percent, respectively, were the largest contributors to the 
12-month increase in agricultural prices. 

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: Prices for nonagricultural exports advanced 1.3 percent in March, the 
largest increase since a similar 1.3 percent rise in April 2010. Prices for all of the major goods categories 
increased in March. A 3.2 percent increase for nonagricultural industrial supplies materials prices was the 
largest contributor to the overall advance. The price index for nonagricultural exports rose 7.0 percent over 
the past 12 months.
   
 				
                                        SELECTED MARCH HIGHLIGHTS



Import Prices

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonfuel industrial supplies and materials prices increased 2.0 
percent in March, led by a 3.8 percent advance in unfinished metals prices. A 6.5 percent advance in iron 
and steel mill products was the largest factor for the higher metals prices in March. A 1.2 percent increase in 
chemicals prices in March also contributed to the overall increase in industrial supplies and materials prices.    

Finished Goods: Finished goods prices were mixed in March. Consumer goods prices declined 0.2 percent, 
led by a 3.2 percent decrease in the price index for medicinal, dental, and pharmaceutical products. Capital 
goods prices edged down 0.1 percent in March, driven by a 0.9 percent decline in the price index for 
computers, peripherals and semiconductors. In contrast, the price index for automotive vehicles rose 0.2 
percent in March.
 
Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Prices for foods, feeds, and beverages advanced 4.2 percent in March, the 
largest monthly rise since a 4.3 percent increase in July 1994. A 26.8 percent jump in vegetable prices, drove 
the overall March advance in foods, feeds, and beverages prices.   

Imports by Locality of Origin: Import prices from China rose 0.6 percent in March, the largest monthly 
increase since a 0.8 percent advance in July 2008. Prices for imports from China increased 2.6 percent over 
the past 12 months, the largest 12 month advance since a 2.8 percent rise between December 2007 and 
December 2008. The price indexes for imports from Canada, Mexico, the European Union, and Japan also 
rose in March.

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares declined 0.2 percent in March.  Lower European fares 
offset increases in Latin American, and Asian fares. Despite the monthly decline, the index was still up 7.6 
percent for the year ending in March. Import air freight prices rose 0.2 percent in March, following a 1.8 
percent rise in February.   


Export Prices
 
Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: The price index for nonagricultural industrial supplies 
and materials increased 3.2 percent in March after rising 2.6 percent in February. The March advance was 
driven by an 8.9 percent increase in fuel prices and a 2.0 percent rise for nonferrous metals prices.    
 
Finished Goods: Capital goods prices rose 0.1 percent in March, led by a 0.9 percent increase in the price 
index for electric apparatus and parts and a 0.3 percent advance in computers, peripherals and 
semiconductor prices. Consumer goods prices and prices for automotive vehicles also rose in March, 
increasing 0.6 percent and 0.4 percent, respectively.            

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares rose 8.7 percent in March and 11.2 percent over the 
past year. Rising Asian and Latin American/Caribbean fares led both the March and the 12-month increases 
for the index. Export air freight prices increased 2.9 percent in March following a 2.0 percent advance in 
February. 
		
Import and Export Price Index data for April 2011 are scheduled for release on Tuesday, May 10, 
2011 at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).

Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: March 2010 to March 2011
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description End
Use
Relative
import-
ance
Feb.
2011(1)
Index Percent change
Feb.
2011
Mar.
2011
Annual Monthly
Mar.
2010
to
Mar.
2011
Nov.
2010
to
Dec.
2010
Dec.
2010
to
Jan.
2011
Jan.
2011
to
Feb.
2011
Feb.
2011
to
Mar.
2011

All commodities

  100.000 134.9 138.5 9.7 1.4 1.5 1.4 2.7

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

  69.487 101.1 101.4 - - 0.5 0.6 0.3

All imports excluding petroleum

  76.973 114.4 114.8 4.1 0.4 0.9 0.7 0.3

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)

  75.263 117.8 118.5 4.2 0.3 0.7 0.5 0.6

Foods, feeds, & beverages

0

5.776 168.1 175.2 18.9 1.3 2.6 0.7 4.2

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

00

4.510 189.6 199.2 20.1 1.3 2.8 1.0 5.1

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

01

1.266 119.5 120.9 14.5 1.2 2.0 -0.2 1.2

Industrial supplies & materials

1

37.912 237.5 253.1 23.5 3.8 3.4 3.2 6.6

Industrial supplies & materials excluding petroleum

  14.887 167.3 168.1 12.3 1.6 2.9 2.0 0.5

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

  13.177 184.0 187.6 14.2 1.1 2.1 1.3 2.0

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

  8.064 177.2 181.2 14.4 0.8 2.0 1.4 2.3

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable excluding petroleum

  5.113 155.2 152.8 9.6 2.7 3.8 2.7 -1.5

Fuels & lubricants

10

24.735 309.6 337.6 28.7 5.6 4.1 4.2 9.0

Petroleum & petroleum products

100

23.025 337.8 373.2 31.3 5.5 3.8 4.0 10.5

Crude

10000

17.227 347.3 379.9 31.0 5.9 4.3 4.0 9.4

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

101

1.336 151.0 131.8 -8.7 7.3 9.5 9.6 -12.7

Gas-natural

10110

1.211 136.0 117.0 -11.6 10.2 10.4 10.4 -14.0

Paper & paper base stocks

11

0.650 115.5 116.3 8.1 0.0 0.2 -1.9 0.7

Materials associated with nondurable supplies & materials

12

4.527 163.2 165.7 14.6 1.9 2.3 1.6 1.5

Selected building materials

13

1.094 129.9 131.6 3.1 0.3 2.0 0.3 1.3

Unfinished metals related to durable goods

14

3.891 279.5 290.1 24.3 1.2 3.1 1.9 3.8

Finished metals related to durable goods

15

1.582 155.3 156.7 10.0 0.5 0.3 1.4 0.9

Nonmetals related to durable goods

16

1.433 111.3 111.9 4.5 0.2 1.6 0.8 0.5

Capital goods

2

21.755 92.3 92.2 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.3 -0.1

Electric generating equipment

20

2.719 114.7 115.2 3.8 0.1 0.7 0.2 0.4

Nonelectrical machinery

21

17.177 86.4 86.2 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.2 -0.2

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

22

1.858 122.9 123.1 1.3 0.1 0.1 0.7 0.2

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

3

9.399 109.7 109.9 1.6 -0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

4

25.156 105.0 104.8 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.5 -0.2

Nondurables, manufactured

40

12.348 111.0 110.3 1.2 0.4 0.1 0.5 -0.6

Durables, manufactured

41

11.788 98.9 99.1 -1.0 -0.3 0.5 0.2 0.2

Nonmanufactured consumer goods

42

1.020 107.3 107.8 5.2 0.1 2.2 1.2 0.5

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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 2010 to March 2011
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description End
Use
Relative
import-
ance
Feb.
2011(1)
Index Percent change
Feb.
2011
Mar.
2011
Annual Monthly
Mar.
2010
to
Mar.
2011
Nov.
2010
to
Dec.
2010
Dec.
2010
to
Jan.
2011
Jan.
2011
to
Feb.
2011
Feb.
2011
to
Mar.
2011

All commodities

  100.000 130.8 132.7 9.5 0.7 1.2 1.4 1.5

Agricultural commodities

  12.032 213.9 218.9 34.0 2.0 3.0 4.6 2.3

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

  81.216 101.5 102.2 - - 0.6 0.9 0.7

Nonagricultural commodities

  87.967 124.8 126.4 7.0 0.6 1.0 1.0 1.3

Foods, feeds, & beverages

0

10.506 203.1 206.5 26.4 0.9 3.2 2.9 1.7

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

00

9.878 208.4 212.3 28.1 0.6 3.2 3.8 1.9

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

01

0.628 151.6 151.4 3.8 5.1 3.5 -9.1 -0.1

Industrial supplies & materials

1

34.390 182.3 188.3 21.4 1.8 2.5 3.0 3.3

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

  12.279 183.3 185.7 15.8 1.4 2.4 2.4 1.3

Industrial supplies & materials, nondurable

  22.111 182.6 190.5 24.8 2.1 2.6 3.4 4.3

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials

10

2.154 247.5 258.7 66.2 8.1 2.2 8.6 4.5

Nonagricultural industrial supplies & materials

  32.235 179.5 185.3 19.3 1.4 2.6 2.6 3.2

Fuels & lubricants

11

8.277 253.9 276.6 40.4 2.9 4.8 3.6 8.9

Nonagricultural supplies & materials excluding fuels & building materials

12

23.081 171.6 173.8 14.2 1.2 1.9 2.4 1.3

Selected building materials

13

0.877 115.7 115.5 -0.4 -0.9 0.0 -0.4 -0.2

Capital goods

2

34.991 103.9 104.0 0.2 0.2 0.1 -0.1 0.1

Electrical generating equipment

20

3.360 110.7 111.2 1.3 0.0 0.5 0.4 0.5

Nonelectrical machinery

21

24.483 93.9 93.9 -0.8 0.1 -0.2 -0.3 0.0

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

22

7.148 144.0 144.2 3.7 0.6 1.1 0.6 0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

3

6.757 109.2 109.6 0.9 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.4

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

4

13.356 113.3 114.0 3.4 -0.2 0.0 0.5 0.6

Nondurables, manufactured

40

6.839 113.9 114.2 2.1 -0.2 -0.4 0.3 0.3

Durables, manufactured

41

5.448 112.0 113.1 5.0 -0.2 0.1 0.9 1.0

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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 2010 to March 2011
[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
Feb.
2011(1)
Index Percent change
Feb.
2011
Mar.
2011
Annual Monthly
Mar.
2010
to
Mar.
2011
Nov.
2010
to
Dec.
2010
Dec.
2010
to
Jan.
2011
Jan.
2011
to
Feb.
2011
Feb.
2011
to
Mar.
2011

Nonmanufactured articles

  21.748 155.0 166.8 27.6 5.6 4.6 4.0 7.6

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

11

2.174 175.4 189.1 28.4 3.0 4.2 1.4 7.8

Crop production

111

1.544 177.5 195.9 27.5 2.0 3.6 0.4 10.4

Mining

21

19.574 152.7 164.2 27.5 5.9 4.6 4.4 7.5

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

212

0.370 145.5 145.4 10.2 0.1 3.3 0.2 -0.1

Manufactured articles

  77.765 114.1 115.5 5.3 0.4 0.7 0.8 1.2

Manufactured goods, part 1

31

10.875 116.7 118.5 9.5 0.8 1.5 0.7 1.5

Food manufacturing

311

3.261 147.5 151.4 23.2 1.6 3.0 0.8 2.6

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

0.919 110.0 110.5 1.1 0.1 -0.4 0.1 0.5

Textile product mills

314

0.837 108.5 114.4 13.8 1.5 1.0 0.7 5.4

Apparel manufacturing

315

4.017 105.0 105.9 4.3 0.7 1.0 0.7 0.9

Leather and allied product manufacturing

316

1.470 109.5 109.5 2.9 0.1 0.6 0.3 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 2

32

18.610 130.9 135.4 11.0 1.4 1.3 1.4 3.4

Wood product manufacturing

321

0.675 108.6 110.8 4.9 0.5 3.4 0.2 2.0

Paper manufacturing

322

1.192 110.4 110.9 6.8 -0.1 0.5 -0.7 0.5

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

4.695 148.2 170.9 32.6 4.4 1.7 3.7 15.3

Chemical manufacturing

325

9.407 131.7 130.2 3.9 0.8 0.9 0.8 -1.1

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

1.745 119.6 120.0 5.3 0.3 2.1 0.6 0.3

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

0.799 125.8 126.2 4.7 0.2 1.6 0.2 0.3

Manufactured goods, part 3

33

48.279 108.4 108.7 2.5 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.3

Primary metal manufacturing

331

4.631 181.5 186.7 21.3 1.2 2.6 1.9 2.9

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

2.507 122.5 123.4 5.8 0.7 0.6 0.3 0.7

Machinery manufacturing

333

5.497 116.8 117.3 3.6 0.1 0.9 0.9 0.4

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

15.293 84.6 84.2 -4.1 -0.5 -0.7 0.1 -0.5

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

3.556 114.1 114.0 1.9 0.3 0.3 0.2 -0.1

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

10.511 106.6 106.8 1.2 -0.1 -0.1 0.3 0.2

Furniture and related product manufacturing

337

1.220 108.3 109.3 3.3 0.6 0.2 0.7 0.9

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

5.064 118.1 118.5 5.6 0.3 2.5 0.8 0.3

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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 2010 to March 2011
[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
Feb.
2011(1)
Index Percent change
Feb.
2011
Mar.
2011
Annual Monthly
Mar.
2010
to
Mar.
2011
Nov.
2010
to
Dec.
2010
Dec.
2010
to
Jan.
2011
Jan.
2011
to
Feb.
2011
Feb.
2011
to
Mar.
2011

Nonmanufactured articles

  9.614 180.8 185.1 46.7 1.2 5.9 3.3 2.4

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

11

7.295 213.0 218.9 54.3 2.8 5.4 6.6 2.8

Crop production

111

7.024 223.0 229.4 57.6 2.9 5.6 6.7 2.9

Mining

21

2.319 113.9 115.0 26.9 -2.9 6.9 -5.6 1.0

Mining (except oil and gas)

212

1.559 134.3 135.0 36.5 -4.7 1.4 1.4 0.5

Manufactured articles

  86.589 116.9 118.5 6.5 0.5 0.7 0.9 1.4

Manufactured goods, part 1

31

7.212 138.6 141.2 14.0 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.9

Food manufacturing

311

4.943 154.0 156.7 12.9 1.6 0.4 0.8 1.8

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

0.550 114.4 115.3 9.1 -0.3 -0.5 0.2 0.8

Apparel manufacturing

315

0.404 110.4 110.6 7.5 -0.4 2.6 2.8 0.2

Manufactured goods, part 2

32

26.131 129.0 132.9 13.4 1.0 1.0 2.5 3.0

Wood product manufacturing

321

0.405 118.7 120.8 8.1 -2.4 -2.8 5.0 1.8

Paper manufacturing

322

2.006 125.2 125.2 10.4 -0.6 1.3 0.7 0.0

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

5.555 153.8 172.1 43.2 4.6 3.4 6.4 11.9

Chemical manufacturing

325

15.516 128.0 129.1 7.9 0.5 0.6 1.5 0.9

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

1.947 109.1 109.2 2.5 0.1 0.3 1.1 0.1

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

0.702 110.6 110.4 -3.2 -0.4 -1.6 -0.1 -0.2

Manufactured goods, part 3

33

53.245 110.2 110.7 2.7 0.3 0.5 0.1 0.5

Primary metal manufacturing

331

4.931 167.4 171.0 22.9 2.0 3.0 1.3 2.2

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

2.465 124.6 124.9 3.6 0.4 0.9 0.9 0.2

Machinery manufacturing

333

10.468 115.7 116.0 1.3 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.3

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

14.110 90.5 90.2 -2.5 0.3 -0.3 -0.8 -0.3

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

3.061 110.1 110.9 1.1 -0.1 0.3 0.2 0.7

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

13.076 113.2 113.5 2.3 0.3 0.7 0.4 0.3

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

4.831 113.2 114.5 4.9 0.1 -0.5 0.8 1.1

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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 2010 to March 2011
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Harmo-
nized
system
Relative
import-
ance
Feb.
2011(1)
Index Percent change
Feb.
2011
Mar.
2011
Annual Monthly
Mar.
2010
to
Mar.
2011
Nov.
2010
to
Dec.
2010
Dec.
2010
to
Jan.
2011
Jan.
2011
to
Feb.
2011
Feb.
2011
to
Mar.
2011

Live animals; animal products

I

1.363 164.2 167.2 22.7 2.4 2.9 2.1 1.8

Meat and edible meat offal

02

0.321 206.8 212.1 21.5 3.5 3.6 3.5 2.6

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates

03

0.713 121.4 122.8 21.0 1.6 2.3 -0.7 1.2

Vegetable products

II

1.777 195.3 214.2 25.9 1.6 3.1 0.0 9.7

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers

07

0.311 293.1 396.8 16.2 5.7 1.7 -11.4 35.4

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

08

0.557 124.3 129.9 22.2 0.4 4.6 4.1 4.5

Coffee, tea, mate and spices

09

0.416 233.1 247.6 54.2 0.0 3.6 3.1 6.2

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

III

0.366 159.2 155.1 49.4 7.3 11.6 5.7 -2.6

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco

IV

2.592 150.6 154.6 10.3 0.3 0.8 0.1 2.7

Cocoa and cocoa preparations (Dec. 2009=100)

18

0.235 103.3 107.3 7.3 0.5 2.6 4.7 3.9

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

19

0.273 128.2 129.3 15.0 -3.6 -0.2 -3.3 0.9

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

20

0.368 152.3 153.0 17.2 1.7 2.2 0.7 0.5

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar

22

0.890 119.9 120.4 1.3 0.2 -0.4 -0.1 0.4

Mineral products

V

24.289 310.3 338.4 28.1 5.5 4.0 4.2 9.1

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

27

23.966 306.7 334.9 28.3 5.6 4.0 4.2 9.2

Products of the chemical or allied industries

VI

9.068 146.4 144.9 4.0 0.8 1.0 0.9 -1.0

Inorganic chemicals

28

1.084 349.8 360.0 31.3 1.3 4.5 2.5 2.9

Organic chemicals

29

2.924 136.9 135.1 1.1 1.1 -0.5 0.7 -1.3

Pharmaceutical products

30

3.364 116.6 112.9 -4.2 0.3 0.3 0.5 -3.2

Fertilizers (Dec. 2009=100)

31

0.257 121.0 121.7 15.7 4.2 7.5 0.4 0.6

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec. 2001=100)

33

0.432 123.7 123.5 4.1 -0.3 -0.4 0.4 -0.2

Miscellaneous chemical products

38

0.511 106.4 106.9 14.3 1.5 4.8 1.1 0.5

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

2.938 146.1 147.0 9.5 1.4 1.7 1.2 0.6

Plastics and articles thereof

39

1.808 135.7 136.4 5.7 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.5

Rubber and articles thereof

40

1.130 165.9 167.3 15.9 2.3 3.6 2.0 0.8

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

VIII

0.533 116.6 116.7 2.3 0.3 0.7 0.3 0.1

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

42

0.503 116.7 116.9 1.7 0.3 0.7 0.3 0.2

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

IX

0.708 130.8 133.2 4.4 0.4 3.2 0.4 1.8

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

X

1.307 113.5 113.8 5.3 0.0 0.2 -0.9 0.3

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

48

0.874 107.3 107.3 5.1 0.1 0.5 0.0 0.0

Textile and textile articles

XI

5.143 108.2 110.0 6.8 0.9 1.2 0.8 1.7

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted

61

2.023 102.6 102.6 4.5 0.6 1.0 0.8 0.0

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted

62

1.869 106.1 107.9 4.4 0.7 0.9 0.6 1.7

Made-up or worn textile articles

63

0.621 102.4 110.0 19.2 2.4 1.1 0.8 7.4

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.

XII

1.229 109.8 109.8 3.4 0.0 0.6 0.3 0.0

Footwear and parts of such articles

64

1.047 108.7 108.7 3.3 0.0 0.5 0.3 0.0

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

XIII

0.726 127.4 127.9 3.0 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.4

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

68

0.249 120.1 119.8 1.8 0.8 0.2 0.4 -0.2

Ceramic products

69

0.211 139.2 141.2 0.9 0.4 0.1 0.1 1.4

Glass and glassware

70

0.267 121.8 122.1 6.1 -0.1 0.7 0.3 0.2

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

XIV

2.934 181.2 185.1 19.5 2.3 2.8 0.0 2.2

Base metals and articles of base metals

XV

5.244 194.9 199.1 13.8 0.3 1.6 2.0 2.2

Iron and steel

72

0.949 247.1 255.9 15.9 0.7 3.1 3.6 3.6

Articles of iron or steel

73

1.551 153.9 154.9 7.9 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.6

Copper and articles thereof

74

0.641 417.2 425.4 31.1 2.0 5.7 3.9 2.0

Nickel and articles thereof (Dec. 2009=100)

75

0.180 137.9 152.4 37.1 -4.3 2.1 5.5 10.5

Aluminum and articles thereof

76

0.910 149.2 152.1 14.3 -0.1 0.7 2.8 1.9

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

82

0.327 122.5 122.2 3.7 1.3 1.2 0.1 -0.2

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

83

0.370 128.8 128.9 1.3 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.1

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

XVI

24.133 85.8 85.6 -1.3 -0.2 -0.2 0.2 -0.2

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

84

11.980 88.6 88.1 0.1 -0.1 -0.2 0.5 -0.6

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

85

12.153 83.0 83.2 -2.7 -0.5 -0.2 0.0 0.2

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

8.768 111.0 111.3 1.6 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3

Motor vehicles and their parts

87

7.773 109.9 110.2 1.6 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.3

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

88

0.909 115.5 115.6 1.4 0.2 0.0 1.3 0.1

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

XVIII

3.233 104.2 104.3 3.1 0.2 2.3 0.1 0.1

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical instruments

90

2.987 102.0 102.1 3.1 0.2 2.5 0.1 0.1

Clocks and watches and parts thereof

91

0.182 125.0 125.0 2.2 0.1 0.6 0.1 0.0

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

XX

3.563 108.0 108.4 1.8 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4

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

94

1.744 110.9 111.6 2.1 0.5 -0.1 0.5 0.6

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

95

1.613 101.8 102.0 0.8 0.0 0.5 0.3 0.2

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

96

0.206 128.0 128.4 8.2 0.3 2.2 0.2 0.3

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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 2010 to March 2011
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Harmo-
nized
system
Relative
import-
ance
Feb.
2011(1)
Index Percent change
Feb.
2011
Mar.
2011
Annual Monthly
Mar.
2010
to
Mar.
2011
Nov.
2010
to
Dec.
2010
Dec.
2010
to
Jan.
2011
Jan.
2011
to
Feb.
2011
Feb.
2011
to
Mar.
2011

Live animals; animal products

I

1.869 184.2 190.8 16.4 0.3 1.0 2.2 3.6

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

02

1.156 151.7 157.3 17.7 -0.5 0.6 4.3 3.7

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates

03

0.369 166.7 166.1 10.7 7.0 6.3 -9.5 -0.4

Vegetable products

II

6.218 249.9 253.4 39.9 1.2 6.1 4.4 1.4

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

08

1.003 134.2 136.5 9.3 2.0 4.0 0.1 1.7

Cereals

10

2.405 296.2 309.7 69.0 -1.2 8.2 6.9 4.6

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

12

2.267 271.7 264.6 35.5 4.1 5.0 3.1 -2.6

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

III

0.544 157.2 158.3 56.1 12.3 7.6 4.2 0.7

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and tobacco

IV

2.637 147.0 148.0 6.9 0.6 -0.9 0.8 0.7

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

20

0.340 105.3 106.7 4.1 1.1 -0.2 1.0 1.3

Miscellaneous edible preparations

21

0.439 116.1 116.2 -2.1 0.1 -2.9 0.3 0.1

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

22

0.378 104.1 105.0 0.3 -0.7 -0.8 0.2 0.9

Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal feed

23

0.711 218.6 222.0 26.0 1.3 -1.4 0.8 1.6

Mineral products

V

8.236 300.9 327.1 40.8 2.3 4.6 3.4 8.7

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

27

7.605 294.9 322.6 42.1 2.9 4.9 3.7 9.4

Products of the chemical or allied industries

VI

12.863 150.8 151.8 6.3 0.2 0.3 1.5 0.7

Inorganic chemicals

28

1.032 196.7 198.1 16.3 0.9 1.7 -0.2 0.7

Organic chemicals

29

3.267 160.8 164.0 9.2 0.5 1.1 3.0 2.0

Pharmaceutical products

30

3.960 125.7 126.1 2.8 -0.4 -0.2 0.1 0.3

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

32

0.556 122.1 122.5 7.6 -3.4 0.3 3.1 0.3

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery cosmetic or toilet preparations

33

0.743 127.4 127.7 3.5 0.0 0.1 0.8 0.2

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

34

0.478 123.0 121.9 5.4 0.0 0.1 1.7 -0.9

Miscellaneous chemical products

38

1.801 145.1 145.0 4.0 0.1 0.6 0.5 -0.1

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

5.098 143.1 143.9 6.1 0.6 1.1 0.9 0.6

Plastics and articles thereof

39

4.150 136.7 137.4 6.4 0.6 1.1 1.0 0.5

Rubber and articles thereof

40

0.948 171.4 173.0 5.0 0.2 0.9 0.6 0.9

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

VIII

0.417 128.8 132.6 13.6 1.6 1.5 2.4 3.0

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

IX

0.517 109.8 109.7 1.5 -0.8 -0.7 0.8 -0.1

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

X

2.759 127.2 127.9 12.2 0.0 1.4 1.4 0.6

Woodpulp and recovered paper

47

0.972 154.5 156.4 25.9 0.4 2.0 3.3 1.2

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

48

1.295 119.4 119.8 8.7 -0.3 1.3 0.3 0.3

Printed material

49

0.492 118.0 118.0 1.6 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.0

Textile and textile articles

XI

2.475 156.6 164.8 46.6 4.4 2.0 7.0 5.2

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics thereof

52

1.202 264.5 292.2 136.0 10.1 2.4 14.9 10.5

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

XIII

0.689 115.6 115.6 -1.0 -0.3 -0.3 0.0 0.0

Glass and glassware

70

0.387 99.2 99.2 0.0 -0.5 0.9 0.1 0.0

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

XIV

4.784 242.1 248.9 25.4 2.1 1.8 0.5 2.8

Base metals and articles of base metals

XV

5.952 183.3 186.0 15.8 1.5 4.2 4.7 1.5

Iron and steel

72

1.993 240.4 245.2 28.9 4.2 7.8 12.1 2.0

Articles of iron or steel

73

1.245 164.2 166.9 6.5 0.1 1.9 0.7 1.6

Copper and articles thereof

74

0.764 284.4 285.7 24.2 2.5 7.4 2.3 0.5

Aluminum and articles thereof

76

0.965 135.9 138.1 12.1 -0.5 2.7 2.6 1.6

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

82

0.339 125.4 125.4 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

83

0.282 122.2 123.3 -0.9 0.5 -2.1 0.0 0.9

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

XVI

26.729 95.8 95.8 -0.3 0.1 0.3 -0.1 0.0

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

84

15.596 107.2 107.4 0.4 0.1 0.4 -0.2 0.2

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts and accessories thereof

85

11.133 83.5 83.2 -1.1 0.4 0.0 0.1 -0.4

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

10.785 122.8 123.1 1.7 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

Motor vehicles and their parts

87

6.025 109.0 109.2 0.9 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2

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

XVIII

5.898 105.7 105.7 -0.5 0.1 -1.0 -0.5 0.0

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

XX

1.390 107.7 108.0 0.3 -0.4 0.2 0.3 0.3

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings nesoi;

94

0.665 118.8 119.4 1.4 -0.1 0.1 0.3 0.5

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

95

0.617 91.8 91.9 -1.4 -0.7 -0.1 0.3 0.1

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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 2010 to March 2011
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Percent
of
U.S.
imports(1)
Index Percent change
Feb.
2011
Mar.
2011
Annual Monthly
Mar.
2010
to
Mar.
2011
Nov.
2010
to
Dec.
2010
Dec.
2010
to
Jan.
2011
Jan.
2011
to
Feb.
2011
Feb.
2011
to
Mar.
2011

Industrialized Countries(2)

39.494 129.1 130.9 4.1 1.1 -0.2 1.0 1.4

Nonmanufactured articles

4.457 227.3 235.7 12.4 7.5 2.9 1.2 3.7

Manufactured articles

34.670 121.0 122.3 2.9 0.2 -0.7 0.8 1.1

Other Countries(3)

60.506 133.4 137.9 11.0 1.4 1.7 1.7 3.4

Nonmanufactured articles

12.079 317.1 344.9 32.2 4.8 5.0 4.6 8.8

Manufactured articles

48.226 108.2 109.8 4.6 0.4 0.7 0.7 1.5

Canada

14.271 151.8 155.5 8.2 2.6 1.1 1.3 2.4

Nonmanufactured articles

3.991 220.9 228.9 11.9 7.8 3.2 1.2 3.6

Manufactured articles

10.005 137.5 140.0 6.3 0.6 0.1 1.3 1.8

European Union(4)

17.186 131.2 132.6 3.4 0.0 1.0 0.6 1.1

Nonmanufactured articles

0.256 280.1 300.1 18.9 4.5 2.1 0.1 7.1

Manufactured articles

16.854 128.4 129.6 3.0 -0.1 0.9 0.6 0.9

France (Dec. 2003=100)

1.995 122.2 117.9 -3.0 -0.3 0.2 0.5 -3.5

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)

4.510 114.0 114.6 1.5 -0.2 0.2 1.2 0.5

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)

2.795 131.1 131.5 4.5 0.9 1.7 0.4 0.3

Latin America(5)

18.406 169.7 176.6 12.2 1.7 2.2 1.3 4.1

Nonmanufactured articles

5.479 335.3 365.2 27.5 4.7 3.9 2.6 8.9

Manufactured articles

12.844 134.4 136.1 4.5 0.2 1.2 0.7 1.3

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)

11.380 143.6 147.9 7.2 0.9 1.3 1.3 3.0

Nonmanufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100)

1.900 180.0 201.8 30.4 5.7 4.7 2.3 12.1

Manufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100)

9.437 97.0 97.4 1.0 -0.5 0.4 0.9 0.4

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

34.852 102.9 103.6 3.4 0.6 0.4 0.5 0.7

China (Dec. 2003=100)

19.595 102.1 102.7 2.6 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.6

Japan

6.198 100.8 101.0 3.0 0.3 0.5 0.5 0.2

Asian NICs(7)

5.555 89.7 91.1 4.7 1.1 0.8 0.6 1.6

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)(8)

5.987 103.4 104.3 9.2 1.9 2.0 1.0 0.9

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

3.795 247.1 263.9 27.2 4.5 4.1 6.2 6.8

Footnotes
(1) Percentage of trade figures are based on 2009 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: March 2010 to March 2011
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Relative
import-
ance
Feb.
2011(1)
Index Percent change
Feb.
2011
Mar.
2011
Annual Monthly
Mar.
2010
to
Mar.
2011
Nov.
2010
to
Dec.
2010
Dec.
2010
to
Jan.
2011
Jan.
2011
to
Feb.
2011
Feb.
2011
to
Mar.
2011

Air Freight

Import Air Freight

100.000 170.2 170.5 7.7 0.2 -1.7 1.8 0.2

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

22.382 144.0 148.5 12.1 0.3 -0.6 1.6 3.1

Asia

74.036 156.1 154.9 6.0 0.2 -2.0 1.9 -0.8

Export Air Freight

100.000 135.3 139.2 12.3 0.7 3.5 2.0 2.9

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)

38.610 121.8 125.8 10.2 1.7 3.0 0.9 3.3

Inbound Air Freight

100.000 154.5 155.9 8.0 0.4 -0.5 1.2 0.9

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

22.805 134.3 138.7 12.0 0.4 0.1 1.3 3.3

Asia

65.481 141.7 141.3 6.1 0.1 -0.8 1.3 -0.3

Outbound Air Freight

100.000 132.1 135.7 14.9 1.2 2.9 1.8 2.7

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

36.887 150.8 154.8 13.7 1.7 1.4 1.3 2.7

Asia

44.420 122.4 125.6 15.9 0.9 4.4 2.6 2.6

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares

100.000 161.5 161.2 7.6 2.1 -2.6 -2.4 -0.2

Europe

38.871 172.1 166.1 2.2 -5.8 3.6 -2.7 -3.5

Asia

25.113 134.7 137.8 9.0 9.8 -9.4 -5.2 2.3

Latin America/Caribbean

14.723 158.5 163.1 20.0 9.2 -7.8 0.5 2.9

Export Air Passenger Fares

100.000 161.4 175.4 11.2 3.7 5.6 -9.6 8.7

Europe

28.988 182.0 182.2 -7.3 2.2 -2.3 -1.6 0.1

Asia

30.198 147.3 163.5 14.4 -1.1 11.7 -16.4 11.0

Latin America/Caribbean

21.187 176.4 189.8 17.3 9.9 4.7 -10.9 7.6

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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 12, 2011