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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-17-0818
8:30 a.m. (EDT) Thursday, June 15, 2017

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 - MAY 2017                                 

U.S. import prices declined 0.3 percent in May, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, after 
increasing 0.2 percent in April. Lower fuel prices drove the decrease in May and nonfuel prices recorded no 
change. The price index for U.S. exports declined 0.7 percent in May following a 0.2-percent advance in 
April.

Imports

All Imports: Import prices decreased 0.3 percent in May, the largest monthly drop since the index fell 0.5 
percent in February 2016. The decline was driven by falling fuel prices, unlike last month when higher 
nonfuel prices more than offset decreasing fuel prices. The price index for U.S. imports rose 2.1 percent for 
the 12 months ended in May. The last over-the-year decline in import prices was a 0.2-percent decrease in 
October 2016.

Fuel Imports: Prices for fuel fell 3.7 percent in May following a 0.3-percent drop in April and a 3.1-percent 
decrease in March. The last time fuel prices fell by more than 3.7 percent was a 6.8-percent decline in 
February 2016. The May decrease was primarily led by a 3.9-percent drop in petroleum prices. Natural gas 
prices also declined, falling 2.9 percent. Despite the recent decreases, import fuel prices increased 16.9 
percent between May 2016 and May 2017. The import price index for petroleum advanced 16.2 percent for 
the year ended in May and natural gas prices rose 44.1 percent.                           

All Imports Excluding Fuel: The nonfuel import price index recorded no change in May following a 0.8-
percent advance over the previous 3 months. Lower prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials 
offset price increases for foods, feeds, and beverages, and automotive vehicles. Capital goods prices and 
prices for consumer goods recorded no change in May. Nonfuel prices advanced 0.8 percent over the past 
12 months, continuing the trend of over-the-year increases since November when the index fell 0.2 percent. 
Rising prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials; foods, feeds, and beverages; and automotive 
vehicles more than offset lower prices for capital goods and consumer goods over the past year.                           
  
Table A. Percent change in Import and Export Price Indexes, selected categories

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

2016

May

1.2 12.7 0.3 1.1 3.0 1.0

June

0.7 10.5 -0.2 0.8 2.5 0.5

July

0.1 -2.1 0.3 0.2 -0.3 0.3

August

-0.2 -3.4 0.0 -0.8 -3.4 -0.6

September

0.1 1.3 0.0 0.3 -1.0 0.5

October

0.5 6.6 0.0 0.2 0.5 0.2

November

-0.1 -1.1 -0.1 0.1 0.7 0.0

December

0.4 5.8 0.0 0.4 -0.2 0.4

2017

January

0.6 6.1 -0.1 0.2 0.4 0.2

February

0.3 (r)0.3 (r)0.3 0.3 1.4 0.3

March

(r)-0.2 (r)-3.1 0.2 (r)0.2 (r)1.1 0.1

April

(r)0.2 (r)-0.3 0.3 0.2 (r)0.1 (r)0.3

May

-0.3 -3.7 0.0 -0.7 -1.6 -0.6

May 2015 to 2016

-5.2 -30.6 -1.8 -4.5 -5.2 -4.4

May 2016 to 2017

2.1 16.9 0.8 1.4 0.1 1.5

Footnotes
(r) Revised

Exports

All Exports: The price index for overall exports fell 0.7 percent in May following increases of 0.2 percent 
in each of the previous 2 months. The May decrease was the first monthly drop since August 2016 when the 
index declined 0.8 percent. Prices for agricultural and nonagricultural exports contributed to the overall drop 
in export prices. The price index for U.S. exports rose 1.4 percent for the year ended in May.                                  

Agricultural Exports: Prices for agricultural exports declined 1.6 percent in May, the first monthly 
decrease since a 0.2-percent drop in December. In May, decreasing prices for vegetables and fruit more than 
offset rising prices for soybeans, meat, wheat and corn. Prices for vegetable exports fell 24.9 percent in 
May, the largest monthly decline since February 1998 when the index fell 26.1 percent. Despite the May 
decline, agricultural export prices ticked up 0.1 percent over the past 12 months. Higher prices for 
vegetables, meats, and nuts all contributed to the rise in agricultural prices between May 2016 and May 
2017.

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: Nonagricultural export prices decreased 0.6 percent in May, led by 
falling prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials which more than offset higher prices for 
both capital goods and consumer goods. Export prices for automotive vehicles recorded no change in May. 
The price index for nonagricultural exports rose over the past year, increasing 1.5 percent.

                                            SELECTED MAY HIGHLIGHTS                                             

Import Prices

Imports by Locality of Origin: Import prices from China and Japan recorded no change in May following 
0.1-percent declines in April and 0.2-percent increases in March. Prices for imports from China declined 1.1 
percent for the year ended in May. In contrast, the price index for imports from Japan increased 1.2 percent 
over the past year. Import prices from Canada decreased 0.6 percent in May, after a 0.1-percent advance in 
April and a 1.1-percent drop in March. Prices for imports from Mexico rose 0.2 percent in May and last 
recorded a monthly decline when the index fell 1.2 percent in January. Prices for imports from the European 
Union recorded no change in May. 

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonfuel industrial supplies and materials prices decreased 0.5 
percent in May, the first monthly decline since the index fell 0.6 percent in October. The drop was driven by 
falling prices for unfinished metals.
 
Finished Goods: Prices for the major finished goods categories were mixed. Automotive vehicles prices 
rose 0.1 percent in May, driven by a 0.3-percent advance in non-engine parts. Both capital goods and 
consumer goods prices recorded no change in May.
    
Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Prices for foods, feeds, and beverages rose 1.2 percent in May, after a 0.5-
percent increase in April. A 3.1-percent advance in fruit prices, a 2.5-percent rise in meat prices, and a 3.2-
percent increase in vegetables prices all contributed to the monthly advance.

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares rose 3.9 percent in May, driven by a 3.7-percent 
advance in European fares and a 6.2-percent increase in Asian fares. Despite the monthly increase, import 
air passenger fares fell 6.9 percent over the past 12 months. Import air freight prices rose 0.7 percent for the 
second consecutive month in May and 9.7 percent over the past year.

Export Prices

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: The export price index for nonagricultural industrial 
supplies and materials fell 1.9 percent in May following a 0.4-percent rise in April and a 0.1-percent decline 
in March. Despite the monthly decrease, prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials 
increased 4.7 percent for the year ended in May and have not recorded a 12-month decline since October.
 
Finished Goods: Export prices for finished goods either increased or recorded no change in May. Export 
capital goods prices ticked up 0.1 percent, driven by a 0.4-percent advance in computers, peripherals, and 
semiconductors prices. The price index for export consumer goods rose 0.1 percent. Prices for automotive 
vehicles recorded no change in May, after a 0.2-percent rise in April.                        

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares increased 3.0 percent in May, after a 5.7-percent drop 
in April and a 3.0-percent advance in March. Asian and European fares contributed to the increase in May, 
rising 10.5 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively. The export air passenger fares index advanced 2.2 percent 
for the year ended in May. Export air freight prices increased 1.3 percent in May and rose 4.2 percent 
between May 2016 and May 2017.
		
Import and Export Price Index data for June 2017 are scheduled for release on Tuesday, July 18, 2017 at 
8:30 a.m. (EDT).    


Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: May 2016 to May 2017 [2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description End
Use
Relative
import-
ance
Apr.
2017(1)
Index Percent change
Apr.
2017
May
2017
Annual Monthly
May
2016
to
May
2017
Jan.
2017
to
Feb.
2017
Feb.
2017
to
Mar.
2017
Mar.
2017
to
Apr.
2017
Apr.
2017
to
May
2017

All commodities

  100.000 122.8 122.4 2.1 0.3 -0.2 0.2 -0.3

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

  84.722 98.9 98.9 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.0

All imports excluding petroleum

  91.475 111.9 111.9 1.0 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.0

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)

  90.829 115.9 115.9 0.8 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.0

Foods, feeds, & beverages

0

6.107 178.3 180.4 4.1 0.7 -0.4 0.5 1.2

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

00

4.762 194.8 197.6 4.8 0.8 -0.4 0.7 1.4

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

01

1.345 141.2 141.7 2.0 0.2 -0.4 -0.5 0.4

Industrial supplies & materials

1

22.758 169.9 166.9 9.3 1.0 -0.4 0.4 -1.8

Industrial supplies & materials excluding petroleum

  14.233 148.4 147.7 5.8 1.0 1.0 0.8 -0.5

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

  13.587 168.2 167.4 4.8 1.4 1.5 0.8 -0.5

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

  8.466 158.7 157.9 6.1 1.9 1.6 1.1 -0.5

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable excluding petroleum

  5.120 135.5 134.8 5.2 -0.4 0.0 0.6 -0.5

Fuels & lubricants

10

9.170 174.2 167.7 16.9 0.3 -3.1 -0.3 -3.7

Petroleum & petroleum products

100

8.525 187.8 180.5 16.2 0.8 -2.6 -0.4 -3.9

Crude

10000

6.015 191.4 183.4 15.0 2.1 -3.3 -0.1 -4.2

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

101

0.492 103.2 100.9 41.5 -8.1 -10.2 1.9 -2.2

Gas-natural

10110

0.368 81.8 79.4 44.1 -10.2 -13.6 2.4 -2.9

Paper & paper base stocks

11

0.542 106.7 107.2 0.2 -0.2 0.0 1.5 0.5

Materials associated with nondurable supplies & materials

12

4.647 154.8 154.1 2.9 0.7 1.5 0.3 -0.5

Selected building materials

13

1.453 145.6 146.7 7.0 1.0 1.2 2.6 0.8

Unfinished metals related to durable goods

14

3.540 216.1 213.0 10.8 3.6 2.8 0.8 -1.4

Finished metals related to durable goods

15

1.715 148.4 148.4 2.3 0.7 0.5 1.3 0.0

Nonmetals related to durable goods

16

1.690 109.3 109.0 0.3 0.7 0.6 0.1 -0.3

Capital goods

2

27.418 88.8 88.8 -0.4 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0

Electric generating equipment

20

3.313 116.4 116.4 0.3 0.3 0.2 -0.1 0.0

Nonelectrical machinery

21

21.543 81.3 81.3 -0.5 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.0

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

22

2.562 134.5 134.6 -2.0 -0.1 -0.1 -1.5 0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

3

16.318 110.6 110.7 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.1

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

4

27.399 106.9 106.9 -0.2 0.2 -0.2 0.0 0.0

Nondurables, manufactured

40

13.442 121.4 121.4 1.2 0.2 0.1 -0.1 0.0

Durables, manufactured

41

12.627 93.1 93.1 -1.4 0.0 -0.1 -0.1 0.0

Nonmanufactured consumer goods

42

1.330 116.3 116.4 -2.4 2.6 -3.0 1.2 0.1

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

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.
Dash = Not available


Table 2. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: May 2016 to May 2017 [2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description End
Use
Relative
import-
ance
Apr.
2017(1)
Index Percent change
Apr.
2017
May
2017
Annual Monthly
May
2016
to
May
2017
Jan.
2017
to
Feb.
2017
Feb.
2017
to
Mar.
2017
Mar.
2017
to
Apr.
2017
Apr.
2017
to
May
2017

All commodities

  100.000 122.5 121.7 1.4 0.3 0.2 0.2 -0.7

Agricultural commodities

  9.555 180.4 177.6 0.1 1.4 1.1 0.1 -1.6

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

  83.146 98.9 98.7 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.0 -0.2

Nonagricultural commodities

  90.445 118.1 117.4 1.5 0.3 0.1 0.3 -0.6

Foods, feeds, & beverages

0

8.916 183.1 179.4 -0.1 1.4 1.2 0.6 -2.0

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

00

8.279 182.1 178.6 -0.7 1.5 1.0 0.3 -1.9

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

01

0.637 205.2 197.6 8.6 -0.2 3.4 3.6 -3.7

Industrial supplies & materials

1

29.820 147.6 144.9 4.8 0.4 -0.1 0.3 -1.8

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

  10.678 159.1 158.4 3.2 1.5 1.3 -0.2 -0.4

Industrial supplies & materials, nondurable

  19.142 142.3 138.7 5.8 -0.3 -0.7 0.6 -2.5

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials

10

1.276 175.5 176.4 5.0 0.9 1.3 -1.2 0.5

Nonagricultural industrial supplies & materials

  28.544 146.7 143.9 4.7 0.3 -0.1 0.4 -1.9

Fuels & lubricants

11

7.938 166.3 158.0 17.1 -2.2 -2.7 3.2 -5.0

Nonagricultural supplies & materials excluding fuels & building materials

12

19.573 151.5 150.3 0.9 1.5 0.9 -0.7 -0.8

Selected building materials

13

1.033 120.0 120.3 4.4 0.2 1.8 0.6 0.3

Capital goods

2

38.182 107.6 107.7 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1

Electrical generating equipment

20

3.957 112.8 112.8 0.4 -0.2 0.6 0.1 0.0

Nonelectrical machinery

21

24.997 93.8 93.8 -0.5 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0

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

22

9.227 169.9 170.3 3.8 0.5 0.1 0.2 0.2

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

3

10.327 113.3 113.3 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.0

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

4

12.755 108.3 108.4 -1.9 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.1

Nondurables, manufactured

40

6.176 104.2 104.3 -1.7 0.1 0.0 0.8 0.1

Durables, manufactured

41

5.178 106.8 106.9 -1.4 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1

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

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.
Dash = Not available


Table 3. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected industries: May 2016 to May 2017 [December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
Apr.
2017(1)
Index Percent change
Apr.
2017
May
2017
Annual Monthly
May
2016
to
May
2017
Jan.
2017
to
Feb.
2017
Feb.
2017
to
Mar.
2017
Mar.
2017
to
Apr.
2017
Apr.
2017
to
May
2017

Nonmanufacturing

  8.656 95.4 93.2 15.3 1.6 -3.7 0.2 -2.3

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

11

2.026 181.8 186.3 11.6 2.4 -2.7 1.2 2.5

Crop production

111

1.615 193.8 199.0 12.1 2.2 -2.9 2.1 2.7

Animal production (Dec. 2014=100)

112

0.204 78.5 81.1 0.9 1.4 -0.9 -1.3 3.3

Mining

21

6.630 85.2 82.0 16.3 1.4 -4.0 -0.1 -3.8

Oil and gas extraction

211

6.367 84.9 81.3 16.3 1.5 -4.3 0.0 -4.2

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

212

0.263 103.7 110.1 15.8 -0.3 2.3 -3.7 6.2

Manufacturing

  91.055 110.0 109.8 0.8 0.2 0.3 0.2 -0.2

Manufacturing, part 1

31

11.912 123.9 124.1 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.2

Food manufacturing

311

3.460 154.3 155.5 1.9 0.9 -0.1 0.3 0.8

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

1.060 118.2 118.3 -0.5 0.2 0.2 -0.1 0.1

Textile mills (Dec. 2011=100)

313

0.400 98.4 98.1 -0.5 0.0 0.2 0.2 -0.3

Textile product mills

314

0.933 108.5 108.6 -0.5 -0.3 0.4 0.0 0.1

Apparel manufacturing

315

4.212 111.1 111.0 -0.4 0.1 -0.1 0.0 -0.1

Leather and allied product manufacturing

316

1.847 122.9 123.1 -0.4 0.0 -0.1 0.0 0.2

Manufacturing, part 2

32

17.602 120.6 120.0 4.5 0.2 0.7 0.2 -0.5

Wood product manufacturing

321

0.901 127.4 129.0 12.4 2.0 1.9 4.0 1.3

Paper manufacturing

322

1.024 104.8 105.1 -0.2 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.3

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

323

0.222 100.1 100.1 - 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

2.266 83.1 80.6 18.0 -3.2 0.1 -0.8 -3.0

Chemical manufacturing

325

9.942 135.8 135.3 3.4 0.8 0.8 0.1 -0.4

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

2.238 118.0 117.9 0.8 0.1 0.8 0.3 -0.1

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

1.010 128.5 128.3 -1.6 -0.2 -0.2 0.1 -0.2

Manufacturing, part 3

33

61.541 103.6 103.6 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.0

Primary metal manufacturing

331

4.218 142.7 140.9 10.5 3.6 2.4 0.6 -1.3

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

3.087 122.2 122.1 -0.1 0.1 0.1 0.7 -0.1

Machinery manufacturing

333

7.088 116.3 116.2 -0.3 0.1 0.1 0.2 -0.1

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

17.609 75.8 75.9 -1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

4.923 114.7 114.7 -0.3 -0.3 -0.2 0.5 0.0

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

17.561 109.6 109.7 -0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.1

Furniture and related product manufacturing

337

1.733 115.3 115.3 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

5.321 117.4 117.4 -2.1 0.2 0.1 -0.2 0.0

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

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.
Dash = Not available


Table 4. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected industries: May 2016 to May 2017 [December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
Apr.
2017(1)
Index Percent change
Apr.
2017
May
2017
Annual Monthly
May
2016
to
May
2017
Jan.
2017
to
Feb.
2017
Feb.
2017
to
Mar.
2017
Mar.
2017
to
Apr.
2017
Apr.
2017
to
May
2017

Nonmanufacturing

  7.409 132.5 128.9 7.1 0.4 -1.9 1.1 -2.7

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

11

4.716 158.7 153.6 -0.8 2.6 1.4 -0.1 -3.2

Crop production

111

4.337 164.5 159.5 -1.7 2.8 1.1 -0.5 -3.0

Mining

21

2.693 77.8 76.3 24.1 -2.9 -7.4 3.3 -1.9

Mining (except oil and gas)

212

1.200 99.4 102.6 32.4 4.6 -2.7 -3.9 3.2

Manufacturing

  91.090 112.4 111.9 1.0 0.2 0.2 0.3 -0.4

Manufacturing, part 1

31

7.058 137.2 137.8 2.6 0.1 0.9 0.0 0.4

Food manufacturing

311

4.740 155.3 156.2 3.7 -0.1 0.8 0.3 0.6

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

0.695 110.2 111.5 2.8 1.5 2.9 -1.8 1.2

Textile mills (Dec. 2016=100)

313

0.674 101.5 101.4 - 0.4 0.3 -0.3 -0.1

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

316

0.287 99.9 98.7 - 0.2 -0.2 -0.2 -1.2

Manufacturing, part 2

32

24.025 107.9 105.7 1.7 0.0 0.0 0.7 -2.0

Paper manufacturing

322

1.628 117.0 115.5 -5.2 -0.6 -2.5 2.1 -1.3

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

5.330 96.2 89.9 15.7 -2.1 -1.5 3.2 -6.5

Chemical manufacturing

325

13.166 113.4 112.5 -1.1 0.9 0.5 -0.3 -0.8

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

2.298 114.4 114.6 -0.8 0.0 0.3 -0.4 0.2

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

0.843 113.2 113.2 0.6 -0.1 1.1 -0.5 0.0

Manufacturing, part 3

33

60.007 111.8 111.9 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.1

Primary metal manufacturing

331

4.040 138.1 138.2 2.7 1.4 1.3 0.8 0.1

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

3.301 137.4 138.2 6.2 2.5 0.0 0.0 0.6

Machinery manufacturing

333

10.254 125.4 125.4 -0.5 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.0

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

14.154 82.6 82.7 -1.3 -0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

3.981 113.1 113.1 0.6 0.0 0.5 0.2 0.0

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

18.474 124.2 124.3 1.9 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1

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

337

0.455 117.5 117.5 3.3 -0.2 -0.2 0.1 0.0

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

5.349 118.9 118.9 -1.5 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.0

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

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.
Dash = Not available


Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: May 2016 to May 2017 [2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Harmo-
nized
system
Relative
import-
ance
Apr.
2017(1)
Index Percent change
Apr.
2017
May
2017
Annual Monthly
May
2016
to
May
2017
Jan.
2017
to
Feb.
2017
Feb.
2017
to
Mar.
2017
Mar.
2017
to
Apr.
2017
Apr.
2017
to
May
2017

Live animals; animal products

I

1.487 192.2 195.5 2.5 1.2 -0.1 0.2 1.7

Meat and edible meat offal

02

0.442 243.1 247.6 1.9 2.8 1.1 1.5 1.9

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates

03

0.749 142.9 143.8 2.3 -0.5 -1.2 -0.8 0.6

Vegetable products

II

2.062 216.4 221.1 14.5 2.3 -2.6 2.5 2.2

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers

07

0.370 421.5 441.1 7.3 2.8 -2.4 2.9 4.7

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

08

0.867 128.6 133.3 44.7 0.6 -0.6 4.0 3.7

Coffee, tea, mate and spices

09

0.361 232.5 229.9 0.7 -0.7 -0.9 -1.2 -1.1

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

III

0.297 113.5 115.4 7.9 3.0 -4.9 -0.4 1.7

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco

IV

2.675 159.4 159.6 -0.6 0.2 0.3 -0.3 0.1

Sugars and sugar confectionary (Dec. 2012=100)

17

0.186 86.8 86.8 1.0 0.1 -0.1 0.9 0.0

Cocoa and cocoa preparations (Dec. 2009=100)

18

0.192 94.3 92.7 -19.1 -2.8 0.8 -4.6 -1.7

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

20

0.342 159.0 160.5 3.9 -0.4 0.5 -0.1 0.9

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar

22

1.001 127.8 127.9 -0.6 0.2 0.2 -0.2 0.1

Mineral products

V

9.048 173.7 167.6 17.0 -0.1 -2.8 -0.1 -3.5

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

27

8.817 171.7 165.2 17.6 -0.1 -2.9 0.0 -3.8

Products of the chemical or allied industries

VI

9.342 151.8 151.6 2.9 1.1 0.5 -0.3 -0.1

Inorganic chemicals

28

0.569 286.0 285.3 7.7 1.8 5.8 1.2 -0.2

Organic chemicals

29

2.409 124.5 124.6 3.4 0.9 1.2 0.2 0.1

Pharmaceutical products

30

4.322 147.9 147.9 3.4 1.3 -0.4 -0.8 0.0

Fertilizers (Dec. 2009=100)

31

0.269 76.3 73.3 -5.1 3.7 -0.1 -3.7 -3.9

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

32

0.192 107.2 107.3 9.5 0.0 0.1 5.2 0.1

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec. 2016=100)

33

0.538 98.6 98.6 - 0.0 -0.2 -1.4 0.0

Miscellaneous chemical products

38

0.685 103.9 103.4 2.2 0.4 0.7 -0.2 -0.5

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

3.457 139.9 139.9 2.5 0.7 0.6 0.2 0.0

Plastics and articles thereof

39

2.179 140.7 140.8 0.5 0.3 0.6 0.4 0.1

Rubber and articles thereof

40

1.278 139.8 139.6 6.1 1.5 0.4 0.1 -0.1

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

VIII

0.683 122.8 123.5 -0.6 0.0 -0.2 -0.2 0.6

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

42

0.652 128.0 128.7 -0.5 0.0 -0.2 -0.2 0.5

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

IX

0.934 154.7 156.8 12.2 1.7 1.9 4.0 1.4

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

44

0.909 106.6 108.1 12.6 1.8 2.0 4.0 1.4

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

X

1.089 110.1 110.4 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.4 0.3

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

48

0.723 103.3 103.3 -1.2 0.1 0.1 -0.5 0.0

Printed matter (Dec. 2015=100)

49

0.220 106.0 106.0 5.7 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0

Textile and textile articles

XI

5.361 113.3 113.2 -0.2 0.0 0.1 0.1 -0.1

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted

61

2.199 103.8 103.6 0.1 -0.1 0.0 0.0 -0.2

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted

62

1.832 119.1 119.1 -0.8 0.2 -0.1 0.1 0.0

Made-up or worn textile articles

63

0.652 103.7 103.8 0.7 0.1 0.4 0.0 0.1

Headgear, umbrellas, artificial flowers, etc.

XII

1.524 122.3 122.3 -0.6 0.0 -0.1 0.0 0.0

Footwear and parts of such articles

64

1.290 121.4 121.4 -0.6 0.0 -0.1 0.0 0.0

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

XIII

0.942 130.0 129.7 -2.0 -0.2 -0.2 0.0 -0.2

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

68

0.325 96.1 95.5 -5.0 -0.5 -0.3 -0.2 -0.6

Ceramic products

69

0.273 136.8 136.7 -0.6 0.0 -0.3 0.1 -0.1

Glass and glassware

70

0.344 129.7 129.8 -0.3 -0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1

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

XIV

2.827 170.5 168.5 -2.2 1.7 1.3 0.4 -1.2

Base metals and articles of base metals

XV

5.559 167.2 166.3 7.4 1.4 1.4 0.8 -0.5

Iron and steel

72

1.373 198.8 197.4 20.1 3.0 3.0 1.5 -0.7

Articles of iron or steel

73

1.656 140.5 140.5 1.7 0.1 0.4 1.2 0.0

Copper and articles thereof

74

0.385 271.3 266.3 8.1 3.4 0.9 -1.7 -1.8

Aluminum and articles thereof

76

0.814 129.9 129.4 5.8 2.2 3.0 0.9 -0.4

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

82

0.435 122.9 122.7 0.2 -0.1 0.1 0.1 -0.2

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

83

0.522 136.5 136.6 -0.1 0.1 0.1 0.8 0.1

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

XVI

29.833 80.4 80.4 -0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

84

14.835 85.8 85.8 -0.3 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.0

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

85

14.998 75.3 75.3 -1.1 0.0 -0.1 -0.1 0.0

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

14.661 114.3 114.3 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.4 0.0

Motor vehicles and their parts

87

13.193 113.3 113.3 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.6 0.0

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

88

1.336 116.1 116.1 -3.4 0.0 -0.2 -2.1 0.0

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

XVIII

3.857 101.3 101.1 -2.2 -0.3 -0.2 0.2 -0.2

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical instruments

90

3.530 98.0 97.8 -2.4 -0.4 -0.2 0.2 -0.2

Clocks and watches and parts thereof

91

0.268 142.0 142.0 0.2 1.1 -0.1 0.2 0.0

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

XX

4.286 110.9 111.0 -1.1 0.0 0.1 -0.4 0.1

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

94

2.649 116.4 116.6 -0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

95

1.361 101.4 101.4 -2.0 0.0 0.0 -1.3 0.0

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

96

0.276 129.8 129.9 -3.9 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1

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

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.
Dash = Not available


Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: May 2016 to May 2017 [2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Harmo-
nized
system
Relative
import-
ance
Apr.
2017(1)
Index Percent change
Apr.
2017
May
2017
Annual Monthly
May
2016
to
May
2017
Jan.
2017
to
Feb.
2017
Feb.
2017
to
Mar.
2017
Mar.
2017
to
Apr.
2017
Apr.
2017
to
May
2017

Live animals; animal products

I

1.890 204.1 203.5 10.1 0.1 2.8 1.0 -0.3

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

02

1.088 159.5 162.0 8.7 0.3 5.3 0.8 1.6

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

03

0.427 114.9 107.3 - -0.6 3.5 6.2 -6.6

Vegetable products

II

4.503 204.7 194.6 -2.5 4.0 1.3 0.6 -4.9

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

08

0.845 142.0 137.6 -12.0 -4.5 2.1 -1.1 -3.1

Cereals

10

1.185 173.5 175.2 -5.1 2.2 2.3 -4.8 1.0

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

12

1.587 192.2 196.1 -4.2 1.8 1.6 -8.7 2.0

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and tobacco

IV

3.073 148.1 149.0 0.4 -0.3 0.7 0.5 0.6

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

20

0.382 116.9 117.1 -1.6 -0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2

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

22

0.556 112.7 112.8 3.2 -1.2 1.6 1.3 0.1

Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal feed

23

0.715 195.5 197.3 -1.3 0.4 -1.0 -0.9 0.9

Mineral products

V

8.215 196.5 187.6 22.1 -1.4 -2.5 2.9 -4.5

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

26

0.554 93.4 91.4 22.5 6.3 -0.7 0.6 -2.1

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

27

7.469 187.8 178.7 22.9 -1.9 -2.7 3.1 -4.8

Products of the chemical or allied industries

VI

10.772 133.8 132.8 -2.4 0.8 0.4 -0.7 -0.7

Inorganic chemicals

28

0.804 168.4 168.3 -2.9 -0.8 -0.3 -5.2 -0.1

Organic chemicals

29

2.534 132.1 128.3 -3.2 3.5 1.6 -2.4 -2.9

Pharmaceutical products

30

3.149 104.3 104.5 -2.6 -0.1 0.0 1.1 0.2

Fertilizers (Dec. 2016=100)

31

0.249 107.9 109.9 - -0.2 4.0 3.9 1.9

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

32

0.522 98.2 98.6 -0.1 0.5 0.2 0.3 0.4

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery cosmetic or toilet preparations

33

0.820 133.5 133.4 -0.9 0.2 0.1 1.1 -0.1

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

34

0.506 114.5 112.9 -3.0 -0.2 -0.6 -1.4 -1.4

Miscellaneous chemical products

38

1.754 144.9 144.3 -2.1 0.0 -0.2 -0.4 -0.4

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

5.162 139.3 138.2 1.2 0.8 1.1 0.1 -0.8

Plastics and articles thereof

39

4.145 133.2 132.9 0.9 0.2 0.8 0.3 -0.2

Rubber and articles thereof

40

1.017 166.7 161.0 2.1 3.7 2.6 -0.5 -3.4

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

VIII

0.350 123.3 121.4 2.4 0.7 0.7 -0.5 -1.5

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

IX

0.628 97.3 97.6 2.3 -1.4 4.6 0.4 0.3

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

X

2.092 124.2 123.8 1.8 0.7 2.4 -3.7 -0.3

Woodpulp and recovered paper

47

0.653 131.6 130.3 5.4 0.4 6.8 -11.7 -1.0

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

48

1.086 120.0 119.9 0.2 1.1 0.1 0.5 -0.1

Printed material (Dec. 2014=100)

49

0.353 101.6 101.6 1.2 0.0 0.9 0.1 0.0

Textile and textile articles

XI

1.755 121.1 121.1 1.4 0.6 -0.6 0.1 0.0

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics thereof

52

0.467 130.0 130.6 13.4 1.7 1.1 0.1 0.5

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

XIII

0.831 122.5 122.4 -0.2 -0.1 0.8 -0.6 -0.1

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

68

0.278 101.2 101.1 0.6 0.2 0.8 0.2 -0.1

Glass and glassware

70

0.427 99.3 99.2 -0.3 -0.3 0.0 0.0 -0.1

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

XIV

4.202 232.4 230.5 -1.7 1.9 1.8 0.3 -0.8

Base metals and articles of base metals

XV

4.980 153.4 153.9 6.4 1.1 1.3 0.5 0.3

Iron and steel

72

1.067 161.6 161.4 8.3 -0.8 3.6 0.5 -0.1

Copper and articles thereof

74

0.477 169.1 169.1 12.4 1.9 -0.4 0.2 0.0

Aluminum and articles thereof

76

0.855 113.7 113.9 7.8 2.4 2.9 0.9 0.2

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

82

0.348 99.5 99.5 -0.5 -0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

83

0.346 148.2 148.2 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0

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

XVI

28.675 96.0 96.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

84

16.863 113.7 113.8 0.8 0.3 0.0 0.4 0.1

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts and accessories thereof

85

11.812 77.0 77.1 -0.6 -0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

14.951 132.6 132.7 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.1

Motor vehicles and their parts

87

8.694 115.3 115.2 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.2 -0.1

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

XVIII

6.029 106.3 106.5 -0.4 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.2

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

XX

1.486 112.5 112.4 1.4 0.2 -0.2 -0.1 -0.1

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings nesoi;

94

0.898 128.3 128.4 2.8 -0.1 -0.2 0.1 0.1

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

95

0.434 88.7 88.7 -0.6 0.0 -0.2 -0.7 0.0

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

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.
Dash = Not available


Table 7. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes by locality of origin: May 2016 to May 2017 [2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Relative
import-
ance
Apr.
2017(1)
Index Percent change
Apr.
2017
May
2017
Annual Monthly
May
2016
to
May
2017
Jan.
2017
to
Feb.
2017
Feb.
2017
to
Mar.
2017
Mar.
2017
to
Apr.
2017
Apr.
2017
to
May
2017

Industrialized Countries(2)

100.000 119.2 118.8 1.9 0.5 -0.3 0.2 -0.3

Nonmanufacturing

8.404 133.8 130.4 11.5 1.5 -4.0 -0.1 -2.5

Manufacturing

91.134 117.6 117.4 1.1 0.5 0.0 0.3 -0.2

Other Countries(3)

100.000 119.5 119.0 1.3 0.4 -0.2 0.2 -0.4

Nonmanufacturing

8.846 195.8 191.4 17.3 2.6 -3.7 -0.1 -2.2

Manufacturing

90.947 103.0 102.8 -0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 -0.2

Canada

100.000 124.5 123.7 5.4 1.1 -1.1 0.1 -0.6

Nonmanufacturing

23.416 128.3 124.6 12.2 1.5 -4.2 -0.2 -2.9

Manufacturing

75.788 127.3 127.4 3.5 1.1 -0.2 0.1 0.1

European Union(4)

100.000 132.2 132.2 0.2 -0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0

Manufacturing

99.470 128.9 128.9 0.2 -0.1 0.2 0.0 0.0

France (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 120.8 120.8 -1.6 -0.2 0.3 -0.5 0.0

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 113.8 113.7 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.4 -0.1

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 117.1 117.3 -1.3 0.2 0.0 -0.5 0.2

Latin America(5)

100.000 143.5 143.1 3.7 0.8 -0.6 0.6 -0.3

Nonmanufacturing

18.041 223.0 219.7 18.6 1.9 -4.8 0.8 -1.5

Manufacturing

81.613 120.4 120.4 0.9 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.0

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 126.5 126.7 1.0 0.4 0.4 2.0 0.2

Nonmanufacturing (Dec. 2008=100)

8.585 119.5 120.5 20.7 1.5 2.3 0.6 0.8

Manufacturing (Dec. 2008=100)

91.105 88.1 88.2 -0.8 0.3 0.2 2.1 0.1

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

100.000 98.4 98.4 -0.3 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0

China (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 100.1 100.1 -1.1 0.1 0.2 -0.1 0.0

Japan

100.000 96.4 96.4 1.2 0.1 0.2 -0.1 0.0

Asian NICs(7)

100.000 85.8 85.8 1.3 0.6 0.4 0.7 0.0

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)(8)

100.000 97.9 97.9 1.1 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.0

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

100.000 155.6 150.2 8.0 3.0 -1.6 -2.8 -3.5

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2015 trade values.
(2) Western Europe, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
(3) Eastern Europe, Latin America, OPEC countries, and other countries in Asia, Africa, and the Western Hemisphere.
(4) European Union countries.
(5) Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
(6) China, Japan, Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, and the Asian Newly Industrialized Countries.
(7) Asian Newly Industrialized Countries - Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan.
(8) Association of Southeast Asian Nations - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
(9) Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.
Regions are not mutually exclusive.
Dash = Not available


Table 8. U.S. international price indexes and percent changes for selected transportation services: May 2016 to May 2017 [2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Relative
import-
ance
Apr.
2017(1)
Index Percent change
Apr.
2017
May
2017
Annual Monthly
May
2016
to
May
2017
Jan.
2017
to
Feb.
2017
Feb.
2017
to
Mar.
2017
Mar.
2017
to
Apr.
2017
Apr.
2017
to
May
2017

Air Freight

Import Air Freight

100.000 163.8 165.0 9.7 -0.2 0.6 0.7 0.7

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

24.565 136.7 136.8 -0.7 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.1

Asia

62.746 152.4 152.9 15.7 -0.8 1.1 1.6 0.3

Export Air Freight

100.000 158.6 160.7 4.2 0.5 1.4 -0.3 1.3

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)

32.859 147.0 147.0 1.0 0.5 -0.2 0.0 0.0

Inbound Air Freight

100.000 153.7 155.0 7.8 -0.4 0.3 0.2 0.8

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

26.805 131.1 130.6 -3.5 0.4 -0.5 -0.8 -0.4

Asia

59.865 142.6 143.4 14.4 -1.0 0.7 1.4 0.6

Outbound Air Freight

100.000 137.0 140.2 1.3 -0.6 0.4 -1.7 2.3

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

31.314 145.2 145.2 2.0 -1.6 0.6 0.6 0.0

Asia

45.615 129.0 135.6 3.0 0.1 0.3 -4.0 5.1

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares

100.000 168.7 175.3 -6.9 -0.8 -4.0 -3.2 3.9

Europe

39.947 182.7 189.5 -14.4 0.3 -8.6 -7.5 3.7

Asia

22.094 128.3 136.2 -2.4 -4.0 -0.4 0.2 6.2

Latin America/Caribbean

10.613 163.5 156.0 8.3 2.3 2.4 0.9 -4.6

Export Air Passenger Fares

100.000 145.3 149.7 2.2 -11.6 3.0 -5.7 3.0

Europe

32.353 190.0 199.7 4.5 5.4 -1.7 -10.1 5.1

Asia

25.920 117.8 130.2 -2.4 -20.5 3.2 -7.6 10.5

Latin America/Caribbean

27.574 167.1 161.0 7.5 -9.6 9.5 -3.6 -3.7

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

NOTES: Data may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication.
Dash = Not available


					     TECHNICAL NOTE


Import and Export Merchandise and Services Price Indexes - All indexes use a modified Laspeyres 
formula and are not seasonally adjusted. Price indexes are reweighted annually, with a 2-year lag in the 
weights. Published series use a base year of 2000=100 where possible. More detailed index series and 
additional information may be obtained at www.bls.gov/mxp or by calling (202) 691-7101.

Merchandise Goods Classification Systems - The merchandise price indexes are published using three 
classification systems. Items are classified by end use according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis 
Classification System, by industry according to the North American Industry Classification System 
(NAICS), and by product category according to the Harmonized System (HS). While classification by 
end use and product category are self-explanatory, some notes are in order for classifying items by 
industry. In the NAICS imports and exports tables, items are classified by output industry, not input 
industry. As an example, NAICS import index 326 (plastics and rubber products manufacturing) include 
outputs such as manufactured plastic rather than inputs such as petroleum. The NAICS classification 
structure also matches the classification system used by the Producer Price Index (PPI) to produce the 
NAICS primary products indexes.

Import Price Indexes - Products have been classified by the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United 
States Annotated (TSUSA). Import prices are based on U.S. dollar prices paid by the U.S. importer. The 
prices are generally either "free on board" (f.o.b.) foreign port or "cost, insurance, and freight" (c.i.f.) 
U.S. port transaction prices, depending on the practices of the individual industry. The index for crude 
petroleum is calculated from data collected by the U.S. Department of Energy.  

Export Price Indexes - Products have been classified by the Harmonized Schedule B classification 
system of the U.S. Bureau of the Census. The prices used are generally either "free alongside ship" 
(f.a.s.) factory or "free on board" (f.o.b.) transaction prices, depending on the practices of the individual 
industry. Prices used in the grain index, excluding rice, are obtained from the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture.

Services Price Indexes - Starting in September 2008, the import air passenger fares indexes represent 
changes in the average revenue per passenger received by foreign carriers from U.S. residents and are 
calculated from data obtained from an airline consulting service. These data include tickets sold by 
travel agencies and travel websites. Tickets sold directly by the airlines are excluded, as are frequent 
flyer tickets generally. Starting in January 2008, the export air passenger fares indexes represent changes 
in the average revenue per passenger received by U.S. carriers from foreign residents and are calculated 
from data collected directly from airlines. These data include frequent flyer tickets and those sold by 
consolidators. Taxes and fees are included in the import air passenger fares indexes and excluded from 
the export air passenger fares indexes. The air freight indexes are calculated from data collected directly 
from airlines. These data exclude mail and passenger baggage. The scope of the service being priced is 
the movement of freight from airport to airport only, and does not include any ground transportation or 
port service. The air freight indexes are presented using two definitions: balance of payments (which 
represent transactions between U.S. and foreign residents) and international (which represent 
transactions inbound to and outbound from the U.S.). Fact sheets specifying detailed information for 
each services industry are available at www.bls.gov/mxp under "MXP Publications."

Import Indexes by Locality of Origin - Prices used in these indexes are a subset of the data collected 
for the import price indexes. Beginning with January 2002, the indexes are defined by locality of origin 
using a nomenclature based upon the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). 
Nonmanufactured goods are defined as NAICS 11 and 21, and manufactured goods are defined as 
NAICS 31-33. 
 
Revision Policy - To reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by respondents, monthly data 
may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication. After 3 months, no further data 
revisions take place. For example, data first published in the January release will be subject to revision 
in the releases for February, March, and April.

Uses of the Data - The primary use of the indexes is to deflate trade statistics, notably the foreign trade 
sector of the National Income and Product Accounts (NIPA) constructed by the Department of 
Commerce. Other published indexes are useful for general market analysis. For trade in international 
services, balance of payments indexes are used for deflating NIPA, while international indexes are more 
appropriate for market analysis. Merchandise and services indexes also can be used to study U.S. 
competitiveness and to compute price elasticities, and the merchandise import indexes by country or 
region of origin are useful in terms of trade analysis.

Email Subscription - The U.S. import and export price indexes news release is available through an 
email subscription service at www.bls.gov/bls/list.htm. 
 
Additional Information - More detailed data are available on the Import/Export Price Indexes home 
page at www.bls.gov/mxp. For import and export price indexes data requests, send an email to 
mxpinfo@bls.gov.   

Information from this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request.  
Voice phone: (202)-691-5200; Federal Relay Service: 1-(800)-877-8339.



Last Modified Date: June 15, 2017