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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-10-1547
8:30 a.m. (EST) Wednesday, November 10, 2010

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 - OCTOBER 2010


U.S. import prices rose 0.9 percent in October, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, after 
edging down 0.1 percent in September. Higher fuel and nonfuel prices contributed to the increase in 
October. Export prices advanced for the third consecutive month in October, rising 0.8 percent.


Imports 

All Imports: The price index for overall imports increased 0.9 percent in October, the largest monthly 
advance for the index since a 1.1 percent advance in April. The October rise was also only the second one-
month upturn since the April increase. Despite the downward trend between May and September, import 
prices rose 3.6 percent over the past 12 months. 

Fuel Imports: A 3.0 percent advance in fuel prices in October accounted for approximately two thirds of 
the increase in overall import prices. The October rise in fuel prices was the largest monthly advance since a 
4.4 percent increase in January, and was driven by a 3.3 percent advance in petroleum prices, which more 
than offset a 2.3 percent drop in the price index for natural gas. Fuel prices increased 7.9 percent for the year 
ended in October, while petroleum and natural gas prices rose 7.6 percent and 9.5 percent, respectively, over 
the same period.       

All Imports Excluding Fuel: Nonfuel prices rose 0.3 percent for the third consecutive month in October.  
Rising prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials and foods, feeds, and beverages led the advance, 
while prices for finished goods were mixed. The price index for nonfuel imports increased 2.5 percent over 
the past 12 months, driven by an 11.8 percent jump in the nonfuel industrial supplies and materials prices.   


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

2009

October

0.8 3.0 0.4 0.0 -0.7 0.1

November

1.5 6.3 0.3 0.8 3.9 0.5

December

0.2 -0.2 0.4 0.7 1.8 0.6

2010

January

1.2 4.4 0.4 0.8 1.3 0.7

February

-0.1 -0.7 0.1 -0.3 -4.0 0.1

March

0.4 1.4 0.2 0.7 1.9 0.6

April

1.1 2.6 0.6 1.1 -0.4 1.3

May

-0.8 -5.1 0.4 0.5 1.6 0.3

June

-1.2 -3.8 -0.4 -0.7 0.0 -0.8

July

0.0 1.0 -0.3 (r)-0.2 -0.2 (r)-0.2

August

(r)0.4 (r)1.0 0.3 0.8 (r)4.2 0.5

September

(r)-0.1 (r)-1.7 0.3 0.6 (r)2.3 0.3

October

0.9 3.0 0.3 0.8 2.5 0.7

Oct. 2008 to 2009

-5.6 -14.2 -3.1 -3.6 -9.7 -2.9

Oct. 2009 to 2010

3.6 7.9 2.5 5.8 15.7 4.8

Footnotes
(r) Revised


Exports

All Exports: Export prices increased 0.8 percent in October following similar advances of 0.6 percent and 
0.8 percent in September and August, respectively. Higher prices for agricultural and nonagricultural exports 
contributed to the increases in each of the three months. The price index for overall exports rose 5.8 percent 
over the past year, the largest 12-month advance since a 7.0 percent jump between September 2007 and 
September 2008.

Agricultural Exports: Prices for agricultural exports rose for the third consecutive month in October, rising 
2.5 percent following advances of 2.3 percent and 4.2 percent the previous two months. Higher prices for 
corn, soybeans, and cotton, up 8.7 percent, 4.0 percent, and 6.8 percent, respectively, more than offset a 5.3 
percent downturn in wheat prices. Sharp increases in wheat prices had driven the advances in agricultural 
prices in August and September. The price index for agricultural exports rose 15.7 percent for the October 
2009-10 period. 

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: Nonagricultural prices advanced 0.7 percent in October and 4.8 
percent over the past year. Both increases were led by rising prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies and 
materials, up 1.8 percent in October and 13.8 percent over the past year. 

		

                                       SELECTED OCTOBER HIGHLIGHTS

Import Prices

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials rose 1.9 
percent in October after advancing 1.0 percent the previous month. Rising prices for both unfinished metals, 
up 3.1 percent, and chemicals, up 2.1 percent, each contributed to the October increase. The increase in 
unfinished metals prices was led by higher prices for copper, aluminum, gold, and other precious metals. 
Chemical prices were primarily driven by a 5.6 percent increase in fertilizer prices.    

Finished Goods: Finished goods prices were mixed in October. Prices for automotive vehicles rose 0.4 
percent, an increase that was in part attributable to year-end model changeovers. In contrast, consumer 
goods prices fell 0.5 percent, led by falling prices for medicinal, dental, and pharmaceutical products and 
household goods. Capital goods prices were unchanged as declining computer prices offset higher prices for 
non-computer capital goods.
 
Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: The price index for foods, feeds, and beverages rose 1.1 percent in October 
despite a 4.6 percent downturn in coffee prices. Coffee prices, up 29.9 percent over the past 12 months, 
were the main contributor to a 9.8 percent rise in foods, feeds, and beverages for the year ended in October. 
The October increase was led by higher prices for fruit and food oils.   

Imports by Locality of Origin: Import prices from China rose 0.4 percent in October, the largest one-month 
advance for the index since a 0.8 percent increase in July 2008. The price indexes of imports from Canada, 
Mexico, and Japan also rose in October, up 1.4 percent, 0.6 percent, and 0.2 percent, respectively. In 
contrast, prices of imports from the European Union edged down 0.1 percent in October.  

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares rose 4.8 percent in October, after declining in each of 
the previous three months. Higher European, Asian, and Latin American/Caribbean fares all contributed to 
the October increase. Despite the recent declines prior to October, import air passenger fares rose 14.9 
percent over the past year. Import air freight prices advanced 0.9 percent in October after a 0.2 percent rise 
in September and a 1.3 percent increase in August.  

Export Prices
 
Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: The price index for nonagricultural industrial supplies 
and materials advanced 1.8 percent in October. The increase was led by higher prices for metals, fuels, and 
chemicals, up 4.3 percent, 2.9 percent, and 1.6 percent, respectively. 
 
Finished Goods: Prices for consumer goods and automotive vehicles rose in October, increasing 0.9 percent 
and 0.2 percent, respectively. Those advances were offset in part by a 0.1 percent drop in capital goods 
prices that was driven by a 1.0 percent decline in computer prices.         

Transportation Services: In contrast to import air passenger fares, export air passenger fares fell 1.1 percent 
in October. The decrease followed an 8.1 percent drop in September and was led mostly by a 6.2 percent 
decline in Asian air passenger fares. The index for overall export air passenger fares jumped 23.1 percent 
over the past 12 months despite the recent declines.  Export air freight prices increased 0.5 percent in 
October and 4.1 percent over the past year.
		
Import and Export Price Index data for November 2010 are scheduled for release on Friday, 
December 10, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. (EST).

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

All commodities

  100.000 125.6 126.7 3.6 0.0 0.4 -0.1 0.9

All imports excluding petroleum

  81.209 110.9 111.3 2.7 -0.2 0.2 0.2 0.4

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)

  79.830 114.7 115.1 2.5 -0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3

Foods, feeds, & beverages

0

4.956 153.4 155.1 9.8 0.3 2.1 0.7 1.1

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

00

3.837 171.3 173.7 10.4 0.1 2.5 0.5 1.4

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

01

1.119 113.0 112.9 7.6 1.3 1.1 1.1 -0.1

Industrial supplies & materials

1

34.693 199.8 204.8 9.4 0.1 0.7 -0.6 2.5

Industrial supplies & materials excluding petroleum

  15.903 150.8 153.3 11.7 -0.7 -0.3 0.5 1.7

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

  14.524 168.8 172.0 11.8 -1.1 0.1 1.0 1.9

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

  9.123 162.6 165.7 12.6 -1.8 -0.1 1.2 1.9

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable excluding petroleum

  5.400 136.9 138.7 10.4 0.7 -0.6 -0.5 1.3

Fuels & lubricants

10

20.168 246.4 253.8 7.9 1.0 1.0 -1.7 3.0

Petroleum & petroleum products

100

18.789 269.2 278.0 7.6 0.8 1.4 -1.5 3.3

Crude

10000

13.913 275.7 284.0 6.1 1.1 1.5 -1.4 3.0

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

101

1.130 116.8 114.8 9.3 3.8 -4.8 -5.6 -1.7

Gas-natural

10110

0.817 100.7 98.4 9.5 5.1 -5.2 -7.6 -2.3

Paper & paper base stocks

11

0.747 116.5 117.0 16.4 0.9 -0.3 0.3 0.4

Materials associated with nondurable supplies & materials

12

4.731 147.7 150.5 9.3 -0.1 0.4 0.8 1.9

Selected building materials

13

1.340 124.8 125.2 5.6 -4.2 -1.0 -0.2 0.3

Unfinished metals related to durable goods

14

4.273 244.4 252.0 21.2 -2.4 0.2 2.2 3.1

Finished metals related to durable goods

15

1.867 147.6 150.1 9.0 -0.6 0.2 1.2 1.7

Nonmetals related to durable goods

16

1.566 107.7 108.1 3.1 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.4

Capital goods

2

23.393 91.8 91.8 -0.1 -0.1 0.3 0.1 0.0

Electric generating equipment

20

2.986 112.5 112.3 1.4 0.2 0.6 0.2 -0.2

Nonelectrical machinery

21

18.394 86.2 86.2 -0.2 -0.2 0.2 0.2 0.0

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

22

2.013 121.6 121.7 -1.1 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

3

12.221 109.3 109.7 0.8 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.4

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

4

24.736 104.2 103.7 -0.6 -0.2 -0.1 0.1 -0.5

Nondurables, manufactured

40

11.653 110.0 109.4 1.5 0.4 0.2 0.1 -0.5

Durables, manufactured

41

11.856 98.7 98.2 -2.7 -0.7 -0.5 0.1 -0.5

Nonmanufactured consumer goods

42

1.227 103.0 103.6 2.0 -0.5 1.2 -0.1 0.6

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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


Table 2. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: October 2009 to October 2010
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description End
Use
Relative
import-
ance
Sept.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Sept.
2010
Oct.
2010
Annual Monthly
Oct.
2009
to
Oct.
2010
June
2010
to
July
2010
July
2010
to
Aug.
2010
Aug.
2010
to
Sept.
2010
Sept.
2010
to
Oct.
2010

All commodities

  100.000 123.7 124.7 5.8 -0.2 0.8 0.6 0.8

Agricultural commodities

  9.298 175.9 180.3 15.7 -0.2 4.2 2.3 2.5

Nonagricultural commodities

  90.702 119.9 120.7 4.8 -0.2 0.5 0.3 0.7

Foods, feeds, & beverages

0

8.361 174.6 178.4 14.0 -0.3 4.3 2.0 2.2

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

00

7.778 177.6 181.7 14.3 -0.4 4.7 2.1 2.3

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

01

0.583 149.4 149.8 11.0 0.3 -0.3 1.5 0.3

Industrial supplies & materials

1

31.764 162.6 165.6 14.3 -0.6 1.5 0.9 1.8

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

  12.359 167.1 169.6 11.4 -0.5 0.2 1.3 1.5

Industrial supplies & materials, nondurable

  19.405 160.7 163.9 16.2 -0.8 2.4 0.6 2.0

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials

10

1.520 172.0 177.8 23.6 0.9 1.6 3.2 3.4

Nonagricultural industrial supplies & materials

  30.243 162.4 165.3 13.8 -0.8 1.5 0.7 1.8

Fuels & lubricants

11

5.976 212.7 218.9 24.7 -2.1 5.4 -0.9 2.9

Nonagricultural supplies & materials excluding fuels & building materials

12

23.260 158.2 160.6 12.1 -0.4 0.7 1.2 1.5

Selected building materials

13

1.007 117.2 116.8 3.8 -0.7 -0.5 -0.1 -0.3

Capital goods

2

37.884 103.4 103.3 0.1 -0.1 0.0 0.0 -0.1

Electrical generating equipment

20

3.518 108.7 109.2 1.2 -0.7 0.1 0.1 0.5

Nonelectrical machinery

21

27.624 94.2 93.9 -0.5 -0.1 0.0 0.0 -0.3

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

22

6.742 140.2 140.5 2.5 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.2

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

3

9.080 108.7 108.9 0.7 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.2

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

4

12.912 111.7 112.7 3.1 0.4 -0.1 0.9 0.9

Nondurables, manufactured

40

5.906 112.9 113.4 3.8 0.1 0.5 0.6 0.4

Durables, manufactured

41

5.699 109.9 111.4 1.6 0.8 -0.8 1.6 1.4

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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


Table 3. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: October 2009 to October 2010
[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
Sept.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Sept.
2010
Oct.
2010
Annual Monthly
Oct.
2009
to
Oct.
2010
June
2010
to
July
2010
July
2010
to
Aug.
2010
Aug.
2010
to
Sept.
2010
Sept.
2010
to
Oct.
2010

Nonmanufactured articles

  17.711 124.3 127.5 8.6 1.1 1.4 -1.4 2.6

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

11

1.888 154.1 155.6 17.1 -0.7 4.3 0.2 1.0

Crop production

111

1.342 160.4 161.3 15.4 -0.5 5.4 -0.3 0.6

Mining

21

15.823 121.1 124.5 7.7 1.2 1.1 -1.7 2.8

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

212

0.551 139.3 138.9 5.6 0.9 -0.8 0.1 -0.3

Manufactured articles

  81.742 110.1 110.6 2.4 -0.3 0.1 0.2 0.5

Manufactured goods, part 1

31

10.376 110.9 111.6 4.0 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.6

Food manufacturing

311

2.730 132.5 134.3 13.2 1.4 1.6 0.8 1.4

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

0.919 108.6 109.2 1.4 0.1 0.5 -0.1 0.6

Textile product mills

314

0.799 103.7 103.9 3.5 1.2 0.1 0.3 0.2

Apparel manufacturing

315

3.983 101.7 102.2 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.5

Leather and allied product manufacturing

316

1.540 108.2 108.5 1.3 0.7 0.2 0.3 0.3

Manufactured goods, part 2

32

18.019 121.3 122.3 6.2 -0.5 0.2 -0.2 0.8

Wood product manufacturing

321

0.806 101.9 102.2 8.7 -6.8 -1.2 -0.3 0.3

Paper manufacturing

322

1.271 109.7 110.3 11.0 0.8 -0.2 0.2 0.5

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

3.910 120.7 125.0 8.9 -0.2 0.4 -2.2 3.6

Chemical manufacturing

325

9.082 126.4 126.0 4.7 -0.5 0.2 0.5 -0.3

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

1.829 116.1 116.8 4.2 0.4 0.0 0.2 0.6

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

1.012 122.5 123.5 3.5 0.8 0.0 0.5 0.8

Manufactured goods, part 3

33

53.348 106.5 106.8 0.9 -0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3

Primary metal manufacturing

331

4.963 160.7 165.2 20.2 -2.4 0.2 2.1 2.8

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

2.749 119.0 119.8 3.3 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.7

Machinery manufacturing

333

6.843 113.8 114.5 1.4 0.1 0.4 0.3 0.6

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

14.957 86.3 85.8 -3.6 -0.8 -0.3 0.0 -0.6

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

3.847 112.8 112.5 -0.2 0.0 0.4 0.0 -0.3

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

13.467 106.3 106.6 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3

Furniture and related product manufacturing

337

1.336 106.4 106.6 -1.6 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.2

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

5.186 112.7 112.7 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.0

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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


Table 4. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: October 2009 to October 2010
[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
Sept.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Sept.
2010
Oct.
2010
Annual Monthly
Oct.
2009
to
Oct.
2010
June
2010
to
July
2010
July
2010
to
Aug.
2010
Aug.
2010
to
Sept.
2010
Sept.
2010
to
Oct.
2010

Nonmanufactured articles

  7.292 144.1 147.4 24.6 -1.6 5.9 3.1 2.3

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

11

5.009 156.4 161.2 22.1 -0.7 7.3 3.6 3.1

Crop production

111

4.650 161.4 166.8 23.0 -0.7 8.0 3.9 3.3

Mining

21

2.283 112.3 112.8 28.9 -3.4 2.9 2.3 0.4

Mining (except oil and gas)

212

1.835 132.2 133.8 44.8 -1.6 3.4 1.7 1.2

Manufactured articles

  89.923 112.8 113.6 4.3 -0.1 0.4 0.4 0.7

Manufactured goods, part 1

31

6.756 129.0 130.6 8.3 0.4 0.4 0.9 1.2

Food manufacturing

311

4.581 144.6 146.4 8.4 0.4 0.5 0.9 1.2

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

0.547 112.6 113.9 5.5 1.9 1.4 1.2 1.2

Apparel manufacturing

315

0.379 105.6 105.6 2.7 0.0 0.0 0.9 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 2

32

23.815 120.2 122.0 10.4 -0.3 2.0 0.2 1.5

Wood product manufacturing

321

0.447 113.8 113.5 5.4 -0.6 -0.9 -0.4 -0.3

Paper manufacturing

322

2.054 123.9 123.4 11.4 1.5 -0.1 1.0 -0.4

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

3.590 121.6 127.3 23.8 -1.5 8.8 -2.9 4.7

Chemical manufacturing

325

14.842 122.6 124.1 9.9 -0.3 1.0 0.9 1.2

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

2.053 107.9 108.1 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.1 0.2

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

0.830 113.3 114.3 2.3 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.9

Manufactured goods, part 3

33

59.352 108.4 108.7 1.6 0.1 -0.2 0.3 0.3

Primary metal manufacturing

331

5.022 148.6 152.3 18.2 0.2 -0.9 1.6 2.5

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

2.737 121.5 121.9 0.4 0.2 -0.1 0.2 0.3

Machinery manufacturing

333

12.512 114.8 114.9 1.9 0.1 0.1 -0.1 0.1

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

15.246 91.4 90.9 -2.5 -0.2 -0.2 0.0 -0.5

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

3.383 108.3 108.7 1.6 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.4

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

15.074 111.4 111.6 1.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

5.029 111.6 113.1 2.4 0.7 -0.6 1.3 1.3

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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


Table 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: October 2009 to October 2010
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Harmo-
nized
system
Relative
import-
ance
Sept.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Sept.
2010
Oct.
2010
Annual Monthly
Oct.
2009
to
Oct.
2010
June
2010
to
July
2010
July
2010
to
Aug.
2010
Aug.
2010
to
Sept.
2010
Sept.
2010
to
Oct.
2010

Live animals; animal products

I

1.162 147.7 147.9 12.2 0.1 1.7 1.4 0.1

Meat and edible meat offal

02

0.262 183.8 183.7 18.3 -1.6 1.7 0.3 -0.1

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates

03

0.611 112.8 113.3 12.5 1.8 1.5 2.0 0.4

Vegetable products

II

1.579 179.0 180.5 14.1 0.1 4.8 0.6 0.8

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers

07

0.408 314.2 302.6 2.8 -7.8 9.6 -4.6 -3.7

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

08

0.427 112.0 114.0 12.0 -1.2 2.8 3.2 1.8

Coffee, tea, mate and spices

09

0.351 206.0 199.5 27.0 9.2 3.2 6.8 -3.2

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

III

0.228 110.8 116.2 - 1.8 6.3 0.9 4.9

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco

IV

2.338 143.3 145.0 6.0 1.1 0.6 -0.2 1.2

Cocoa and cocoa preparations (Dec. 2009=100)

18

0.197 94.3 93.4 - 0.0 -1.4 -2.0 -1.0

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

19

0.264 124.7 127.6 15.3 6.9 -0.2 0.0 2.3

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

20

0.287 129.4 136.2 8.1 -0.6 0.4 0.0 5.3

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar

22

0.905 118.0 118.8 1.5 0.2 0.4 -0.1 0.7

Mineral products

V

20.189 248.8 255.7 7.7 1.0 0.9 -1.7 2.8

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

25

0.190 102.4 103.1 - 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.7

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

27

19.746 245.1 252.1 7.6 1.0 0.9 -1.8 2.9

Products of the chemical or allied industries

VI

8.357 139.8 140.1 5.5 -0.6 0.3 0.6 0.2

Inorganic chemicals

28

0.999 286.1 308.3 29.2 -0.9 -0.3 4.3 7.8

Organic chemicals

29

2.776 133.8 134.4 5.5 -0.5 0.5 0.0 0.4

Pharmaceutical products

30

2.852 118.2 114.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.0 -3.2

Fertilizers (Dec. 2009=100)

31

0.310 100.0 101.6 - -1.6 -0.6 1.2 1.6

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

32

0.164 106.6 106.8 0.8 -0.9 0.3 -0.2 0.2

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec. 2001=100)

33

0.408 118.6 119.5 -2.1 -1.5 2.3 0.7 0.8

Miscellaneous chemical products

38

0.502 93.9 95.8 6.4 0.4 0.2 0.8 2.0

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

3.045 137.8 139.4 9.0 0.4 0.2 0.2 1.2

Plastics and articles thereof

39

1.900 132.2 132.4 6.3 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.2

Rubber and articles thereof

40

1.145 148.6 152.9 13.6 0.1 0.3 0.3 2.9

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

VIII

0.598 115.1 115.1 1.3 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.0

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

42

0.542 115.2 115.2 0.5 -0.1 0.1 0.3 0.0

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

IX

0.825 122.9 123.3 8.0 -6.6 -1.7 -0.4 0.3

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

X

1.415 113.4 113.9 8.6 0.6 -0.2 0.4 0.4

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

47

0.226 127.1 128.0 - 1.2 -2.5 -0.2 0.7

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

48

0.916 106.0 106.5 5.3 0.8 0.3 0.3 0.5

Printed matter

49

0.273 122.4 122.4 1.9 -0.1 0.2 0.7 0.0

Textile and textile articles

XI

5.019 103.7 104.2 1.0 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.5

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted

61

1.928 99.1 99.7 0.1 0.6 0.1 0.1 0.6

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted

62

1.875 102.9 103.4 0.7 0.0 0.1 -0.1 0.5

Made-up or worn textile articles

63

0.547 95.8 96.2 4.8 1.6 0.1 0.3 0.4

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.

XII

1.234 108.3 108.6 1.0 0.7 0.3 0.3 0.3

Footwear and parts of such articles

64

1.051 107.6 107.8 1.1 0.9 0.2 0.3 0.2

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

XIII

0.890 124.5 126.1 1.3 0.1 0.1 0.4 1.3

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

68

0.317 118.3 119.0 1.1 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.6

Ceramic products

69

0.278 139.3 139.4 -0.1 -0.4 -0.4 0.9 0.1

Glass and glassware

70

0.295 115.8 119.5 2.8 0.3 0.4 0.1 3.2

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

XIV

2.823 161.3 166.4 13.6 -0.4 -0.6 0.9 3.2

Base metals and articles of base metals

XV

6.170 181.3 183.5 12.6 -1.6 0.6 1.6 1.2

Iron and steel

72

1.404 229.3 227.0 17.0 -2.2 -2.1 0.2 -1.0

Articles of iron or steel

73

1.895 151.9 152.4 10.8 0.0 0.5 0.9 0.3

Copper and articles thereof

74

0.693 333.1 351.0 18.9 -1.9 2.4 5.6 5.4

Nickel and articles thereof (Dec. 2009=100)

75

0.188 122.3 126.4 - -10.4 1.4 3.3 3.4

Aluminum and articles thereof

76

0.832 135.6 139.1 14.9 -2.3 2.7 1.8 2.6

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

82

0.366 118.2 119.3 2.1 -0.1 0.3 0.1 0.9

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

83

0.413 127.1 127.5 -0.4 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.3

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

XVI

25.483 86.2 86.1 -1.4 -0.3 -0.1 0.1 -0.1

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

84

12.915 88.3 88.4 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.1

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

85

12.568 84.2 83.8 -2.9 -0.8 -0.4 0.0 -0.5

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

11.420 110.5 110.8 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.3

Motor vehicles and their parts

87

10.316 109.5 109.9 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.4

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

88

1.006 113.7 113.7 -1.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

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

XVIII

3.277 101.0 101.0 -1.6 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical instruments

90

2.968 98.7 98.7 -1.5 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0

Clocks and watches and parts thereof

91

0.230 122.4 123.1 -1.2 0.1 0.9 -0.3 0.6

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

XX

3.885 106.7 106.7 -0.7 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0

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

94

1.979 109.7 109.9 -1.3 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.2

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

95

1.702 101.0 100.9 -0.3 0.0 0.0 0.1 -0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

96

0.205 120.7 121.0 4.0 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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


Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: October 2009 to October 2010
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Harmo-
nized
system
Relative
import-
ance
Sept.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Sept.
2010
Oct.
2010
Annual Monthly
Oct.
2009
to
Oct.
2010
June
2010
to
July
2010
July
2010
to
Aug.
2010
Aug.
2010
to
Sept.
2010
Sept.
2010
to
Oct.
2010

Live animals; animal products

I

1.781 175.7 178.4 18.7 0.2 -0.1 1.9 1.5

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

02

1.010 143.9 146.9 21.8 1.4 -0.7 -0.4 2.1

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates

03

0.327 156.7 157.0 19.6 0.9 -0.7 2.6 0.2

Vegetable products

II

4.513 195.6 200.4 14.1 -0.3 7.6 2.7 2.5

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

08

0.705 117.8 122.2 9.9 -7.9 -1.1 -1.3 3.7

Cereals

10

1.951 216.6 222.6 29.3 1.8 13.0 9.9 2.8

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

12

1.362 207.9 215.5 8.5 1.5 8.0 -3.4 3.7

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

III

0.311 110.0 116.0 - -1.3 0.4 1.5 5.5

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and tobacco

IV

2.490 142.9 143.8 3.3 0.9 1.3 0.4 0.6

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

20

0.339 103.8 104.4 - 0.1 0.0 -1.7 0.6

Miscellaneous edible preparations

21

0.405 118.4 118.8 -0.7 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3

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

22

0.327 103.1 103.6 0.1 -0.5 0.7 0.6 0.5

Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal feed

23

0.608 198.7 203.7 6.6 4.5 4.1 1.2 2.5

Mineral products

V

5.949 254.4 261.5 24.2 -2.3 5.8 -0.8 2.8

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

27

5.221 245.1 252.3 24.3 -2.2 6.0 -1.2 2.9

Products of the chemical or allied industries

VI

12.047 145.9 148.2 9.9 -0.4 0.7 0.7 1.6

Inorganic chemicals

28

1.071 186.0 188.8 13.3 0.5 -0.3 0.1 1.5

Organic chemicals

29

3.079 154.6 158.3 14.3 -1.3 1.3 0.6 2.4

Pharmaceutical products

30

2.967 124.1 125.1 7.5 0.9 0.7 0.9 0.8

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

32

0.539 116.8 117.1 1.9 2.3 0.1 0.3 0.3

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery cosmetic or toilet preparations

33

0.714 124.7 125.3 -0.7 -1.0 1.3 0.5 0.5

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

34

0.447 122.9 120.0 2.9 0.4 0.8 3.1 -2.4

Miscellaneous chemical products

38

2.078 143.1 142.9 7.4 0.1 0.5 -0.1 -0.1

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

5.074 138.7 138.3 3.5 -0.2 0.9 0.7 -0.3

Plastics and articles thereof

39

4.116 132.3 131.9 3.3 -0.4 0.9 0.9 -0.3

Rubber and articles thereof

40

0.958 167.5 167.1 4.7 0.8 0.4 0.1 -0.2

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

VIII

0.374 120.7 121.5 23.2 -0.3 0.1 -0.2 0.7

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

IX

0.552 109.4 109.2 5.8 -0.4 -0.8 -0.4 -0.2

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

X

2.581 122.1 122.7 13.2 1.9 0.7 1.2 0.5

Woodpulp and recovered paper

47

0.739 139.1 141.7 37.8 2.9 0.4 3.6 1.9

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

48

1.347 118.3 117.8 7.3 2.2 1.1 0.4 -0.4

Printed material

49

0.495 116.0 116.9 1.1 -0.3 0.0 0.0 0.8

Textile and textile articles

XI

2.083 120.1 123.3 16.9 0.1 1.2 2.5 2.7

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics thereof

52

0.745 145.9 157.2 53.5 0.2 3.6 6.3 7.7

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

XIII

0.785 116.1 116.0 1.3 -0.3 0.2 0.3 -0.1

Glass and glassware

70

0.417 98.0 98.2 0.6 -0.2 0.4 0.5 0.2

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

XIV

5.079 215.6 225.6 24.0 0.9 -1.5 2.8 4.6

Base metals and articles of base metals

XV

5.904 163.9 164.8 8.3 -0.7 1.3 1.6 0.5

Iron and steel

72

1.757 195.7 192.1 10.0 -2.1 0.8 2.0 -1.8

Articles of iron or steel

73

1.511 159.6 159.4 1.5 0.4 -0.1 0.7 -0.1

Copper and articles thereof

74

0.605 238.4 248.4 27.3 -0.4 6.9 3.2 4.2

Aluminum and articles thereof

76

0.881 123.3 126.9 12.9 -0.3 2.2 2.7 2.9

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

82

0.408 124.1 125.5 1.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.1

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

83

0.310 124.2 124.8 2.2 0.2 -0.4 -0.5 0.5

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

XVI

29.752 95.1 95.0 -0.4 -0.1 -0.2 -0.1 -0.1

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

84

17.488 106.4 106.3 0.4 0.0 -0.1 -0.3 -0.1

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts and accessories thereof

85

12.264 82.9 82.8 -1.3 -0.2 -0.2 0.1 -0.1

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

13.176 121.7 121.9 1.2 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.2

Motor vehicles and their parts

87

8.462 108.5 108.8 0.9 -0.1 0.1 0.0 0.3

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

89

0.294 101.9 102.0 - 0.3 0.7 0.8 0.1

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

XVIII

5.904 106.8 106.7 -1.7 0.4 0.0 0.2 -0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

XX

1.499 107.6 107.4 -0.8 -0.1 -0.4 0.0 -0.2

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings nesoi;

94

0.748 118.2 118.3 -0.7 -0.2 -0.2 -0.3 0.1

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

95

0.639 92.5 92.1 -1.1 0.1 -0.6 0.1 -0.4

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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


Table 7. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes by locality of origin: October 2009 to October 2010
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Percent
of
U.S.
imports(1)
Index Percent change
Sept.
2010
Oct.
2010
Annual Monthly
Oct.
2009
to
Oct.
2010
June
2010
to
July
2010
July
2010
to
Aug.
2010
Aug.
2010
to
Sept.
2010
Sept.
2010
to
Oct.
2010

Industrialized Countries(2)

41.082 124.5 125.3 3.0 0.5 0.2 -0.3 0.6

Nonmanufactured articles

5.687 189.9 195.0 8.2 3.4 -0.5 -1.8 2.7

Manufactured articles

34.943 119.1 119.5 2.5 0.1 0.3 -0.2 0.3

Other Countries(3)

58.918 123.6 124.6 3.1 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.8

Nonmanufactured articles

15.714 253.4 259.6 8.7 0.7 2.1 -0.9 2.4

Manufactured articles

43.010 105.3 105.6 1.4 -0.2 -0.1 0.3 0.3

Canada

15.923 140.3 142.2 7.2 0.4 0.4 0.0 1.4

Nonmanufactured articles

5.257 183.6 188.5 9.6 4.0 -0.8 -1.8 2.7

Manufactured articles

10.335 132.5 133.8 6.5 -0.8 0.7 0.5 1.0

European Union(4)

16.799 128.4 128.3 1.7 -0.2 0.6 0.2 -0.1

Nonmanufactured articles

0.211 251.6 256.4 4.9 -1.6 2.3 -0.2 1.9

Manufactured articles

16.491 125.9 125.7 1.7 -0.2 0.6 0.2 -0.2

France (Dec. 2003=100)

1.948 121.4 121.1 -1.6 0.0 0.2 0.1 -0.2

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)

4.572 111.7 112.3 1.3 -0.4 0.5 0.4 0.5

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)

2.566 126.0 126.7 3.0 -0.3 0.6 0.3 0.6

Latin America(5)

17.999 155.8 157.1 3.9 0.1 0.6 0.1 0.8

Nonmanufactured articles

6.186 280.2 284.4 7.1 2.1 2.1 -0.2 1.5

Manufactured articles

11.730 129.6 130.3 2.0 -0.8 -0.2 0.2 0.5

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)

10.275 136.1 136.9 1.2 -0.8 0.1 0.2 0.6

Nonmanufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100)

2.141 147.6 150.2 5.7 0.3 2.4 0.2 1.8

Manufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100)

8.085 95.9 96.2 -0.3 -1.1 -0.5 0.2 0.3

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

31.500 101.4 101.2 1.4 0.0 0.0 0.3 -0.2

China (Dec. 2003=100)

16.449 100.5 100.9 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.4

Japan

6.678 99.0 99.2 1.7 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.2

Asian NICs(7)

5.003 88.6 87.7 2.2 0.5 0.0 0.1 -1.0

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)(8)

5.274 97.3 97.7 1.2 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.4

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

5.380 202.5 207.3 3.9 -2.0 0.9 0.0 2.4

Footnotes
(1) Percentage of trade figures are based on 2008 trade values.
(2) Includes Western Europe, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
(3) Includes Eastern Europe, Latin America, OPEC countries, and other countries in Asia, Africa and the Western Hemisphere.
(4) Includes European Union countries.
(5) Includes Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.
(6) Includes China, Japan, Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines and Asian Newly Industrialized Countries.
(7) Asian Newly Industrialized Countries. Includes Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.
(8) Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
(9) Includes Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

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


Table 8. U.S. international price indexes and percent changes for selected transportation services: October 2009 to October 2010
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Relative
import-
ance
Sept.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Sept.
2010
Oct.
2010
Annual Monthly
Oct.
2009
to
Oct.
2010
June
2010
to
July
2010
July
2010
to
Aug.
2010
Aug.
2010
to
Sept.
2010
Sept.
2010
to
Oct.
2010

Air Freight

Import Air Freight

100.000 163.2 164.7 12.7 -1.1 1.3 0.2 0.9

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

21.535 131.7 135.5 -0.3 -1.3 4.3 1.0 2.9

Asia

75.434 151.7 152.2 17.2 -0.3 0.6 0.1 0.3

Export Air Freight

100.000 125.7 126.3 4.1 -1.3 0.5 0.4 0.5

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)

32.849 114.3 115.0 3.6 -1.7 0.1 -0.5 0.6

Inbound Air Freight

100.000 147.2 149.4 10.8 -1.4 1.2 0.3 1.5

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

22.397 124.5 127.0 0.5 -1.3 3.8 1.4 2.0

Asia

67.497 137.1 137.9 14.8 -0.6 0.6 0.1 0.6

Outbound Air Freight

100.000 122.8 124.3 10.6 -0.7 0.1 0.9 1.2

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

40.962 141.3 143.8 11.1 -0.7 0.2 -0.2 1.8

Asia

41.978 111.6 112.9 9.6 -0.7 0.1 1.3 1.2

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares

100.000 160.9 168.6 14.9 -1.3 -4.1 -3.1 4.8

Europe

42.960 177.0 187.2 17.3 -3.9 -5.9 -3.0 5.8

Asia

28.162 140.1 145.5 12.4 0.8 -4.5 -6.4 3.9

Latin America/Caribbean

12.746 142.8 150.0 24.7 3.5 1.0 -2.8 5.0

Export Air Passenger Fares

100.000 172.9 171.0 23.1 5.4 1.2 -8.1 -1.1

Europe

33.549 216.2 214.6 23.8 3.1 -6.6 -6.8 -0.7

Asia

32.132 165.4 155.2 35.8 5.5 19.4 -15.4 -6.2

Latin America/Caribbean

20.590 168.2 176.4 23.6 2.1 -2.3 -0.5 4.9

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2008 trade values.

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


                                          TECHNICAL NOTE


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

E-Mail Subscription -- The U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes news release is available through an 
e-mail subscription service at (http://www.bls.gov/bls/list.htm).
 
Additional Information -- More detailed data are available on the Import/Export Price Indexes home 
page at (http://www.bls.gov/mxp).  Flat Files and the FTP server are available for users requiring access 
to either a large volume of time series data or other related documentation. The FTP site can be accessed 
at ftp://ftp.bls.gov.   For technical assistance in using the BLS Internet site, send e-mail to 
(labstat.helpdesk@bls.gov).  For Import/Export Price Index data requests, send e-mail to 
(mxpinfo@bls.gov). 

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

Last Modified Date: November 10, 2010