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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-12-2406
8:30 a.m. (EST) Wednesday, December 12, 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 - NOVEMBER 2012

U.S. import prices decreased 0.9 percent in November, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, 
following increases in each of the three previous months. The decline was primarily led by lower fuel prices. 
The price index for U.S. exports also fell in November, decreasing 0.7 percent after remaining unchanged in 
October. 


Imports

All Imports: Import prices fell for the first time since July after rising 2.5 percent over the previous three 
months. A 3.0 percent decline in fuel prices mainly drove the November decrease in import prices, although 
nonfuel prices also decreased for the month. The price index for overall imports fell 1.6 percent over the past 
12 months, a contrast to the previous 12-month period ended in November 2011 when import prices rose 
10.1 percent.         

Fuel Imports: Import fuel prices fell 3.0 percent in November after edging down 0.1 percent the previous 
month. The November decline was the largest downturn since an 8.5 percent drop in June. A 3.6 percent 
decline in petroleum prices in November more than offset an 18.2 percent advance in natural gas prices. Fuel 
prices decreased 7.0 percent for the year ended in November following a 32.4 percent rise for the November 
2010-11 period. Falling prices for both petroleum and natural gas over the past year, down 7.0 percent and 
7.4 percent, respectively, each contributed to the 12-month drop in overall fuel prices.           

All Imports Excluding Fuel: The price index for nonfuel imports fell 0.2 percent in November after rising 
0.4 percent in October and 0.2 percent in September. In November, most of the major finished goods 
categories contributed to the decline as prices for capital goods; foods, feeds, and beverages; nonfuel 
industrial supplies and materials; and consumer goods all fell. Despite the November decrease, prices for 
nonfuel imports rose 0.2 percent over the past year as higher finished goods prices more than offset lower 
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

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 -0.9 0.2 0.4 2.0 0.2

May

-1.5 -5.6 -0.1 -0.5 0.5 -0.6

June

-2.3 -8.5 -0.3 -1.7 -3.5 -1.5

July

-0.7 -2.0 -0.4 0.4 6.0 -0.2

August

1.2 6.1 -0.2 0.9 (r)4.8 0.4

September

(r)1.0 (r)3.8 0.2 0.8 (r)1.3 0.7

October

(r)0.3 (r)-0.1 (r)0.4 0.0 -1.9 0.2

November

-0.9 -3.0 -0.2 -0.7 0.1 -0.7

Nov. 2010 to 2011

10.1 32.4 3.7 4.8 5.4 4.8

Nov. 2011 to 2012

-1.6 -7.0 0.2 0.7 10.0 -0.4

Footnotes
(r) Revised


Exports

All Exports: Prices for overall exports decreased 0.7 percent in November after recording no change in 
October. The decline was driven by lower nonagricultural prices which more than offset a 0.1 percent uptick 
in agricultural prices. Despite the November decline, the price index for overall exports rose 0.7 percent over 
the past year.      

Agricultural Exports: Agricultural prices advanced 0.1 percent in November, led by a 5.9 percent increase 
in fruit prices and a 2.4 percent rise in wheat prices. In contrast, prices for fish, corn, and soybeans all 
declined for the month. Prices for agricultural exports increased 10.0 percent over the past 12 months. That 
advance was driven by a 30.2 percent rise in soybeans prices, a 14.5 percent increase in corn prices, and a 
19.8 percent advance in wheat prices.           

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: The price index for nonagricultural exports declined 0.7 percent in 
November following increases over the three previous months. The November drop was led by lower prices 
for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials and consumer goods. The decrease in November helped 
drive nonagricultural prices down 0.4 percent over the past 12 months.   


                                    SELECTED NOVEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

Import Prices

Imports by Locality of Origin: Prices for imports from China fell for the third consecutive month in 
November, edging down 0.1 percent following 0.2 percent declines in October and September. Import 
prices from China have not recorded a monthly advance since a 0.1 percent rise in February and decreased 
0.7 percent over the past year. The index had previously increased 4.0 percent between November 2010 and 
November 2011. The price index for imports from Mexico also decreased in November falling 1.3 percent. 
In contrast, the price for imports from Canada ticked up 0.1 percent. Import prices from the European Union 
and Japan were unchanged in November.     

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: The price index for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials 
declined 0.4 percent in November after rising 1.2 percent the previous month. Both the November decrease 
and October advance were led by unfinished metals prices which fell 0.7 percent in November following a 
4.5 percent increase the previous month.   

Finished Goods: Finished goods prices were mostly down in November as capital goods prices decreased 
0.3 percent and consumer goods edged down 0.1 percent. Prices for automotive vehicles were unchanged. 
The November drop in capital goods prices was driven by a 0.6 percent decline in the price index for 
computers, peripherals, and semiconductors.   
 
Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Prices for import foods, feeds, and beverages decreased 1.3 percent in 
November following a 0.2 percent rise in October. The November decline was driven by a 14.5 percent drop 
in coffee prices and a 5.9 percent decrease in vegetable prices.    

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares fell 0.9 percent in November after rising 2.0 percent the 
previous month. Lower Asian fares more than offset increasing European and Latin American/Caribbean 
fares. Despite the decline, import air passenger fares rose 2.9 percent for the year ended in November. Prices 
for import air freight advanced 0.5 percent in November but decreased 0.5 percent over the past 12 months.  


Export Prices
 
Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials 
prices fell 2.0 percent in November following a 0.5 percent increase in October. The November drop was 
driven by a 6.0 percent decrease in export fuel prices.   
 
Finished Goods: Finished goods prices were mixed in November; capital goods prices rose 0.2 percent, 
consumer goods prices fell 0.2 percent, and the price index for automotive vehicles remained unchanged. 
The increase in capital goods prices was led by a 3.3 percent advance in the price index for computer 
peripherals.    

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares rose 0.4 percent in November, led by higher Latin 
American/Caribbean and European fares. The index for export air passenger fares advanced 0.9 percent for 
the November 2011-12 period. Export air freight prices declined 0.3 percent in November.    
		
Import and Export Price Index data for December 2012 are scheduled for release on Friday, January 
11, 2013 at 8:30 a.m. (EST).

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

All commodities

  100.000 141.2 139.9 -1.6 1.2 1.0 0.3 -0.9

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

  71.266 103.6 103.5 0.3 -0.1 0.0 0.4 -0.1

All imports excluding petroleum

  77.353 116.4 116.3 0.0 -0.1 0.1 0.4 -0.1

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)

  76.359 120.8 120.5 0.2 -0.2 0.2 0.4 -0.2

Foods, feeds, & beverages

0

5.093 171.9 169.6 -2.1 -0.5 1.4 0.2 -1.3

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

00

3.971 194.7 190.9 -2.1 -0.4 1.9 0.2 -2.0

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

01

1.122 120.3 121.6 -2.0 -0.7 -0.3 0.2 1.1

Industrial supplies & materials

1

36.828 256.6 251.4 -4.9 3.7 2.4 0.4 -2.0

Industrial supplies & materials excluding petroleum

  14.181 165.1 165.9 -1.6 -0.1 0.0 1.3 0.5

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

  13.187 189.2 188.5 -1.0 -0.3 0.0 1.2 -0.4

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

  7.846 179.0 178.1 -1.0 -0.6 0.5 2.3 -0.5

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable excluding petroleum

  5.341 149.1 151.4 -2.4 0.5 -0.6 0.0 1.5

Fuels & lubricants

10

23.641 342.8 332.5 -7.0 6.1 3.8 -0.1 -3.0

Petroleum & petroleum products

100

22.648 384.6 370.8 -7.0 6.2 4.0 -0.2 -3.6

Crude

10000

17.048 393.9 382.3 -6.2 6.4 4.2 -0.5 -2.9

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

101

0.713 96.9 111.6 -7.1 4.5 0.2 5.7 15.2

Gas-natural

10110

0.608 82.8 97.9 -7.4 5.3 -0.5 7.4 18.2

Paper & paper base stocks

11

0.583 112.3 112.2 -3.4 -0.7 -0.5 -0.3 -0.1

Materials associated with nondurable supplies & materials

12

4.847 175.0 174.6 -0.7 0.2 -0.7 -0.6 -0.2

Selected building materials

13

1.053 141.6 141.0 8.3 0.6 1.3 0.1 -0.4

Unfinished metals related to durable goods

14

3.662 268.1 266.2 -4.0 -1.2 0.6 4.5 -0.7

Finished metals related to durable goods

15

1.556 164.2 163.5 0.6 -0.2 0.2 1.4 -0.4

Nonmetals related to durable goods

16

1.486 114.2 114.4 -1.2 -0.1 -0.1 0.0 0.2

Capital goods

2

22.258 93.4 93.1 0.3 -0.1 0.2 0.0 -0.3

Electric generating equipment

20

2.900 119.8 119.9 1.2 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.1

Nonelectrical machinery

21

17.704 86.3 86.0 -0.1 -0.1 0.2 0.0 -0.3

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

22

1.654 134.0 134.0 4.0 0.1 -0.1 0.1 0.0

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

3

11.647 115.1 115.1 1.6 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.0

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

4

24.174 107.7 107.6 0.3 -0.2 0.0 0.4 -0.1

Nondurables, manufactured

40

11.643 115.2 115.3 0.9 -0.1 -0.1 0.4 0.1

Durables, manufactured

41

11.267 100.0 99.7 -0.3 -0.1 0.0 0.5 -0.3

Nonmanufactured consumer goods

42

1.264 115.6 115.7 1.0 -2.5 0.1 0.1 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 2. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: November 2011 to November 2012
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description End
Use
Relative
import-
ance
Oct.
2012(1)
Index Percent change
Oct.
2012
Nov.
2012
Annual Monthly
Nov.
2011
to
Nov.
2012
July
2012
to
Aug.
2012
Aug.
2012
to
Sept.
2012
Sept.
2012
to
Oct.
2012
Oct.
2012
to
Nov.
2012

All commodities

  100.000 134.5 133.6 0.7 0.9 0.8 0.0 -0.7

Agricultural commodities

  11.760 225.6 225.8 10.0 4.8 1.3 -1.9 0.1

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

  80.468 102.9 102.7 0.3 0.1 0.4 0.3 -0.2

Nonagricultural commodities

  88.241 127.9 127.0 -0.4 0.4 0.7 0.2 -0.7

Foods, feeds, & beverages

0

10.895 227.7 228.3 12.4 4.6 1.0 -1.7 0.3

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

00

10.166 231.5 232.7 13.1 4.8 1.2 -1.9 0.5

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

01

0.729 194.4 189.6 3.8 1.3 -0.3 0.7 -2.5

Industrial supplies & materials

1

34.129 184.5 180.8 -2.7 1.4 1.9 0.4 -2.0

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

  12.218 187.4 186.5 -0.4 -0.5 1.2 2.0 -0.5

Industrial supplies & materials, nondurable

  21.913 183.7 178.5 -4.0 2.5 2.3 -0.4 -2.8

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials

10

1.594 197.5 192.6 -6.9 4.3 2.0 -1.8 -2.5

Nonagricultural industrial supplies & materials

  32.536 184.2 180.6 -2.5 1.3 1.9 0.5 -2.0

Fuels & lubricants

11

8.638 270.4 254.3 -8.6 4.6 4.3 -0.9 -6.0

Nonagricultural supplies & materials excluding fuels & building materials

12

22.963 173.7 172.8 -0.3 0.2 1.1 1.2 -0.5

Selected building materials

13

0.935 117.8 117.8 1.3 0.2 0.1 -0.8 0.0

Capital goods

2

34.210 105.6 105.8 1.2 -0.1 0.1 0.0 0.2

Electrical generating equipment

20

3.522 114.1 114.0 1.0 0.1 0.3 0.2 -0.1

Nonelectrical machinery

21

24.760 94.8 95.0 0.8 -0.2 0.0 0.1 0.2

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

22

5.927 149.2 149.2 2.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

3

8.118 112.4 112.4 0.4 -0.3 -0.2 -0.2 0.0

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

4

12.648 116.7 116.5 -0.2 0.0 0.3 0.0 -0.2

Nondurables, manufactured

40

5.914 115.8 115.7 1.8 0.2 0.3 0.4 -0.1

Durables, manufactured

41

5.315 114.3 113.9 0.5 0.0 0.3 -0.4 -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: November 2011 to November 2012
[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
Oct.
2012(1)
Index Percent change
Oct.
2012
Nov.
2012
Annual Monthly
Nov.
2011
to
Nov.
2012
July
2012
to
Aug.
2012
Aug.
2012
to
Sept.
2012
Sept.
2012
to
Oct.
2012
Oct.
2012
to
Nov.
2012

Nonmanufactured articles

  20.273 167.6 164.1 -6.1 5.5 4.2 -0.1 -2.1

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

11

1.859 174.3 165.4 -5.8 -0.7 2.7 1.0 -5.1

Crop production

111

1.336 183.1 171.0 -5.7 -0.3 3.5 1.0 -6.6

Mining

21

18.414 166.6 163.6 -6.1 6.2 4.3 -0.1 -1.8

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

212

0.319 140.2 139.0 -7.8 -0.1 0.8 -3.0 -0.9

Manufactured articles

  79.267 118.1 117.4 -0.5 0.2 0.3 0.3 -0.6

Manufactured goods, part 1

31

10.716 123.4 123.4 -0.2 -0.2 -0.6 -0.2 0.0

Food manufacturing

311

2.917 153.6 153.6 -1.9 -0.4 -1.6 -0.9 0.0

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

0.844 112.0 112.1 0.1 0.0 0.4 0.2 0.1

Textile mills (Dec. 2011=100)

313

0.405 102.3 102.3 - 0.2 0.5 -0.1 0.0

Textile product mills

314

0.867 115.7 115.8 -2.4 0.0 -0.2 0.1 0.1

Apparel manufacturing

315

4.038 110.8 111.0 -0.4 -0.4 -0.4 -0.2 0.2

Leather and allied product manufacturing

316

1.645 120.8 120.8 3.8 0.4 0.0 0.1 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 2

32

18.053 140.1 137.3 -2.6 1.5 0.9 0.2 -2.0

Wood product manufacturing

321

0.642 120.1 120.3 12.3 1.0 1.0 0.2 0.2

Paper manufacturing

322

1.081 110.4 110.5 -1.7 -0.4 -0.2 -0.1 0.1

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

4.768 175.4 162.3 -10.9 5.6 2.6 0.2 -7.5

Chemical manufacturing

325

8.750 134.9 135.0 0.0 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.1

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

1.892 127.6 127.5 1.2 0.0 0.1 0.1 -0.1

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

0.832 129.6 129.4 1.0 -0.1 0.2 -0.5 -0.2

Manufactured goods, part 3

33

50.498 110.2 109.9 0.2 -0.3 0.2 0.5 -0.3

Primary metal manufacturing

331

4.260 176.8 175.0 -3.4 -1.2 0.5 4.3 -1.0

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

2.566 130.7 130.4 1.2 -0.2 0.5 0.4 -0.2

Machinery manufacturing

333

5.656 121.9 121.8 2.0 0.0 0.3 0.4 -0.1

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

15.411 82.2 81.7 -1.1 -0.1 0.1 -0.1 -0.6

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

3.849 118.9 119.5 2.0 0.1 -0.1 0.3 0.5

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

12.330 112.3 112.5 2.1 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.2

Furniture and related product manufacturing

337

1.311 113.8 113.8 0.7 -0.1 0.5 -0.3 0.0

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

5.115 121.3 121.3 -1.1 -1.1 -0.1 0.3 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 4. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: November 2011 to November 2012
[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
Oct.
2012(1)
Index Percent change
Oct.
2012
Nov.
2012
Annual Monthly
Nov.
2011
to
Nov.
2012
July
2012
to
Aug.
2012
Aug.
2012
to
Sept.
2012
Sept.
2012
to
Oct.
2012
Oct.
2012
to
Nov.
2012

Nonmanufactured articles

  8.693 174.9 175.2 3.0 5.0 0.8 -3.3 0.2

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

11

6.895 217.9 217.3 12.8 6.1 1.5 -3.5 -0.3

Crop production

111

6.440 226.4 226.5 13.4 5.5 2.0 -3.8 0.0

Mining

21

1.798 91.7 93.4 -22.1 1.3 -2.0 -2.7 1.9

Mining (except oil and gas)

212

1.223 108.8 107.3 -24.9 0.1 -1.5 -7.3 -1.4

Manufactured articles

  88.399 121.7 120.8 0.6 0.5 0.8 0.2 -0.7

Manufactured goods, part 1

31

7.280 150.8 150.4 4.2 1.5 0.9 0.4 -0.3

Food manufacturing

311

5.092 173.1 172.8 5.2 1.6 1.1 0.6 -0.2

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

0.601 127.7 125.3 8.3 3.4 2.2 -0.5 -1.9

Apparel manufacturing

315

0.425 122.8 122.8 5.0 0.0 1.1 0.0 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 2

32

26.609 136.0 133.0 -0.4 1.8 2.1 0.1 -2.2

Wood product manufacturing

321

0.396 113.4 113.9 -0.2 0.5 0.0 -0.7 0.4

Paper manufacturing

322

1.825 119.6 119.1 -2.1 0.3 -0.1 0.0 -0.4

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

6.520 177.3 163.6 -3.7 5.5 5.7 -0.1 -7.7

Chemical manufacturing

325

14.893 131.6 130.8 0.2 0.8 0.9 0.2 -0.6

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

2.229 121.0 121.8 4.9 -0.1 2.6 0.6 0.7

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

0.745 111.4 111.5 0.5 -0.4 0.0 -0.3 0.1

Manufactured goods, part 3

33

54.510 113.3 113.2 0.6 -0.2 0.2 0.4 -0.1

Primary metal manufacturing

331

4.857 175.5 173.5 -2.3 -1.3 1.8 3.9 -1.1

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

2.648 132.1 132.1 2.6 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.0

Machinery manufacturing

333

11.039 121.0 121.2 2.9 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

14.137 89.0 89.1 -0.4 -0.3 -0.2 0.0 0.1

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

3.189 112.6 112.7 1.1 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.1

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

13.255 116.5 116.5 1.4 -0.2 -0.1 -0.1 0.0

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

337

0.300 104.5 104.6 - 0.0 0.1 1.4 0.1

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

5.086 121.8 121.9 -1.9 -0.1 0.6 -0.5 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 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: November 2011 to November 2012
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Harmo-
nized
system
Relative
import-
ance
Oct.
2012(1)
Index Percent change
Oct.
2012
Nov.
2012
Annual Monthly
Nov.
2011
to
Nov.
2012
July
2012
to
Aug.
2012
Aug.
2012
to
Sept.
2012
Sept.
2012
to
Oct.
2012
Oct.
2012
to
Nov.
2012

Live animals; animal products

I

1.127 161.4 164.2 -1.5 -1.0 0.3 -0.2 1.7

Meat and edible meat offal

02

0.272 217.7 219.3 1.5 0.9 0.4 -0.8 0.7

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates

03

0.567 112.5 114.8 -6.3 -1.6 -1.2 -0.1 2.0

Vegetable products

II

1.671 212.8 203.6 -2.0 -0.5 0.9 -0.7 -4.3

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers

07

0.375 375.3 369.3 15.6 -1.9 25.8 0.5 -1.6

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

08

0.445 112.5 107.8 -5.3 -0.4 -0.6 -2.6 -4.2

Coffee, tea, mate and spices

09

0.402 262.8 233.0 -18.9 -1.0 -6.5 4.0 -11.3

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

III

0.242 123.9 121.2 -8.2 -1.4 1.2 -2.5 -2.2

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco

IV

2.375 157.6 157.5 -0.5 0.3 0.3 0.1 -0.1

Cocoa and cocoa preparations (Dec. 2009=100)

18

0.186 86.9 88.3 -8.5 3.9 1.1 2.8 1.6

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

19

0.231 129.3 129.4 3.1 0.3 0.5 0.4 0.1

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

20

0.338 167.9 168.9 -0.7 -0.5 -0.1 -1.0 0.6

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar

22

0.797 122.3 122.4 -0.2 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.1

Mineral products

V

23.347 345.2 334.1 -7.0 6.0 3.9 -0.1 -3.2

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

27

23.053 341.7 330.6 -7.0 6.1 4.0 0.0 -3.2

Products of the chemical or allied industries

VI

8.328 151.2 151.6 0.9 0.3 0.1 0.5 0.3

Inorganic chemicals

28

0.977 393.4 393.6 0.3 1.1 0.5 -0.9 0.1

Organic chemicals

29

2.438 138.8 140.3 2.0 0.4 -0.3 0.3 1.1

Pharmaceutical products

30

3.081 119.6 119.7 2.9 0.0 0.1 2.2 0.1

Fertilizers (Dec. 2009=100)

31

0.426 134.3 131.8 -12.8 0.1 -0.2 -1.3 -1.9

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

32

0.162 93.2 93.2 - -0.3 0.0 -10.0 0.0

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec. 2001=100)

33

0.417 125.9 126.0 0.5 0.4 -0.2 0.4 0.1

Miscellaneous chemical products

38

0.463 100.7 100.8 -3.4 -0.4 0.0 -1.1 0.1

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

3.087 152.1 151.8 -0.6 0.0 0.3 0.3 -0.2

Plastics and articles thereof

39

1.886 144.4 144.8 2.0 0.1 0.9 0.4 0.3

Rubber and articles thereof

40

1.201 167.1 165.6 -4.4 -0.2 -0.7 0.1 -0.9

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

VIII

0.585 126.2 126.2 2.4 0.0 -0.1 0.0 0.0

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

42

0.538 126.9 127.0 2.7 -0.1 0.0 -0.1 0.1

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

IX

0.677 146.0 145.7 12.4 1.0 1.1 0.4 -0.2

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

X

1.185 113.4 113.4 -1.3 -0.2 -0.2 -0.1 0.0

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

47

0.175 98.6 97.6 - -1.9 -2.1 -1.2 -1.0

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

48

0.794 108.5 108.6 -1.2 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.1

Textile and textile articles

XI

5.165 114.5 114.6 -0.9 -0.3 -0.3 -0.1 0.1

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted

61

1.985 104.5 104.8 -1.5 -0.6 -0.8 -0.4 0.3

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted

62

1.906 117.3 117.3 0.3 -0.3 0.0 -0.1 0.0

Made-up or worn textile articles

63

0.628 108.5 108.6 -3.7 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.

XII

1.346 120.1 120.1 3.2 0.6 -0.1 0.0 0.0

Footwear and parts of such articles

64

1.150 119.7 119.7 3.8 0.8 0.0 0.1 0.0

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

XIII

0.754 132.0 131.8 0.8 -0.2 0.2 -0.2 -0.2

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

68

0.241 124.8 125.3 1.0 -0.2 0.6 -1.0 0.4

Ceramic products

69

0.226 142.2 140.8 -0.2 0.0 0.0 0.1 -1.0

Glass and glassware

70

0.286 127.2 127.4 1.7 -0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2

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

XIV

3.385 208.6 207.0 2.6 -1.6 2.0 4.6 -0.8

Base metals and articles of base metals

XV

4.766 185.6 184.7 -2.8 -0.5 -0.6 0.9 -0.5

Iron and steel

72

1.020 220.5 220.2 -11.1 -2.0 -1.7 -3.0 -0.1

Articles of iron or steel

73

1.400 159.8 158.8 -1.7 -0.3 -0.4 -0.1 -0.6

Copper and articles thereof

74

0.466 365.0 359.1 6.1 1.5 0.9 6.5 -1.6

Nickel and articles thereof (Dec. 2009=100)

75

0.131 101.6 104.1 -4.7 -1.2 -2.5 6.9 2.5

Aluminum and articles thereof

76

0.699 138.2 136.8 -4.7 -0.7 -0.9 4.1 -1.0

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

82

0.361 127.9 128.1 3.6 0.0 0.2 -0.5 0.2

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

83

0.412 136.4 136.3 3.4 0.3 0.7 -0.3 -0.1

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

XVI

24.729 85.9 85.7 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.0 -0.2

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

84

12.487 90.1 89.8 1.1 -0.1 0.4 0.0 -0.3

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

85

12.242 81.9 81.7 -1.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 -0.2

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

10.278 116.6 116.8 1.9 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.2

Motor vehicles and their parts

87

9.475 115.7 115.6 1.6 0.0 0.1 0.4 -0.1

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

88

0.705 118.4 118.4 2.2 0.1 -0.4 0.1 0.0

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

XVIII

3.207 104.4 104.5 -0.9 -0.6 0.1 0.4 0.1

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical instruments

90

2.950 101.8 101.8 -1.3 -0.6 0.1 0.3 0.0

Clocks and watches and parts thereof

91

0.197 131.7 132.4 3.6 -0.1 0.2 1.2 0.5

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

XX

3.689 112.6 112.7 1.0 0.0 -0.2 0.2 0.1

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

94

1.969 116.6 116.6 1.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

95

1.517 105.0 105.1 0.6 0.0 -0.5 0.5 0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

96

0.202 135.9 135.9 2.0 0.1 -0.8 0.1 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 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: November 2011 to November 2012
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Harmo-
nized
system
Relative
import-
ance
Oct.
2012(1)
Index Percent change
Oct.
2012
Nov.
2012
Annual Monthly
Nov.
2011
to
Nov.
2012
July
2012
to
Aug.
2012
Aug.
2012
to
Sept.
2012
Sept.
2012
to
Oct.
2012
Oct.
2012
to
Nov.
2012

Live animals; animal products

I

1.977 213.0 212.5 2.2 5.2 -1.8 2.7 -0.2

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

02

1.145 169.2 169.0 -1.2 1.2 0.8 1.6 -0.1

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates

03

0.435 212.6 207.4 5.3 1.9 -0.1 0.9 -2.4

Vegetable products

II

6.467 276.9 278.6 17.1 5.3 1.7 -3.7 0.6

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

08

0.891 143.9 150.3 15.6 -1.9 3.5 4.1 4.4

Cereals

10

2.541 332.5 334.6 14.7 9.4 -1.1 -1.0 0.6

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

12

2.438 304.5 302.7 26.6 5.4 4.4 -9.2 -0.6

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

III

0.454 143.4 133.8 -9.7 -0.3 1.7 -2.6 -6.7

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and tobacco

IV

2.872 167.4 168.0 11.6 3.0 1.6 0.4 0.4

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

20

0.319 110.9 110.9 0.6 0.7 0.3 -1.4 0.0

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

22

0.400 110.7 110.7 5.3 0.0 0.1 0.7 0.0

Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal feed

23

0.978 285.0 287.0 36.1 8.2 5.0 1.2 0.7

Mineral products

V

8.575 316.9 298.9 -8.6 4.4 3.9 -0.9 -5.7

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

27

7.982 313.9 294.7 -9.0 4.8 4.2 -1.1 -6.1

Products of the chemical or allied industries

VI

12.163 155.1 154.9 0.2 0.5 0.5 0.2 -0.1

Inorganic chemicals

28

0.991 184.2 185.9 -5.0 0.0 0.6 -0.9 0.9

Organic chemicals

29

3.401 166.6 166.5 0.7 1.7 1.0 0.4 -0.1

Pharmaceutical products

30

3.147 125.1 124.9 0.6 0.2 0.4 0.4 -0.2

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery cosmetic or toilet preparations

33

0.757 136.3 136.5 2.5 0.1 -0.2 -0.4 0.1

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

34

0.463 123.0 123.0 -1.4 -0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0

Miscellaneous chemical products

38

1.759 153.6 152.6 1.5 0.0 0.3 -0.1 -0.7

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

5.452 149.6 148.7 0.9 0.8 2.0 -0.1 -0.6

Plastics and articles thereof

39

4.400 141.2 140.2 1.7 1.0 2.5 0.1 -0.7

Rubber and articles thereof

40

1.052 188.8 188.6 -2.4 -0.1 -0.3 -0.3 -0.1

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

VIII

0.374 133.0 135.0 9.0 1.6 -0.2 0.8 1.5

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

IX

0.539 110.0 110.0 0.5 0.0 0.3 -0.3 0.0

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

X

2.261 115.9 116.9 -2.5 -1.5 -0.9 1.0 0.9

Woodpulp and recovered paper

47

0.578 114.5 118.0 -9.7 -6.4 -3.7 2.0 3.1

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

48

1.221 117.4 117.4 -0.6 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.0

Printed material

49

0.462 123.8 123.8 3.8 0.0 0.2 2.1 0.0

Textile and textile articles

XI

1.880 125.3 124.9 -7.4 0.8 0.6 -0.8 -0.3

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics thereof

52

0.541 130.6 129.7 -27.4 2.8 1.1 -2.8 -0.7

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

XIII

0.741 118.4 118.5 1.5 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.1

Glass and glassware

70

0.399 98.9 98.9 -0.4 0.1 0.0 0.4 0.0

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

XIV

5.411 289.9 285.7 -1.9 -1.2 3.1 3.5 -1.4

Base metals and articles of base metals

XV

5.397 171.5 171.3 -1.7 -0.1 -0.5 0.4 -0.1

Iron and steel

72

1.531 195.5 199.5 -6.3 0.6 -2.5 -1.7 2.0

Articles of iron or steel

73

1.350 173.1 172.7 0.1 -0.2 0.0 0.0 -0.2

Copper and articles thereof

74

0.667 258.4 247.3 -0.1 -1.5 2.0 4.5 -4.3

Aluminum and articles thereof

76

0.824 127.1 125.6 -2.3 -0.2 0.6 2.3 -1.2

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

82

0.385 133.1 133.1 3.7 0.1 0.0 1.1 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

83

0.336 146.0 146.0 7.6 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0

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

XVI

27.331 96.8 97.0 0.7 -0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

84

15.925 110.5 110.9 2.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts and accessories thereof

85

11.406 82.1 82.0 -1.1 -0.2 -0.1 0.1 -0.1

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

10.850 126.4 126.4 1.6 -0.2 -0.1 -0.2 0.0

Motor vehicles and their parts

87

7.156 112.5 112.5 1.2 -0.3 -0.2 -0.2 0.0

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

XVIII

5.769 106.3 106.3 0.8 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.0

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

XX

1.341 110.7 110.7 2.0 -0.1 0.0 0.4 0.0

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings nesoi;

94

0.695 120.8 120.9 1.4 -0.1 0.1 0.7 0.1

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

95

0.514 90.9 90.9 1.0 -0.3 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: November 2011 to November 2012
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Relative
import-
ance
Oct.
2012(1)
Index Percent change
Oct.
2012
Nov.
2012
Annual Monthly
Nov.
2011
to
Nov.
2012
July
2012
to
Aug.
2012
Aug.
2012
to
Sept.
2012
Sept.
2012
to
Oct.
2012
Oct.
2012
to
Nov.
2012

Industrialized Countries(2)

100.000 132.2 132.2 -0.8 0.3 1.2 0.7 0.0

Nonmanufactured articles

12.858 233.3 233.3 -5.3 5.9 6.8 4.0 0.0

Manufactured articles

86.549 124.0 123.9 -0.1 -0.5 0.5 0.2 -0.1

Other Countries(3)

100.000 140.4 138.7 -2.3 1.5 0.7 -0.2 -1.2

Nonmanufactured articles

25.376 354.4 343.4 -5.7 5.5 3.5 -0.4 -3.1

Manufactured articles

74.268 111.1 110.5 -1.2 0.1 -0.3 -0.1 -0.5

Canada

100.000 152.3 152.5 -1.6 1.7 2.2 1.1 0.1

Nonmanufactured articles

29.699 219.1 219.7 -6.8 5.1 6.9 4.2 0.3

Manufactured articles

69.363 138.7 138.8 1.0 0.4 0.6 -0.1 0.1

European Union(4)

100.000 135.1 135.1 -1.3 -0.1 -0.1 0.6 0.0

Nonmanufactured articles

2.352 380.2 371.3 -0.1 11.2 0.1 0.7 -2.3

Manufactured articles

96.840 131.4 131.4 -1.4 -0.4 -0.2 0.7 0.0

France (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 119.8 120.0 -0.5 -0.3 0.1 -0.1 0.2

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 114.7 115.1 -0.3 -0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 135.0 134.3 1.1 1.5 0.4 0.4 -0.5

Latin America(5)

100.000 177.6 174.5 -3.8 1.9 1.2 -0.4 -1.7

Nonmanufactured articles

35.113 377.7 365.0 -8.2 5.4 3.1 -1.5 -3.4

Manufactured articles

64.422 133.9 132.8 -1.3 0.2 0.3 0.1 -0.8

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 145.4 143.5 -3.0 1.0 0.8 -0.2 -1.3

Nonmanufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100)

21.621 205.4 198.1 -6.9 6.5 3.7 -0.8 -3.6

Manufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100)

78.379 94.6 93.9 -2.0 -0.3 0.0 0.0 -0.7

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

100.000 104.4 104.2 -0.5 -0.1 -0.1 0.1 -0.2

China (Dec. 2003=100)

100.000 104.5 104.4 -0.7 0.0 -0.2 -0.2 -0.1

Japan

100.000 103.1 103.1 1.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.0

Asian NICs(7)

100.000 91.2 90.5 -0.3 0.0 0.2 0.2 -0.8

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)(8)

100.000 104.6 104.0 -1.0 -0.3 0.1 0.0 -0.6

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

100.000 274.3 268.9 -2.6 3.2 2.5 1.1 -2.0

Footnotes
(1) Relative 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: November 2011 to November 2012
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Relative
import-
ance
Oct.
2012(1)
Index Percent change
Oct.
2012
Nov.
2012
Annual Monthly
Nov.
2011
to
Nov.
2012
July
2012
to
Aug.
2012
Aug.
2012
to
Sept.
2012
Sept.
2012
to
Oct.
2012
Oct.
2012
to
Nov.
2012

Air Freight

Import Air Freight

100.000 176.2 177.0 -0.5 -1.6 0.3 1.3 0.5

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

24.217 164.4 166.5 -1.4 -0.9 1.0 4.2 1.3

Asia

71.296 156.5 156.8 -0.2 -2.0 0.1 0.5 0.2

Export Air Freight

100.000 148.5 148.1 2.8 -1.0 2.4 1.2 -0.3

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)

35.200 130.5 130.0 -0.3 -1.0 1.7 -1.3 -0.4

Inbound Air Freight

100.000 165.3 168.0 3.6 -0.3 1.4 1.3 1.6

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

24.481 150.3 151.4 1.3 -1.0 1.4 3.5 0.7

Asia

64.434 150.6 154.0 4.8 -0.1 1.4 0.6 2.3

Outbound Air Freight

100.000 147.5 149.2 3.9 0.0 1.4 0.5 1.2

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

30.235 162.2 162.7 -0.4 0.1 0.7 -1.3 0.3

Asia

49.672 140.1 143.1 7.0 -0.1 1.8 1.0 2.1

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares

100.000 183.4 181.8 2.9 -5.5 -1.6 2.0 -0.9

Europe

40.661 198.2 202.9 12.7 -8.0 0.6 3.7 2.4

Asia

26.052 152.1 147.5 -5.0 -3.5 -5.4 -0.3 -3.0

Latin America/Caribbean

10.839 159.2 169.2 -2.3 -2.0 -9.1 1.5 6.3

Export Air Passenger Fares

100.000 185.0 185.7 0.9 0.8 -12.4 -1.5 0.4

Europe

26.856 212.6 216.2 1.6 -5.3 -9.8 -3.0 1.7

Asia

28.163 166.9 161.5 -7.3 24.4 -25.9 -1.9 -3.2

Latin America/Caribbean

24.164 216.6 226.7 18.8 -6.6 -0.3 -2.1 4.7

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: December 12, 2012