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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-12-1590
8:30 a.m. (EDT) Friday, August 10, 2012

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 - JULY 2012

U.S. import prices declined 0.6 percent in July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, after 
decreasing 2.4 percent in June and 1.5 percent in May. In each of the past three months, falling prices for 
both fuel and nonfuel imports contributed to the overall drop. In contrast, U.S. export prices rose 0.5 percent 
in July following a 1.7 percent decline the previous month. 


Imports
 	
All Imports: Prices of U.S. imports fell 0.6 percent in July, the fourth consecutive monthly decline for the 
index following a 1.4 percent increase in March. Import prices also fell over the past 12 months, declining 
3.2 percent after increasing 13.7 percent between July 2010 and July 2011. The July 2011-12 drop was the 
largest year-over-year decline in import prices since the index fell 5.6 percent for the year ended October 
2009. 

Fuel Imports: The price index for import fuel decreased 1.2 percent in July following declines of 8.8 
percent, 5.6 percent, and 0.9 percent, respectively, in the previous three months. The July drop was led by a 
1.6 percent decrease in petroleum prices. Fuel prices declined 13.0 percent over the past year after advancing 
44.8 percent over the previous 12 months. A 12.3 percent drop in petroleum prices and a 34.5 percent 
decrease in natural gas prices each contributed to the decline in fuel prices for the July 2011-12 period.      

All Imports Excluding Fuel: Nonfuel prices also fell in July, declining 0.4 percent following a 0.3 percent 
decrease in June and a 0.1 percent drop in May. The July decline was the largest monthly drop since a 0.4 
percent decrease in June 2010, and was driven by lower prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials 
and foods, feeds, and beverages. Despite the decline over the past three months, nonfuel import prices were 
unchanged for the year ended in July as higher finished goods prices offset falling prices for nonfuel 
industrial supplies and materials and foods, feeds, and beverages.


Table A. Percent changes

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

2011

July

0.1 0.1 0.2 -0.4 -4.0 0.1

August

-0.4 -2.1 0.2 0.4 1.6 0.3

September

-0.1 -1.0 0.2 0.5 1.9 0.3

October

-0.4 -0.6 -0.2 -2.0 -6.5 -1.4

November

0.7 3.4 -0.2 0.1 1.7 -0.2

December

0.0 -0.4 0.1 -0.5 -2.3 -0.2

2012

January

0.0 -0.2 0.2 0.3 1.1 0.2

February

0.0 -0.1 0.0 0.5 -0.4 0.6

March

1.4 4.4 0.4 0.8 2.4 0.5

April

-0.1 (r)-0.9 0.2 0.4 2.0 0.2

May

(r)-1.5 (r)-5.6 -0.1 (r)-0.5 (r)0.5 (r)-0.5

June

(r)-2.4 (r)-8.8 -0.3 -1.7 (r)-3.6 (r)-1.5

July

-0.6 -1.2 -0.4 0.5 6.4 -0.3

July 2010 to 2011

13.7 44.8 5.4 9.8 26.4 8.2

July 2011 to 2012

-3.2 -13.0 0.0 -1.2 4.3 -1.9

Footnotes
(r) Revised


Exports 

All Exports: Export prices rose 0.5 percent in July after declining 1.7 percent in June and 0.5 percent in 
May. For July, higher agricultural prices more than offset declining nonagricultural prices. Despite the July 
upturn, the price index for U.S. exports fell 1.2 percent between July 2011 and July 2012, following a 9.8 
percent increase for the July 2010-11 period. The decline for the year ended in July was led by a 1.9 percent 
drop in nonagricultural prices.    

Agricultural Exports: Prices for agricultural exports increased 6.4 percent in July following a 3.6 percent 
decline the previous month. The advance was driven by rising prices for soybeans, corn, and wheat: up 16.2 
percent, 19.2 percent, and 18.0 percent, respectively. Led by the July increase, agricultural prices also 
increased over the past year, rising 4.3 percent.         

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: The price index for nonagricultural exports decreased 0.3 percent in 
July after falling 1.5 percent in June and 0.5 percent in May. The July decline was led by lower prices for 
nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials, consumer goods, and capital goods. The 1.9 percent decline 
in nonagricultural prices over the past year was the largest 12-month drop for the index since a 2.9 percent 
decrease between October 2008 and October 2009.  


                                           SELECTED JULY HIGHLIGHTS

Import Prices

Nonfuel Import Highlights: The 0.4 percent drop in nonfuel prices in July was led by a 1.8 percent decrease 
in nonfuel industrial supplies and materials. A 2.4 percent decline in chemicals prices and a 2.0 percent 
decrease in unfinished metals prices each contributed to the drop in nonfuel industrial supplies and materials 
prices. Foods, feeds, and beverages prices fell 1.2 percent in July; the primary factor for the decline was a 
9.5 percent drop in vegetable prices. The price indexes for capital goods and consumer goods also fell in 
July, each edging down 0.1 percent. In contrast, automotive vehicles prices rose 0.4 percent in July.    

Imports by Locality of Origin: Import prices from China fell 0.2 percent in July, resuming a recent 
downward trend after ticking up 0.1 percent in June. The decrease was led by a 0.7 percent drop in import 
apparel prices from China. Despite declining in four of the past five months, prices for imports from China 
advanced 0.8 percent over the past 12 months. The price indexes for imports from Canada, Mexico, and the 
European Union also fell in July, decreasing 0.7 percent, 0.4 percent, and 0.1 percent, respectively. Prices for 
imports from Japan were unchanged in July after ticking up 0.1 percent in each of the previous two months.    

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares decreased 3.2 percent in July, led by a 7.1 percent drop 
in European fares. The July decrease for import air passenger fares followed a 10.3 percent increase the 
previous month. The index for import air passenger fares advanced 5.2 percent over the past year. Import air 
freight prices fell 1.4 percent in July, the first monthly decline for the index since a 1.1 percent decrease in 
February. Prices for import air freight declined 4.2 percent for the July 2011-12 period.

Export Prices
 
Nonagricultural Export Highlights: The price index for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials 
fell 0.4 percent in July, while prices for each of the major finished goods areas were mixed. The July drop in 
nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials was driven by a 1.0 percent decline in chemicals prices. 
Prices for consumer goods and capital goods fell in July, decreasing 0.6 percent and 0.1 percent, 
respectively. In contrast, automotive vehicles prices increased 0.2 percent in July. 
 
Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares increased 3.5 percent in July after rising 2.1 percent in 
June and 6.6 percent in May. The July advance was driven by a 4.8 percent increase in Asian fares. The 
index for export air passenger fares also rose over the past 12 months, advancing 2.4 percent as higher Latin 
American/Caribbean and Asian fares more than offset lower European fares. Export air freight prices fell 2.1 
percent in July, the largest decline since a 3.0 percent decrease in May 2009. The price index for export 
freight decreased 1.0 percent for the year ended in July. 

                                                Announcement

Beginning with the July Import-Export Price Indexes data release this month, the import price indexes by 
locality of origin have been expanded to include price indexes for select industry areas. These new indexes 
are available at http://www.bls.gov/web/ximpim/ippsloor.htm. In total, 249 indexes have been added across 
the various localities, including 31 new price indexes for imports from China, and 20 new price indexes for 
imports from the European Union.
		
Import and Export Price Index data for August 2012 are scheduled for release on Wednesday, 
September 12, 2012 at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).

Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: July 2011 to July 2012
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description End
Use
Relative
import-
ance
June
2012(1)
Index Percent change
June
2012
July
2012
Annual Monthly
July
2011
to
July
2012
Mar.
2012
to
Apr.
2012
Apr.
2012
to
May
2012
May
2012
to
June
2012
June
2012
to
July
2012

All commodities

  100.000 138.6 137.8 -3.2 -0.1 -1.5 -2.4 -0.6

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

  72.594 103.7 103.3 0.2 0.2 0.0 -0.3 -0.4

All imports excluding petroleum

  78.676 116.3 115.9 -0.5 0.0 -0.1 -0.3 -0.3

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)

  77.779 120.8 120.3 0.0 0.2 -0.1 -0.3 -0.4

Foods, feeds, & beverages

0

5.185 171.8 169.8 -3.4 0.1 -0.7 -0.8 -1.2

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

00

4.016 193.3 190.7 -3.5 0.1 -0.6 -1.0 -1.3

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

01

1.169 123.1 122.3 -3.1 0.2 -1.4 0.0 -0.6

Industrial supplies & materials

1

35.791 244.9 241.4 -9.5 -0.4 -3.7 -6.1 -1.4

Industrial supplies & materials excluding petroleum

  14.467 165.3 163.3 -5.3 -0.1 -0.2 -1.1 -1.2

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

  13.570 191.2 187.7 -3.1 0.5 0.0 -1.4 -1.8

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

  7.890 176.7 175.1 -5.6 -1.1 -0.7 -1.8 -0.9

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable excluding petroleum

  5.680 151.8 149.5 -5.0 1.1 0.5 -0.1 -1.5

Fuels & lubricants

10

22.220 316.4 312.5 -13.0 -0.9 -5.6 -8.8 -1.2

Petroleum & petroleum products

100

21.323 355.6 350.0 -12.3 -0.6 -5.8 -9.3 -1.6

Crude

10000

16.284 369.5 365.4 -10.0 -1.2 -4.9 -9.1 -1.1

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

101

0.598 79.9 88.9 -31.5 -11.9 -2.6 5.5 11.3

Gas-natural

10110

0.492 65.9 74.9 -34.5 -14.3 -3.2 7.9 13.7

Paper & paper base stocks

11

0.603 114.1 114.0 -5.3 -0.8 1.1 -0.3 -0.1

Materials associated with nondurable supplies & materials

12

5.169 183.3 177.2 1.5 3.1 0.9 -0.8 -3.3

Selected building materials

13

1.046 138.2 138.8 6.4 0.5 1.0 1.2 0.4

Unfinished metals related to durable goods

14

3.667 263.7 258.5 -12.8 -2.2 -1.5 -3.5 -2.0

Finished metals related to durable goods

15

1.560 161.7 161.7 -0.1 0.1 -0.4 -1.1 0.0

Nonmetals related to durable goods

16

1.525 115.0 114.5 -0.4 0.3 -0.2 -0.5 -0.4

Capital goods

2

22.641 93.3 93.2 0.4 -0.1 -0.1 0.0 -0.1

Electric generating equipment

20

2.927 118.7 119.2 0.8 0.3 -0.2 -0.3 0.4

Nonelectrical machinery

21

18.033 86.3 86.2 -0.1 -0.2 0.0 -0.1 -0.1

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

22

1.681 133.8 134.0 6.2 0.4 0.0 0.1 0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

3

11.780 114.3 114.8 1.6 0.7 -0.1 -0.1 0.4

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

4

24.603 107.6 107.5 1.3 0.1 0.0 -0.1 -0.1

Nondurables, manufactured

40

11.823 114.9 114.8 2.4 0.4 -0.1 0.0 -0.1

Durables, manufactured

41

11.450 99.8 99.6 0.0 -0.3 -0.1 0.0 -0.2

Nonmanufactured consumer goods

42

1.329 119.5 118.6 3.8 1.0 0.4 -0.2 -0.8

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2010 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: July 2011 to July 2012
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description End
Use
Relative
import-
ance
June
2012(1)
Index Percent change
June
2012
July
2012
Annual Monthly
July
2011
to
July
2012
Mar.
2012
to
Apr.
2012
Apr.
2012
to
May
2012
May
2012
to
June
2012
June
2012
to
July
2012

All commodities

  100.000 131.7 132.4 -1.2 0.4 -0.5 -1.7 0.5

Agricultural commodities

  10.877 204.4 217.4 4.3 2.0 0.5 -3.6 6.4

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

  81.862 102.5 102.2 -1.1 0.0 -0.2 -0.8 -0.3

Nonagricultural commodities

  89.124 126.6 126.2 -1.9 0.2 -0.5 -1.5 -0.3

Foods, feeds, & beverages

0

10.045 205.6 219.6 8.1 2.3 0.7 -3.1 6.8

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

00

9.318 207.9 223.1 8.4 2.3 0.8 -3.4 7.3

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

01

0.727 189.8 189.3 3.0 2.8 -1.6 0.8 -0.3

Industrial supplies & materials

1

33.719 178.6 178.0 -7.0 0.5 -1.7 -3.9 -0.3

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

  12.245 184.1 182.6 -3.5 -0.8 -0.6 -2.3 -0.8

Industrial supplies & materials, nondurable

  21.474 176.3 176.3 -8.8 1.2 -2.4 -4.8 0.0

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials

10

1.559 189.2 190.4 -16.1 0.1 -1.7 -4.6 0.6

Nonagricultural industrial supplies & materials

  32.160 178.4 177.7 -6.5 0.5 -1.8 -3.8 -0.4

Fuels & lubricants

11

8.094 248.3 250.6 -12.3 1.8 -4.7 -8.7 0.9

Nonagricultural supplies & materials excluding fuels & building materials

12

23.116 171.3 169.9 -4.4 0.1 -0.7 -2.2 -0.8

Selected building materials

13

0.950 117.3 116.7 0.9 0.4 -0.3 0.0 -0.5

Capital goods

2

34.971 105.8 105.7 1.1 0.0 0.1 -0.2 -0.1

Electrical generating equipment

20

3.603 114.3 113.2 -0.8 0.1 0.8 0.2 -1.0

Nonelectrical machinery

21

25.323 95.0 95.0 0.8 0.0 -0.1 -0.2 0.0

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

22

6.046 149.1 149.2 2.9 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

3

8.327 113.0 113.2 2.2 0.4 0.1 -0.1 0.2

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

4

12.939 117.0 116.3 -0.5 -0.4 0.5 0.1 -0.6

Nondurables, manufactured

40

5.988 114.9 114.7 0.0 -0.1 0.1 0.0 -0.2

Durables, manufactured

41

5.456 114.9 114.6 1.6 -0.3 1.1 -0.2 -0.3

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2010 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: July 2011 to July 2012
[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
June
2012(1)
Index Percent change
June
2012
July
2012
Annual Monthly
July
2011
to
July
2012
Mar.
2012
to
Apr.
2012
Apr.
2012
to
May
2012
May
2012
to
June
2012
June
2012
to
July
2012

Nonmanufactured articles

  19.214 156.0 154.3 -12.1 -1.4 -4.9 -8.6 -1.1

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

11

1.865 171.7 168.4 -7.1 1.9 -1.0 -2.0 -1.9

Crop production

111

1.324 178.3 174.6 -7.2 2.7 -0.7 -2.5 -2.1

Mining

21

17.349 154.1 152.6 -12.6 -1.7 -5.2 -9.2 -1.0

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

212

0.333 144.0 143.4 -7.7 -0.3 -0.2 -1.0 -0.4

Manufactured articles

  80.324 117.5 117.0 -0.8 0.3 -0.6 -0.7 -0.4

Manufactured goods, part 1

31

11.119 125.7 124.6 1.5 0.6 -0.2 -0.2 -0.9

Food manufacturing

311

3.150 162.9 158.4 1.1 2.0 -0.6 -0.5 -2.8

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

0.859 111.9 111.4 -0.6 -0.1 0.4 0.0 -0.4

Textile mills (Dec. 2011=100)

313

0.409 101.5 101.5 - 0.2 0.1 -0.3 0.0

Textile product mills

314

0.886 116.0 115.7 -1.6 0.3 -0.5 -0.1 -0.3

Apparel manufacturing

315

4.155 112.0 111.9 1.7 0.1 -0.2 0.0 -0.1

Leather and allied product manufacturing

316

1.660 119.7 119.7 4.7 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 2

32

17.953 136.7 135.2 -3.6 1.2 -1.9 -2.3 -1.1

Wood product manufacturing

321

0.634 116.5 117.9 9.0 0.8 1.5 1.6 1.2

Paper manufacturing

322

1.108 111.2 111.2 -2.4 -0.6 0.6 -0.2 0.0

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

4.388 158.5 155.7 -15.2 2.2 -8.0 -7.3 -1.8

Chemical manufacturing

325

8.953 135.5 133.6 0.5 1.2 0.4 -0.8 -1.4

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

1.929 127.7 127.3 2.0 0.3 0.2 -0.2 -0.3

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

0.850 129.9 130.1 2.0 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.2

Manufactured goods, part 3

33

51.252 109.8 109.7 -0.4 -0.2 -0.2 -0.3 -0.1

Primary metal manufacturing

331

4.273 174.1 171.2 -10.3 -1.7 -1.6 -3.2 -1.7

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

2.588 129.4 129.6 2.3 0.1 -0.1 -0.2 0.2

Machinery manufacturing

333

5.726 121.1 120.9 1.9 0.1 0.2 -0.2 -0.2

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

15.707 82.3 82.2 -1.3 -0.5 -0.1 0.0 -0.1

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

3.900 118.3 118.6 2.2 0.2 0.1 -0.1 0.3

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

12.460 111.4 111.9 2.1 0.6 -0.1 -0.1 0.4

Furniture and related product manufacturing

337

1.339 114.1 113.4 1.8 0.0 0.1 0.7 -0.6

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

5.259 122.5 122.3 0.4 0.2 -0.2 0.2 -0.2

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2010 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: July 2011 to July 2012
[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
June
2012(1)
Index Percent change
June
2012
July
2012
Annual Monthly
July
2011
to
July
2012
Mar.
2012
to
Apr.
2012
Apr.
2012
to
May
2012
May
2012
to
June
2012
June
2012
to
July
2012

Nonmanufactured articles

  8.023 158.4 171.0 -3.2 1.6 0.2 -5.7 8.0

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

11

6.138 190.3 209.5 5.1 3.0 0.6 -5.8 10.1

Crop production

111

5.712 197.0 218.5 5.8 2.8 1.1 -6.3 10.9

Mining

21

1.885 94.3 95.2 -24.4 -2.7 -1.0 -4.9 1.0

Mining (except oil and gas)

212

1.376 120.1 119.6 -18.8 -3.1 -2.0 -2.3 -0.4

Manufactured articles

  89.014 120.2 119.9 -0.7 0.3 -0.5 -1.2 -0.2

Manufactured goods, part 1

31

7.229 146.9 147.4 2.4 0.8 0.4 -0.3 0.3

Food manufacturing

311

5.040 168.1 168.7 4.3 1.2 0.5 -0.4 0.4

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

0.577 120.2 123.7 7.1 0.3 0.5 0.4 2.9

Apparel manufacturing

315

0.429 121.7 121.7 6.6 0.1 0.0 1.5 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 2

32

26.239 131.5 130.9 -3.8 1.2 -1.8 -3.2 -0.5

Wood product manufacturing

321

0.407 114.1 113.4 -0.7 0.8 -0.3 -0.4 -0.6

Paper manufacturing

322

1.850 118.9 119.4 -4.5 0.9 -1.2 0.5 0.4

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

5.934 158.3 159.2 -9.4 3.2 -5.3 -9.1 0.6

Chemical manufacturing

325

15.069 130.6 129.3 -2.6 0.6 -0.8 -1.7 -1.0

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

2.213 117.8 117.3 2.7 0.5 0.1 0.0 -0.4

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

0.766 112.4 112.4 1.9 -0.2 0.0 0.8 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 3

33

55.545 113.3 113.0 0.4 -0.2 0.1 -0.3 -0.3

Primary metal manufacturing

331

4.792 169.9 168.8 -5.9 -1.8 -1.3 -2.4 -0.6

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

2.673 130.8 131.9 3.2 0.7 0.5 0.1 0.8

Machinery manufacturing

333

11.201 120.4 120.5 2.6 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.1

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

14.544 89.9 89.6 0.0 -0.3 0.0 -0.3 -0.3

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

3.255 112.8 111.9 -1.1 0.3 0.4 0.1 -0.8

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

13.546 116.8 117.0 2.4 0.3 0.1 -0.1 0.2

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

337

0.301 103.0 103.0 - 0.9 0.0 0.4 0.0

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

5.233 122.9 121.7 -1.5 -0.6 1.0 0.2 -1.0

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2010 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: July 2011 to July 2012
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Harmo-
nized
system
Relative
import-
ance
June
2012(1)
Index Percent change
June
2012
July
2012
Annual Monthly
July
2011
to
July
2012
Mar.
2012
to
Apr.
2012
Apr.
2012
to
May
2012
May
2012
to
June
2012
June
2012
to
July
2012

Live animals; animal products

I

1.174 165.0 164.1 -3.0 -1.4 -2.0 0.2 -0.5

Meat and edible meat offal

02

0.273 214.7 217.5 3.7 -4.5 0.0 1.1 1.3

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates

03

0.610 118.8 117.2 -8.6 -0.4 -2.5 -0.3 -1.3

Vegetable products

II

1.768 221.1 212.7 -0.4 6.0 -0.9 -2.1 -3.8

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers

07

0.330 322.8 296.3 -0.6 7.6 0.7 0.7 -8.2

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

08

0.475 117.7 116.9 -9.2 0.0 -4.2 -3.8 -0.7

Coffee, tea, mate and spices

09

0.417 266.8 272.9 -8.2 0.8 -1.6 -1.7 2.3

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

III

0.258 129.7 126.3 -12.7 0.9 0.9 -5.4 -2.6

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco

IV

2.416 157.3 156.3 -1.1 -0.2 0.1 -0.3 -0.6

Cocoa and cocoa preparations (Dec. 2009=100)

18

0.184 84.4 80.3 -18.6 -1.6 -1.4 -1.2 -4.9

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

19

0.230 126.2 128.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 -0.2 1.5

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

20

0.351 170.7 170.3 5.6 -0.7 -0.6 -1.2 -0.2

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar

22

0.811 122.3 121.6 -0.8 -0.2 0.6 -0.2 -0.6

Mineral products

V

22.033 319.8 315.8 -12.4 -0.8 -5.4 -8.4 -1.3

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

27

21.719 316.1 312.0 -12.5 -0.8 -5.5 -8.5 -1.3

Products of the chemical or allied industries

VI

8.457 150.7 149.6 1.7 1.3 0.9 -0.4 -0.7

Inorganic chemicals

28

0.971 383.9 391.2 4.5 3.5 5.3 3.6 1.9

Organic chemicals

29

2.463 137.7 137.7 0.5 0.0 -0.2 -1.6 0.0

Pharmaceutical products

30

3.081 117.4 116.9 4.7 1.6 0.1 -0.1 -0.4

Fertilizers (Dec. 2009=100)

31

0.503 155.8 136.2 -7.7 5.8 6.7 -2.6 -12.6

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

32

0.188 106.3 102.4 - 3.6 -0.2 -0.4 -3.7

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec. 2001=100)

33

0.421 124.9 124.4 -1.9 0.6 -0.4 0.0 -0.4

Miscellaneous chemical products

38

0.480 102.4 102.1 -6.2 -0.1 -0.1 -1.2 -0.3

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

3.158 152.8 151.6 -0.4 0.5 -0.1 -0.5 -0.8

Plastics and articles thereof

39

1.916 144.0 142.9 1.2 0.4 0.0 -0.3 -0.8

Rubber and articles thereof

40

1.242 169.6 168.2 -3.1 0.7 -0.3 -0.8 -0.8

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

VIII

0.599 127.0 126.9 4.0 -0.2 0.5 0.2 -0.1

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

42

0.551 127.8 127.7 4.4 -0.1 0.5 0.2 -0.1

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

IX

0.666 140.9 142.8 9.2 0.8 1.4 1.5 1.3

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

X

1.212 114.0 113.7 -2.4 -0.4 0.5 -0.1 -0.3

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

47

0.188 104.0 103.9 - -1.6 4.3 0.4 -0.1

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

48

0.806 108.2 108.1 -1.2 -0.2 -0.2 -0.3 -0.1

Textile and textile articles

XI

5.304 115.4 115.2 1.1 0.1 -0.3 -0.1 -0.2

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted

61

2.050 106.0 106.4 -0.7 0.2 -0.5 -0.3 0.4

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted

62

1.957 118.3 117.6 5.0 0.1 -0.1 0.2 -0.6

Made-up or worn textile articles

63

0.640 108.7 108.4 -3.0 -0.5 -0.6 -0.1 -0.3

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.

XII

1.355 118.8 119.0 4.8 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2

Footwear and parts of such articles

64

1.152 117.8 118.1 4.8 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.3

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

XIII

0.768 132.0 132.1 2.2 -0.1 0.4 0.1 0.1

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

68

0.247 125.4 125.4 2.9 -0.1 0.2 0.6 0.0

Ceramic products

69

0.230 142.1 142.1 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Glass and glassware

70

0.291 126.9 127.2 2.9 0.0 0.8 -0.3 0.2

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

XIV

3.292 199.2 198.7 0.2 -1.9 -1.4 -2.5 -0.3

Base metals and articles of base metals

XV

4.938 188.8 186.2 -7.2 -0.1 -0.5 -1.6 -1.4

Iron and steel

72

1.141 242.2 237.2 -10.3 0.4 0.3 -2.2 -2.1

Articles of iron or steel

73

1.437 161.0 160.9 0.4 0.1 -0.2 -0.5 -0.1

Copper and articles thereof

74

0.455 349.4 334.6 -17.4 -1.8 -1.3 -4.0 -4.2

Nickel and articles thereof (Dec. 2009=100)

75

0.133 101.1 98.6 -21.9 -6.4 -5.5 -3.2 -2.5

Aluminum and articles thereof

76

0.709 137.7 134.9 -13.4 0.4 -1.8 -2.1 -2.0

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

82

0.368 128.2 128.2 3.8 0.7 0.5 -0.2 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

83

0.417 135.4 135.6 3.4 1.7 0.1 0.2 0.1

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

XVI

25.135 85.8 85.7 -0.1 -0.2 -0.1 0.0 -0.1

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

84

12.681 89.8 89.7 1.4 -0.1 0.1 0.0 -0.1

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

85

12.454 81.9 81.9 -1.4 -0.5 -0.2 -0.1 0.0

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

10.384 115.7 116.2 1.6 0.6 -0.1 -0.1 0.4

Motor vehicles and their parts

87

9.572 114.8 115.2 1.4 0.5 0.0 -0.1 0.3

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

88

0.716 118.2 118.7 2.6 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.4

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

XVIII

3.263 104.3 104.6 -0.7 0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0.3

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical instruments

90

3.004 101.8 102.0 -0.9 0.2 -0.2 -0.1 0.2

Clocks and watches and parts thereof

91

0.197 129.7 130.4 1.7 0.8 0.2 0.2 0.5

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

XX

3.763 112.8 112.5 1.9 0.0 0.1 0.4 -0.3

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

94

2.004 116.5 116.2 1.9 0.0 0.0 0.4 -0.3

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

95

1.551 105.4 105.0 1.7 0.1 0.2 0.2 -0.4

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

96

0.207 136.7 136.5 2.6 0.0 -0.1 2.7 -0.1

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2010 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: July 2011 to July 2012
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Harmo-
nized
system
Relative
import-
ance
June
2012(1)
Index Percent change
June
2012
July
2012
Annual Monthly
July
2011
to
July
2012
Mar.
2012
to
Apr.
2012
Apr.
2012
to
May
2012
May
2012
to
June
2012
June
2012
to
July
2012

Live animals; animal products

I

1.916 202.7 203.2 1.9 0.9 -1.1 0.0 0.2

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

02

1.102 165.6 166.6 3.3 -0.8 0.3 -1.4 0.6

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates

03

0.417 207.5 207.0 4.0 4.3 -1.0 0.5 -0.2

Vegetable products

II

5.739 241.3 267.9 11.9 3.0 1.8 -5.3 11.0

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

08

0.883 139.4 136.5 5.2 2.2 -0.3 1.8 -2.1

Cereals

10

2.068 264.3 310.2 11.2 0.6 -2.1 -5.8 17.4

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

12

2.194 267.6 305.0 18.1 6.1 4.4 -7.8 14.0

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

III

0.478 148.0 147.5 -7.9 1.8 2.0 -6.1 -0.3

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and tobacco

IV

2.756 157.7 159.7 6.0 1.2 0.6 0.4 1.3

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

20

0.326 111.0 111.0 2.3 0.3 0.4 0.0 0.0

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

22

0.407 110.1 110.0 4.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 -0.1

Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal feed

23

0.838 238.5 249.7 11.6 3.8 2.7 2.9 4.7

Mineral products

V

8.141 295.5 295.7 -12.8 2.2 -4.9 -8.0 0.1

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

27

7.528 290.7 291.0 -13.5 2.4 -5.2 -8.4 0.1

Products of the chemical or allied industries

VI

12.341 154.5 153.5 -1.0 -0.1 -0.3 -0.1 -0.6

Inorganic chemicals

28

1.037 189.3 190.6 -3.2 0.1 -0.4 2.9 0.7

Organic chemicals

29

3.430 165.0 161.4 -4.4 -0.2 -1.3 -1.7 -2.2

Pharmaceutical products

30

3.179 124.1 123.8 -1.8 -0.3 0.1 -0.3 -0.2

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery cosmetic or toilet preparations

33

0.769 136.0 135.8 1.9 0.0 -0.1 0.4 -0.1

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

34

0.472 123.2 123.1 1.2 0.2 0.1 0.0 -0.1

Miscellaneous chemical products

38

1.784 153.0 153.0 0.6 -0.2 0.1 -0.1 0.0

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

5.497 148.2 146.3 -4.1 1.9 -0.5 -3.1 -1.3

Plastics and articles thereof

39

4.397 138.6 137.2 -3.9 1.6 -0.4 -3.0 -1.0

Rubber and articles thereof

40

1.100 193.8 189.1 -5.2 2.8 -0.7 -3.6 -2.4

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

VIII

0.372 130.0 129.9 -4.2 2.1 0.9 -2.8 -0.1

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

IX

0.547 109.6 109.2 0.6 2.4 -0.6 0.3 -0.4

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

X

2.340 117.8 117.7 -7.8 0.8 -0.9 -0.1 -0.1

Woodpulp and recovered paper

47

0.649 126.1 124.4 -19.7 0.2 -0.9 0.0 -1.3

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

48

1.234 116.5 116.6 -2.6 1.0 -1.4 -0.1 0.1

Printed material

49

0.457 120.3 121.6 2.1 0.7 0.1 -0.1 1.1

Textile and textile articles

XI

1.909 124.9 124.3 -14.1 -0.1 -1.7 -3.1 -0.5

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics thereof

52

0.535 132.0 129.4 -39.9 -1.2 -5.4 -11.1 -2.0

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

XIII

0.751 117.8 117.8 1.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Glass and glassware

70

0.405 98.6 98.5 -0.5 -0.2 0.0 0.0 -0.1

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

XIV

5.273 277.4 274.7 -1.9 -2.8 -0.8 -1.6 -1.0

Base metals and articles of base metals

XV

5.547 173.1 172.2 -6.4 0.0 -0.2 -3.4 -0.5

Iron and steel

72

1.680 210.0 202.7 -11.6 -0.6 0.3 -6.6 -3.5

Articles of iron or steel

73

1.377 172.8 174.2 2.2 0.3 -0.1 -0.5 0.8

Copper and articles thereof

74

0.639 242.4 246.0 -15.1 -0.3 -1.7 -7.3 1.5

Aluminum and articles thereof

76

0.827 124.9 123.7 -10.3 0.1 -1.0 -2.2 -1.0

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

82

0.382 129.2 134.7 5.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.3

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

83

0.343 145.8 145.8 7.4 2.8 2.7 0.0 0.0

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

XVI

27.943 97.2 97.0 0.6 0.0 0.1 -0.2 -0.2

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

84

16.233 110.6 110.6 1.9 0.1 -0.1 0.1 0.0

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts and accessories thereof

85

11.710 82.7 82.4 -1.0 -0.2 0.2 -0.5 -0.4

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

11.081 126.8 127.0 2.7 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.2

Motor vehicles and their parts

87

7.325 113.0 113.3 2.8 0.3 0.0 -0.1 0.3

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

XVIII

5.860 106.0 105.9 0.5 0.2 0.6 -0.2 -0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

XX

1.362 110.4 110.4 1.8 1.2 0.0 0.1 0.0

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings nesoi;

94

0.703 119.9 120.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.1 0.1

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

95

0.525 91.2 91.2 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2010 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: July 2011 to July 2012
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Relative
import-
ance
June
2012(1)
Index Percent change
June
2012
July
2012
Annual Monthly
July
2011
to
July
2012
Mar.
2012
to
Apr.
2012
Apr.
2012
to
May
2012
May
2012
to
June
2012
June
2012
to
July
2012

Industrialized Countries(2)

100.000 130.7 130.3 -2.8 -0.8 -0.1 -0.8 -0.3

Nonmanufactured articles

11.740 210.7 212.4 -15.0 -5.4 -2.4 -0.6 0.8

Manufactured articles

87.608 124.1 123.6 -0.8 -0.2 0.2 -0.7 -0.4

Other Countries(3)

100.000 138.3 137.7 -2.9 0.1 -1.7 -3.0 -0.4

Nonmanufactured articles

24.263 333.9 332.7 -8.8 -0.4 -5.0 -9.5 -0.4

Manufactured articles

75.395 111.1 110.6 -0.8 0.3 -0.5 -0.7 -0.5

Canada

100.000 148.7 147.6 -7.3 -1.4 -0.7 -1.1 -0.7

Nonmanufactured articles

27.552 198.5 199.6 -16.3 -5.5 -2.9 -0.3 0.6

Manufactured articles

71.356 139.3 137.7 -3.1 0.2 0.1 -1.3 -1.1

European Union(4)

100.000 135.4 135.2 -1.1 0.0 -0.2 -0.4 -0.1

Nonmanufactured articles

2.365 381.2 376.5 -0.8 0.0 -5.5 0.0 -1.2

Manufactured articles

97.424 131.7 131.5 -1.1 0.0 -0.1 -0.5 -0.2

France (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 120.8 120.6 0.0 0.0 -0.1 -0.4 -0.2

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 114.5 114.4 -1.5 -0.1 -0.2 -0.3 -0.1

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 134.5 134.1 -0.2 0.0 -1.2 -0.4 -0.3

Latin America(5)

100.000 173.4 172.2 -5.2 -0.6 -1.7 -4.3 -0.7

Nonmanufactured articles

33.743 354.2 349.2 -10.2 -1.4 -4.6 -10.0 -1.4

Manufactured articles

65.821 133.5 133.2 -2.8 0.1 -0.1 -1.1 -0.2

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 143.2 142.6 -4.2 -0.3 -1.2 -2.7 -0.4

Nonmanufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100)

20.056 188.3 183.5 -13.2 -1.5 -5.0 -11.0 -2.5

Manufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100)

79.612 94.9 95.0 -1.7 -0.1 0.0 -0.4 0.1

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

100.000 104.6 104.5 -0.1 0.0 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1

China (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 105.0 104.8 0.8 -0.4 -0.1 0.1 -0.2

Japan

100.000 102.6 102.6 1.2 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0

Asian NICs(7)

100.000 90.8 90.9 -1.1 0.3 -0.2 0.2 0.1

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)(8)

100.000 105.0 104.8 -0.1 0.0 -0.4 -0.8 -0.2

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

100.000 271.4 266.7 -2.9 2.0 -1.4 -7.5 -1.7

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2010 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: July 2011 to July 2012
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Relative
import-
ance
June
2012(1)
Index Percent change
June
2012
July
2012
Annual Monthly
July
2011
to
July
2012
Mar.
2012
to
Apr.
2012
Apr.
2012
to
May
2012
May
2012
to
June
2012
June
2012
to
July
2012

Air Freight

Import Air Freight

100.000 178.6 176.1 -4.2 1.9 0.3 0.6 -1.4

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

23.549 162.0 157.6 -6.9 -1.9 1.3 -2.1 -2.7

Asia

72.054 160.3 158.6 -3.6 3.4 0.1 1.6 -1.1

Export Air Freight

100.000 148.1 145.0 -1.0 0.9 0.3 -1.7 -2.1

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)

36.122 133.5 131.3 -0.9 1.1 0.2 -1.8 -1.6

Inbound Air Freight

100.000 161.6 158.8 -2.9 1.5 0.2 0.0 -1.7

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

24.271 145.7 140.9 -8.0 -0.3 0.7 -3.1 -3.3

Asia

64.438 147.3 145.4 -1.3 2.3 0.1 1.4 -1.3

Outbound Air Freight

100.000 149.0 145.0 2.3 2.5 0.2 -0.9 -2.7

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

30.422 164.9 163.0 2.9 0.2 0.7 -1.1 -1.2

Asia

49.987 142.5 136.5 1.8 4.6 0.0 -0.7 -4.2

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares

100.000 199.8 193.4 5.2 0.7 0.6 10.3 -3.2

Europe

41.856 222.3 206.6 5.5 3.8 -1.2 20.0 -7.1

Asia

26.627 169.3 167.2 3.9 0.8 6.1 7.3 -1.2

Latin America/Caribbean

10.874 173.9 176.1 -1.0 2.1 -6.0 1.7 1.3

Export Air Passenger Fares

100.000 202.8 209.8 2.4 0.7 6.6 2.1 3.5

Europe

29.253 253.9 257.1 -4.0 7.7 -0.7 13.7 1.3

Asia

27.537 178.9 187.5 6.1 0.7 6.7 -0.2 4.8

Latin America/Caribbean

22.799 224.0 225.7 13.0 -7.7 5.3 -2.5 0.8

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2010 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: August 10, 2012