Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until				       USDL-09-1504
8:30 a.m. (EST) Friday, December 11, 2009

Technical information: (202) 691-7101 * MXPinfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/mxp
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                          U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES - NOVEMBER 2009

The U.S. Import Price Index advanced 1.7 percent in November, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 
reported today, led by a 7.3 percent rise in fuel prices. The increase followed a 0.8 percent advance in 
October. U.S. export prices rose 0.8 percent in November after a 0.2 percent increase the previous month.


Imports

All Imports: The 1.7 percent increase in U.S. imports in November continued the upward trend for the 
index. Import prices have risen in eight of the past nine months, increasing 10.1 percent over that period. 
The November advance for overall import prices was driven by higher fuel prices, which accounted for 
approximately 80 percent of the increase. The price index for U.S. imports advanced 3.7 percent for the year 
ended in November, the first time the index increased over a 12-month period since a 4.9 percent advance 
for the October 2007-2008 period.

Fuel Imports: Prices for import fuel rose 7.3 percent in November after a 2.5 percent increase the previous 
month. A 6.2 percent increase for petroleum prices and a 30.0 percent increase for natural gas prices led the 
overall advance in November. Over the past 12 months, fuel prices increased 27.0 percent. A 35.5 percent 
rise in petroleum prices more than offset declining natural gas prices, which fell 31.3 percent despite the 
advance in November.

All Imports Excluding Fuel: Nonfuel import prices rose 0.4 percent in November as higher prices for 
nonfuel industrial supplies and materials, capital goods, and foods, feeds, and beverages contributed to the 
advance. Prices for nonfuel imports rose between 0.4 percent and 0.5 percent in each of the past four 
months. The index declined 1.0 percent over the past 12 months as decreases from November 2008 to 
March 2009 more than offset the recent increases.  


Table A. Percent changes

Exports 

All Exports: Export prices advanced 0.8 percent in November after rising 0.2 percent in October. Higher 
nonagricultural prices accounted for approximately two thirds of the increase. Prices for overall exports rose 
0.6 percent over the past year, the first time the index increased over a 12-month period since a 4.0 percent 
advance for the October 2007-2008 period.

Agricultural Exports: Agricultural prices rose 3.7 percent in November after declining 0.7 percent and 2.9 
percent in October and September, respectively. Higher prices for soybeans, corn, and wheat led the upturn 
in agricultural prices. The November increase led the price index for overall agricultural prices up 0.6 
percent over the past 12 months, the first year-over-year increase since a 6.0 percent advance for the year 
ended in October 2008. 

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: Prices for nonagricultural exports increased for the eighth consecutive 
month, rising 0.7 percent in November. Higher prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials 
and finished goods contributed to the advance. The index rose 0.6 percent over the past 12 months. 



                                      SELECTED NOVEMBER HIGHLIGHTS


Import Prices

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: The price index for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials 
increased 1.4 percent in November after rising 1.6 percent the previous month. Rising prices for metals and 
chemicals were the largest contributors to the increases in both November and October. 

Finished Goods: Finished goods prices were mixed in November. Prices for capital goods and automotive 
vehicles increased 0.2 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively. In contrast, consumer goods prices edged down 
0.1 percent.
 
Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Prices for foods, feeds, and beverages rose 0.5 percent in November, 
following increases of 0.3 percent in October and 0.5 percent in September. 

Imports by Locality of Origin: Import prices from Canada rose 2.9 percent in November, led by higher 
fuel prices. The November increase followed advances of 1.1 percent in each of the previous two months. 
The price indexes for imports from the European Union and Mexico also rose in November, increasing 0.6 
percent and 0.3 percent, respectively.  

Transportation Services: Import air freight prices rose for the sixth consecutive month, increasing 1.0 
percent in November.  Import air passenger fares advanced 0.5 percent in November after rising 6.4 percent 
in October. The November increase was led by an 8.2 percent rise in Latin America/Caribbean fares. 


Export Prices

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: The price index for nonagricultural industrial 
supplies and materials increased 1.7 percent in November after rising 0.5 percent in October. The November 
advance was driven by higher prices for fuel, metals, and chemicals. 

Finished Goods: Prices for capital goods and for consumer goods rose 0.3 percent and 0.2 percent, 
respectively. Higher prices for computers and semiconductors were the largest contributors to the increase 
in capital goods prices and rising prices for medicinal, dental, and pharmaceutical materials drove the rise in 
the price index for consumer goods. Prices for automotive vehicles were unchanged.

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares fell 1.6 percent in November following an increase of 
1.2 percent in October. Falling prices for Asian fares contributed to the November decline.  In contrast, 
export air freight prices rose for the fourth time in five months, increasing 0.6 percent in November. 
		
Import and Export Price Index data for December 2009 are scheduled for release on Thursday, 
January 14, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. (EST).

                                          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.