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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-10-0465
8:30 a.m. (EDT) Tuesday, April 13, 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 - MARCH 2010

The U.S. Import Price Index rose 0.7 percent in March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.  
The increase was attributable to higher prices for both fuel and nonfuel imports and followed a 0.2 percent 
decline in February. Export prices also rose 0.7 percent in March after declining 0.4 percent the previous 
month.


Imports

All Imports: In March, import prices increased for the seventh time in the past eight months, rising 0.7 
percent. The March upturn followed a 0.2 percent decline in February and was largely driven by a 
turnaround in fuel prices, which accounted for approximately 80 percent of the increase. Import prices 
advanced 11.4 percent for the year ended in March after decreasing 14.9 percent for the March 2008-09 
period.

Fuel Imports: Import fuel prices resumed an upward trend in March, rising 2.9 percent following a 1.2 
percent drop in February. A 4.0 percent increase in petroleum prices was slightly offset by a 12.4 percent 
decline in natural gas prices, which decreased for the first time in six months. Over the past year, the price 
index for petroleum increased 70.2 percent and natural gas prices rose 19.0 percent, driving overall fuel 
prices up 63.3 percent for the same period. The 12-month increase in fuel prices followed a 50.7 percent 
drop for the March 2008-09 period.

All Imports Excluding Fuel: Prices for nonfuel imports rose for the eighth consecutive month, advancing 
0.2 percent. The increase was led by higher prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials, consumer 
goods, and foods, feeds, and beverages.  Lower prices for capital goods and automotive vehicles partly 
offset the overall advance. Over the past 12 months, nonfuel import prices rose 2.7 percent, the largest 12-
month increase since the index went up 4.8 percent for the October 2007-2008 period.


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

2009

March

0.5 7.8 -0.6 -0.7 -3.4 -0.4

April

1.1 7.5 0.1 0.5 3.7 0.2

May

1.7 9.8 0.2 0.4 3.6 0.3

June

2.7 16.0 0.2 1.0 4.2 0.6

July

-0.6 -2.6 -0.2 -0.3 -4.9 0.1

August

1.5 7.0 0.4 0.6 0.2 0.7

September

0.2 -1.3 0.4 -0.2 -2.9 0.1

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 (r)0.6

2010

January

(r)1.2 (r)4.4 0.4 0.7 1.3 (r)0.6

February

(r)-0.2 (r)-1.2 (r)0.1 (r)-0.4 -3.8 -0.2

March

0.7 2.9 0.2 0.7 2.1 0.6

Mar. 2008 to 2009

-14.9 -50.7 -2.8 -6.7 -22.0 -5.0

Mar. 2009 to 2010

11.4 63.3 2.7 4.6 8.2 4.3

Footnotes
(r) Revised


Exports

All Exports: Export prices increased for the fourth time in the past five months, rising 0.7 percent in March. 
Higher nonagricultural prices accounted for approximately 75 percent of the overall increase. The price index 
for overall exports rose 4.6 percent over the past 12 months.

Agricultural Exports: The price index for agricultural exports rose 2.1 percent in March, following a 3.8 
percent decline in February.  Higher prices for cotton, soybeans, corn, meat, and wheat all contributed to the 
upturn in agricultural prices. For the year ended in March, agricultural prices rose 8.2 percent, led by a 55.9 
percent increase in cotton prices and a 45.6 percent rise in nut prices. 

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: Nonagricultural prices resumed an upward trend in March following a 
0.2 percent downturn in February, increasing 0.6 percent. Higher prices for nonagricultural industrial 
supplies and materials and capital goods contributed to the overall increase in March. The price index for 
nonagricultural export prices increased 4.3 percent for the year ended in March. 

 

                                        SELECTED MARCH HIGHLIGHTS

Import Prices

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials increased 
0.6 percent in March after advancing 1.0 percent in February. Rising prices for chemicals and iron and steel 
mill products, which increased 1.4 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively, led the advances this month. 

Finished Goods: Prices for the major finished goods categories were mixed in March, as the price indexes 
for capital goods and automotive vehicles decreased 0.4 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively, while the 
price index for consumer goods increased 0.3 percent. The decrease in capital goods prices was led by a 3.6 
percent drop in prices for semiconductors. 
 
Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: The price index for foods, feeds, and beverages rose 1.4 percent in March 
after falling 0.5 percent in February. Vegetables and meat, which advanced 11.2 percent and 5.4 percent, 
respectively, were the primary contributors to the March increase.   

Imports by Locality of Origin: Import prices from China and Canada declined in March, each falling 0.1 
percent. In contrast, the price indexes for imports from Mexico and from Japan rose 1.4 percent and 0.3 
percent, respectively. Import prices from the European Union were unchanged.

Transportation Services: Import air passenger fares rose 5.3 percent in March after decreasing 3.5 percent 
in February. Higher European fares led the advance. In contrast, the price index for import air freight 
decreased in March, edging down 0.1 percent. The decline was led by a 3.7 percent decrease in European air 
freight prices. 


Export Prices
 
Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials 
prices increased 1.6 percent in March after declining 0.4 percent in February. Higher prices for petroleum 
and chemicals, up 5.5 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively, contributed to the March increase.
 
Finished Goods: Prices for the major finished goods categories were mixed in March. The price index for 
capital goods rose 0.2 percent, while prices for consumer goods fell 0.1 percent and the price index for 
automotive vehicles was unchanged. The advance in capital goods prices was led by a 3.1 percent increase in 
prices for computer peripherals, accessories, and parts. 

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares increased 3.3 percent in March following a 7.0 percent 
decrease the previous month. The advance was led by higher Asian fares. In contrast, the price index for 
export air freight rose 0.6 percent in March after advancing 0.5 percent in February. 
		
Import and Export Price Index data for April 2010 are scheduled for release on Thursday, May 13, 
2010 at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).

Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: March 2009 to March 2010 2000=100, unless otherwise noted
Description End
Use
Relative
import-
ance
Feb.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Feb.
2010
Mar.
2010
Annual Monthly
Mar.
2009
to
Mar.
2010
Nov.
2009
to
Dec.
2009
Dec.
2009
to
Jan.
2010
Jan.
2010
to
Feb.
2010
Feb.
2010
to
Mar.
2010

All commodities

  100.000 125.7 126.6 11.4 0.2 1.2 -0.2 0.7

All imports excluding petroleum

  80.765 110.5 110.3 2.8 0.5 0.5 0.2 -0.2

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)

  78.929 113.5 113.7 2.7 0.4 0.4 0.1 0.2

Foods, feeds, & beverages

0

4.678 144.9 147.0 7.3 0.8 1.3 -0.5 1.4

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

00

3.642 162.7 165.3 9.3 0.8 1.9 -0.7 1.6

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

01

1.036 104.7 105.6 0.8 0.4 -0.7 0.5 0.9

Industrial supplies & materials

1

35.070 202.1 206.0 38.0 0.6 3.3 -0.3 1.9

Industrial supplies & materials excluding petroleum

  15.835 150.6 149.6 12.4 2.8 2.6 1.1 -0.7

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

  13.999 162.8 163.7 12.5 1.8 1.6 1.0 0.6

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

  8.826 157.4 157.6 17.0 2.3 1.7 1.5 0.1

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable excluding petroleum

  5.173 142.3 140.1 6.9 3.2 3.8 0.6 -1.5

Fuels & lubricants

10

21.072 257.6 265.1 63.3 -0.2 4.4 -1.2 2.9

Petroleum & petroleum products

100

19.236 275.8 286.8 70.2 -1.1 3.8 -1.4 4.0

Crude

10000

14.085 279.3 293.0 70.7 -2.0 3.0 -1.3 4.9

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

101

1.589 164.3 148.1 14.8 12.1 12.6 1.3 -9.9

Gas-natural

10110

1.266 156.2 136.8 19.0 14.2 17.6 1.7 -12.4

Paper & paper base stocks

11

0.682 106.4 108.0 1.3 0.7 1.2 2.0 1.5

Materials associated with nondurable supplies & materials

12

4.567 142.6 144.2 5.5 0.9 1.4 0.0 1.1

Selected building materials

13

1.340 124.8 128.1 10.2 2.0 1.4 1.8 2.6

Unfinished metals related to durable goods

14

4.078 233.4 231.9 35.1 4.0 2.8 2.5 -0.6

Finished metals related to durable goods

15

1.784 141.1 141.2 6.4 0.9 0.9 -0.4 0.1

Nonmetals related to durable goods

16

1.548 106.5 106.6 1.3 0.2 0.5 0.6 0.1

Capital goods

2

23.375 91.8 91.4 -0.4 0.0 0.0 -0.1 -0.4

Electric generating equipment

20

2.965 111.8 111.1 1.6 0.3 0.5 -0.1 -0.6

Nonelectrical machinery

21

18.378 86.2 85.9 -0.8 0.0 -0.2 0.0 -0.3

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

22

2.032 122.9 121.8 1.0 -0.2 0.4 -0.2 -0.9

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

3

12.116 108.4 108.2 0.5 -0.1 -0.3 -0.1 -0.2

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

4

24.761 104.4 104.7 0.8 0.0 0.2 -0.1 0.3

Nondurables, manufactured

40

11.499 108.6 109.2 0.7 0.0 0.7 -0.1 0.6

Durables, manufactured

41

12.043 100.4 100.4 0.6 -0.1 -0.4 0.0 0.0

Nonmanufactured consumer goods

42

1.219 102.4 102.5 1.3 1.0 0.0 0.3 0.1

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: March 2009 to March 2010 2000=100, unless otherwise noted
Description End
Use
Relative
import-
ance
Feb.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Feb.
2010
Mar.
2010
Annual Monthly
Mar.
2009
to
Mar.
2010
Nov.
2009
to
Dec.
2009
Dec.
2009
to
Jan.
2010
Jan.
2010
to
Feb.
2010
Feb.
2010
to
Mar.
2010

All commodities

  100.000 120.0 120.8 4.6 0.7 0.7 -0.4 0.7

Agricultural commodities

  8.753 160.6 164.0 8.2 1.8 1.3 -3.8 2.1

Nonagricultural commodities

  91.247 117.0 117.7 4.3 0.6 0.6 -0.2 0.6

Foods, feeds, & beverages

0

7.956 161.2 163.7 4.5 1.9 1.5 -3.8 1.6

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

00

7.373 163.3 166.0 4.9 2.0 1.6 -4.3 1.7

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

01

0.583 144.8 146.1 1.2 0.7 0.1 2.7 0.9

Industrial supplies & materials

1

30.620 152.0 154.7 13.3 1.8 1.7 -0.4 1.8

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

  12.184 159.8 160.4 11.9 2.4 1.3 0.1 0.4

Industrial supplies & materials, nondurable

  18.437 148.1 152.0 14.2 1.3 2.0 -0.7 2.6

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials

10

1.380 151.4 158.4 28.9 0.5 0.1 -0.8 4.6

Nonagricultural industrial supplies & materials

  29.240 152.3 154.8 12.6 1.8 1.8 -0.4 1.6

Fuels & lubricants

11

5.522 190.6 197.3 34.3 2.7 5.5 -4.7 3.5

Nonagricultural supplies & materials excluding fuels & building materials

12

22.689 149.6 151.5 9.6 1.7 0.9 0.7 1.3

Selected building materials

13

1.029 116.1 116.1 1.8 0.4 1.2 1.0 0.0

Capital goods

2

38.983 103.2 103.4 1.1 0.0 0.1 -0.2 0.2

Electrical generating equipment

20

3.664 109.8 109.6 2.6 0.4 0.3 0.2 -0.2

Nonelectrical machinery

21

28.442 94.0 94.2 0.4 -0.1 -0.2 -0.3 0.2

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

22

6.877 138.7 139.1 3.0 0.0 1.5 0.1 0.3

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

3

9.363 108.7 108.7 0.5 0.0 0.3 0.2 0.0

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

4

13.078 109.8 109.7 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.4 -0.1

Nondurables, manufactured

40

6.033 111.8 111.7 4.3 0.2 0.8 0.8 -0.1

Durables, manufactured

41

5.745 107.4 107.2 -2.5 -0.2 -1.4 -0.3 -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 3. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: March 2009 to March 2010 December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted
Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
Feb.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Feb.
2010
Mar.
2010
Annual Monthly
Mar.
2009
to
Mar.
2010
Nov.
2009
to
Dec.
2009
Dec.
2009
to
Jan.
2010
Jan.
2010
to
Feb.
2010
Feb.
2010
to
Mar.
2010

Nonmanufactured articles

  18.236 128.0 132.1 56.7 -0.4 4.3 -0.9 3.2

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

11

1.747 142.6 147.5 14.9 1.3 4.4 -0.7 3.4

Crop production

111

1.254 149.9 154.3 13.1 1.5 4.5 -1.4 2.9

Mining

21

16.489 126.2 130.3 63.3 -0.7 4.3 -1.0 3.2

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

212

0.513 129.7 131.5 1.5 -1.0 -0.5 1.2 1.4

Manufactured articles

  81.254 109.5 109.7 4.5 0.3 0.6 0.0 0.2

Manufactured goods, part 1

31

10.084 107.8 108.1 1.0 0.1 0.4 -0.2 0.3

Food manufacturing

311

2.503 121.5 122.7 6.1 1.3 0.6 -0.4 1.0

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

0.917 108.3 108.2 1.2 0.6 0.0 -0.5 -0.1

Textile product mills

314

0.781 101.4 101.0 0.3 -0.1 0.9 0.2 -0.4

Apparel manufacturing

315

3.962 101.2 101.4 -1.2 -0.8 0.3 0.0 0.2

Leather and allied product manufacturing

316

1.518 106.7 106.7 -0.8 -0.1 -0.1 -0.2 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 2

32

17.913 120.6 122.1 14.3 0.8 2.2 -0.2 1.2

Wood product manufacturing

321

0.804 101.7 106.5 18.5 2.5 2.5 3.2 4.7

Paper manufacturing

322

1.195 103.2 104.1 -1.2 0.5 0.5 1.7 0.9

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

4.132 127.6 129.8 63.1 1.2 5.1 -1.6 1.7

Chemical manufacturing

325

8.887 123.7 124.9 5.1 0.6 1.5 -0.1 1.0

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

1.794 113.8 114.3 1.2 0.4 0.9 -0.4 0.4

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

0.996 120.6 120.5 1.1 0.1 0.8 0.2 -0.1

Manufactured goods, part 3

33

53.256 106.4 106.1 2.0 0.3 0.0 0.1 -0.3

Primary metal manufacturing

331

4.731 153.2 152.7 26.8 4.0 2.6 2.2 -0.3

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

2.686 116.2 116.3 -0.5 0.2 -0.1 -0.1 0.1

Machinery manufacturing

333

6.800 113.1 113.2 1.9 0.3 0.1 -0.2 0.1

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

15.283 88.2 87.7 -1.3 -0.3 -0.3 -0.1 -0.6

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

3.846 112.8 112.2 -0.1 0.2 0.2 -0.3 -0.5

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

13.407 105.8 105.5 0.7 -0.2 -0.2 -0.1 -0.3

Furniture and related product manufacturing

337

1.354 107.8 108.1 -2.1 0.2 -0.1 -0.1 0.3

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

5.149 111.9 112.0 1.8 -0.1 -0.5 0.0 0.1

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: March 2009 to March 2010 December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted
Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
Feb.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Feb.
2010
Mar.
2010
Annual Monthly
Mar.
2009
to
Mar.
2010
Nov.
2009
to
Dec.
2009
Dec.
2009
to
Jan.
2010
Jan.
2010
to
Feb.
2010
Feb.
2010
to
Mar.
2010

Nonmanufactured articles

  6.426 123.1 125.9 12.4 3.2 3.2 -5.9 2.3

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

11

4.524 136.9 141.8 9.8 2.6 3.0 -7.4 3.6

Crop production

111

4.161 140.0 145.5 10.3 2.7 2.8 -8.1 3.9

Mining

21

1.902 90.6 89.9 21.2 5.4 3.5 -2.1 -0.8

Mining (except oil and gas)

212

1.342 93.7 98.0 12.9 1.0 3.3 -3.0 4.6

Manufactured articles

  90.833 110.4 111.0 3.7 0.5 0.5 -0.1 0.5

Manufactured goods, part 1

31

6.693 123.8 124.3 6.1 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.4

Food manufacturing

311

4.533 138.7 139.1 7.2 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.3

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

0.539 107.5 108.1 2.6 -0.3 0.0 -0.2 0.6

Apparel manufacturing

315

0.379 102.4 102.9 0.7 -0.4 0.0 0.0 0.5

Manufactured goods, part 2

32

23.433 114.6 116.7 9.5 0.7 1.6 -0.3 1.8

Wood product manufacturing

321

0.453 111.8 111.7 4.3 0.6 0.8 1.7 -0.1

Paper manufacturing

322

1.930 112.8 113.3 1.3 1.3 0.6 -0.3 0.4

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

3.426 112.4 120.1 48.6 0.3 7.4 -7.6 6.9

Chemical manufacturing

325

14.661 117.3 118.8 7.7 0.9 0.6 1.4 1.3

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

2.094 106.7 106.5 -1.5 0.1 -0.7 0.0 -0.2

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

0.868 114.8 114.7 1.8 0.0 2.7 -0.1 -0.1

Manufactured goods, part 3

33

60.707 107.4 107.5 1.4 0.3 0.0 -0.1 0.1

Primary metal manufacturing

331

4.886 140.1 139.7 15.1 4.2 1.2 0.4 -0.3

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

2.820 121.3 120.6 -0.2 0.3 -0.7 0.2 -0.6

Machinery manufacturing

333

12.725 113.2 113.2 1.3 0.1 0.3 0.0 0.0

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

15.852 92.0 92.3 -0.9 -0.4 -0.5 -0.5 0.3

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

3.539 109.8 109.8 3.4 0.8 0.6 0.2 0.0

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

15.464 110.8 110.9 1.4 0.0 0.5 0.2 0.1

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

5.058 108.8 108.6 -2.3 0.1 -1.6 0.0 -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 5. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: March 2009 to March 2010 2000=100, unless otherwise noted
Description Harmo-
nized
system
Relative
import-
ance
Feb.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Feb.
2010
Mar.
2010
Annual Monthly
Mar.
2009
to
Mar.
2010
Nov.
2009
to
Dec.
2009
Dec.
2009
to
Jan.
2010
Jan.
2010
to
Feb.
2010
Feb.
2010
to
Mar.
2010

Live animals; animal products

I

1.038 132.0 136.3 7.8 -0.1 -0.4 0.3 3.3

Meat and edible meat offal

02

0.238 167.1 174.0 20.6 1.1 1.4 3.3 4.1

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates

03

0.540 99.7 101.5 1.0 0.0 -0.8 0.2 1.8

Vegetable products

II

1.465 166.0 170.7 11.2 1.4 3.5 -1.0 2.8

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers

07

0.385 297.0 341.4 25.7 -3.9 6.3 -2.7 14.9

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

08

0.408 107.0 106.4 2.3 1.1 7.4 0.2 -0.6

Coffee, tea, mate and spices

09

0.276 161.9 159.4 14.6 3.9 -1.7 -1.5 -1.5

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

III

0.204 99.5 104.2 - - 2.4 -2.8 4.7

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco

IV

2.286 140.1 139.6 4.3 0.7 1.0 -0.4 -0.4

Cocoa and cocoa preparations (Dec. 2009=100)

18

0.214 102.2 100.0 - - 3.2 -1.0 -2.2

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

19

0.240 113.1 112.3 5.6 0.5 2.0 -1.4 -0.7

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

20

0.290 130.8 130.5 2.1 0.1 3.0 0.2 -0.2

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar

22

0.904 117.9 117.7 1.8 0.5 -0.3 -0.4 -0.2

Mineral products

V

21.052 259.4 266.8 60.8 -0.2 4.4 -1.2 2.9

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

25

0.186 99.7 99.6 - - 0.7 -1.0 -0.1

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

27

20.653 256.4 263.8 62.5 -0.2 4.4 -1.2 2.9

Products of the chemical or allied industries

VI

8.238 137.8 139.5 7.4 0.9 1.6 0.3 1.2

Inorganic chemicals

28

0.912 261.2 282.5 47.8 1.9 -1.1 5.7 8.2

Organic chemicals

29

2.726 131.4 132.8 9.5 0.7 1.3 0.0 1.1

Pharmaceutical products

30

2.867 118.9 118.5 4.9 1.0 2.4 -0.2 -0.3

Fertilizers (Dec. 2009=100)

31

0.312 100.7 103.3 - - 7.3 -6.2 2.6

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

32

0.175 114.1 113.4 8.9 3.1 2.5 2.1 -0.6

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec. 2001=100)

33

0.412 119.9 118.7 0.0 0.3 0.4 -0.7 -1.0

Miscellaneous chemical products

38

0.496 92.8 93.2 0.6 0.3 1.0 1.5 0.4

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

2.922 132.3 133.6 5.6 1.0 1.2 0.5 1.0

Plastics and articles thereof

39

1.834 127.6 127.7 3.3 1.0 0.6 0.2 0.1

Rubber and articles thereof

40

1.088 141.3 145.0 9.7 1.1 2.1 0.7 2.6

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

VIII

0.591 113.7 113.9 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.2

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

42

0.555 114.8 114.9 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.1

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

IX

0.826 123.0 128.4 16.7 2.4 2.3 3.1 4.4

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

X

1.341 107.5 108.2 -2.2 0.5 0.1 1.0 0.7

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

47

0.193 108.4 113.2 - - 3.2 5.0 4.4

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

48

0.880 101.9 102.0 -8.3 0.6 -0.5 0.5 0.1

Printed matter

49

0.268 120.6 120.0 0.2 0.5 -0.1 0.1 -0.5

Textile and textile articles

XI

4.981 102.9 103.0 -0.1 -0.7 0.5 0.0 0.1

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted

61

1.913 98.3 98.2 -1.8 -1.8 0.7 0.0 -0.1

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted

62

1.870 102.7 103.3 -0.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.6

Made-up or worn textile articles

63

0.532 93.1 93.2 3.0 0.2 1.1 0.2 0.1

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.

XII

1.218 106.9 106.8 -1.1 0.0 -0.2 -0.3 -0.1

Footwear and parts of such articles

64

1.034 105.9 105.8 -1.4 -0.1 -0.2 -0.2 -0.1

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

XIII

0.889 124.4 124.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 -0.1 -0.1

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

68

0.316 117.7 118.0 -0.9 0.1 0.3 -0.2 0.3

Ceramic products

69

0.279 140.0 139.9 3.6 0.1 0.0 0.1 -0.1

Glass and glassware

70

0.294 115.4 115.0 -1.6 0.0 -0.3 -0.2 -0.3

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

XIV

2.728 155.9 155.0 15.2 4.1 -0.2 0.3 -0.6

Base metals and articles of base metals

XV

5.911 173.7 173.6 15.0 1.3 2.2 1.8 -0.1

Iron and steel

72

1.282 209.4 216.5 13.1 0.0 2.4 3.9 3.4

Articles of iron or steel

73

1.758 140.9 142.2 -3.0 1.0 0.5 0.2 0.9

Copper and articles thereof

74

0.692 332.6 323.4 77.8 4.7 3.8 1.2 -2.8

Nickel and articles thereof (Dec. 2009=100)

75

0.166 107.6 111.2 - - -0.8 8.5 3.3

Aluminum and articles thereof

76

0.836 136.3 133.1 32.2 2.3 6.0 2.2 -2.3

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

82

0.365 118.0 117.7 -0.5 0.6 0.4 -0.1 -0.3

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

83

0.417 128.1 127.2 -2.5 0.0 0.0 0.5 -0.7

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

XVI

25.713 87.0 86.8 0.3 -0.1 0.0 -0.2 -0.2

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

84

12.893 88.2 88.1 0.6 0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1

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

85

12.820 85.9 85.6 0.1 -0.3 0.1 -0.2 -0.3

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

11.346 109.8 109.4 0.3 -0.1 -0.4 -0.1 -0.4

Motor vehicles and their parts

87

10.230 108.6 108.5 0.4 -0.2 -0.4 -0.2 -0.1

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

88

1.022 115.6 113.8 -1.4 -0.3 0.2 0.0 -1.6

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

XVIII

3.282 101.2 100.8 -0.6 0.0 -1.4 0.2 -0.4

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical instruments

90

2.969 98.8 98.6 -0.6 0.0 -1.5 0.2 -0.2

Clocks and watches and parts thereof

91

0.234 124.5 120.5 -1.7 0.1 -0.2 -0.2 -3.2

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

XX

3.904 107.2 107.4 -0.5 -0.3 0.2 0.0 0.2

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

94

1.999 110.9 110.9 -2.0 -0.2 -0.2 0.2 0.0

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

95

1.700 101.0 101.1 0.4 -0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

96

0.205 120.8 121.9 9.2 0.1 2.7 0.7 0.9

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


Table 6. U.S. export price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: March 2009 to March 2010 2000=100, unless otherwise noted
Description Harmo-
nized
system
Relative
import-
ance
Feb.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Feb.
2010
Mar.
2010
Annual Monthly
Mar.
2009
to
Mar.
2010
Nov.
2009
to
Dec.
2009
Dec.
2009
to
Jan.
2010
Jan.
2010
to
Feb.
2010
Feb.
2010
to
Mar.
2010

Live animals; animal products

I

1.691 161.8 164.6 5.9 1.5 1.6 3.7 1.7

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

02

0.948 131.0 134.7 9.7 2.0 0.8 5.5 2.8

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates

03

0.318 147.9 150.6 3.4 1.7 2.5 4.7 1.8

Vegetable products

II

4.186 176.0 181.2 3.8 1.3 2.8 -8.4 3.0

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

08

0.768 124.4 124.9 24.9 4.2 11.8 -1.0 0.4

Cereals

10

1.653 177.9 183.3 -1.8 3.1 1.9 -9.7 3.0

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

12

1.278 189.2 195.3 6.3 0.0 0.0 -9.7 3.2

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

III

0.290 99.5 103.6 - - 2.7 -3.1 4.1

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and tobacco

IV

2.527 140.6 139.1 2.9 0.9 0.1 -0.9 -1.1

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

20

0.344 102.3 102.5 - - 0.9 1.4 0.2

Miscellaneous edible preparations

21

0.421 119.2 119.0 -0.5 -0.3 0.3 0.0 -0.2

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

22

0.341 104.1 105.0 4.6 0.0 0.6 -0.3 0.9

Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal feed

23

0.597 189.1 179.5 -0.7 1.3 -0.8 -4.0 -5.1

Mineral products

V

5.430 225.2 232.2 37.3 2.4 5.8 -5.3 3.1

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

27

4.819 219.4 227.1 41.5 2.6 6.0 -5.4 3.5

Products of the chemical or allied industries

VI

11.953 140.4 141.9 5.0 1.1 0.6 1.4 1.1

Inorganic chemicals

28

1.013 170.6 173.0 -13.1 1.4 -1.0 1.5 1.4

Organic chemicals

29

3.015 146.8 149.2 11.3 1.5 0.3 1.0 1.6

Pharmaceutical products

30

3.012 122.2 122.1 6.7 0.3 2.6 1.5 -0.1

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

32

0.542 113.9 113.9 -0.1 -0.3 -1.8 1.1 0.0

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery cosmetic or toilet preparations

33

0.739 125.1 123.5 1.6 0.0 -2.0 0.6 -1.3

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

34

0.444 118.3 117.4 1.7 0.2 0.3 0.3 -0.8

Miscellaneous chemical products

38

1.996 133.2 133.5 3.0 0.5 0.2 -0.7 0.2

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

5.065 134.3 135.2 3.8 0.3 -0.7 0.8 0.7

Plastics and articles thereof

39

4.096 127.7 128.8 4.0 0.3 -1.5 1.2 0.9

Rubber and articles thereof

40

0.969 164.2 164.1 2.9 0.3 2.9 -0.8 -0.1

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

VIII

0.362 113.2 116.5 44.4 5.2 2.3 3.9 2.9

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

IX

0.566 108.8 108.0 3.4 1.0 2.2 1.6 -0.7

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

X

2.456 112.6 114.3 7.5 1.3 1.6 0.3 1.5

Woodpulp and recovered paper

47

0.657 120.0 125.6 41.8 5.0 6.0 2.3 4.7

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

48

1.287 109.6 110.2 -2.5 0.1 0.4 -0.5 0.5

Printed material

49

0.512 116.2 116.1 1.5 0.0 -0.2 0.1 -0.1

Textile and textile articles

XI

1.951 109.1 112.2 10.9 0.1 0.4 -0.5 2.8

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics thereof

52

0.596 113.2 123.2 43.4 0.4 0.4 -1.4 8.8

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

XIII

0.821 117.7 117.5 1.1 0.0 3.1 -0.3 -0.2

Glass and glassware

70

0.439 100.1 99.7 -0.8 0.0 2.6 0.0 -0.4

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

XIV

4.796 197.5 196.7 12.7 5.5 0.3 -0.1 -0.4

Base metals and articles of base metals

XV

5.898 158.8 161.2 13.2 0.8 2.5 0.7 1.5

Iron and steel

72

1.724 186.2 191.2 15.8 0.2 4.6 3.1 2.7

Articles of iron or steel

73

1.537 157.4 156.7 -4.6 -0.1 -0.3 0.3 -0.4

Copper and articles thereof

74

0.565 215.8 231.2 92.0 4.8 4.9 -3.7 7.1

Aluminum and articles thereof

76

0.908 123.2 123.4 28.9 2.1 6.3 -0.2 0.2

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

82

0.421 124.2 124.2 2.0 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

83

0.319 123.8 124.9 2.1 0.1 0.1 1.1 0.9

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

XVI

30.750 95.4 95.6 0.7 -0.1 0.2 -0.3 0.2

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

84

17.916 105.7 106.2 1.3 -0.1 0.1 -0.4 0.5

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts and accessories thereof

85

12.834 84.1 84.1 -0.1 -0.1 0.2 -0.2 0.0

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

13.486 120.8 121.0 1.5 0.0 0.4 0.2 0.2

Motor vehicles and their parts

87

8.696 108.2 108.3 0.7 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.1

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

89

0.298 100.1 100.1 - - 0.1 0.0 0.0

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

XVIII

6.064 106.4 106.2 -0.7 0.0 -2.1 0.2 -0.2

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

XX

1.558 108.4 107.7 0.9 -0.6 0.7 -0.1 -0.6

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings nesoi;

94

0.764 117.2 118.1 1.6 -1.4 -0.3 -0.1 0.8

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

95

0.678 95.2 92.9 -0.2 0.1 2.0 0.0 -2.4

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: March 2009 to March 2010 2000=100, unless otherwise noted
Description Percent
of
U.S.
imports(1)
Index Percent change
Feb.
2010
Mar.
2010
Annual Monthly
Mar.
2009
to
Mar.
2010
Nov.
2009
to
Dec.
2009
Dec.
2009
to
Jan.
2010
Jan.
2010
to
Feb.
2010
Feb.
2010
to
Mar.
2010

Industrialized Countries(2)

41.082 125.8 125.4 6.7 0.6 1.3 0.2 -0.3

Nonmanufactured articles

5.687 215.6 215.0 49.4 1.6 5.7 2.6 -0.3

Manufactured articles

34.943 118.7 118.2 2.9 0.5 0.7 0.0 -0.4

Other Countries(3)

58.918 123.2 124.7 13.1 0.0 1.3 -0.4 1.2

Nonmanufactured articles

15.714 252.7 264.0 58.3 -1.4 3.6 -1.6 4.5

Manufactured articles

43.010 104.9 105.2 3.4 0.5 0.5 -0.1 0.3

Canada

15.923 144.1 144.0 15.8 1.0 3.6 1.0 -0.1

Nonmanufactured articles

5.257 209.8 209.2 49.7 1.9 6.1 2.7 -0.3

Manufactured articles

10.335 131.0 130.9 6.7 0.6 2.6 0.3 -0.1

European Union(4)

16.799 127.5 127.5 3.2 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.0

Nonmanufactured articles

0.211 252.3 259.9 38.0 0.7 -1.2 2.1 3.0

Manufactured articles

16.491 125.0 125.0 2.9 0.3 0.2 -0.1 0.0

France (Dec. 2003=100)

1.948 122.2 121.7 2.2 0.1 0.5 -2.0 -0.4

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)

4.572 113.5 112.9 4.2 1.0 0.8 -0.5 -0.5

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)

2.566 124.9 126.0 6.6 0.9 0.2 -0.1 0.9

Latin America(5)

17.999 156.2 158.7 20.1 -0.3 2.2 -0.8 1.6

Nonmanufactured articles

6.186 279.8 290.9 54.0 -2.1 4.3 -2.1 4.0

Manufactured articles

11.730 130.4 130.9 7.6 0.6 0.9 -0.1 0.4

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)

10.275 136.3 138.2 11.0 -0.7 1.7 -1.1 1.4

Nonmanufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100)

2.141 146.9 155.5 58.2 -3.1 5.9 -4.2 5.9

Manufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100)

8.085 96.2 96.4 1.2 0.1 0.4 -0.3 0.2

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

31.500 100.3 100.4 1.1 0.4 0.1 -0.1 0.1

China (Dec. 2003=100)

16.449 100.2 100.1 -0.8 0.2 -0.4 0.0 -0.1

Japan

6.678 97.8 98.1 1.9 0.3 0.1 -0.1 0.3

Asian NICs(7)

5.003 87.1 87.1 2.0 0.8 0.8 -0.1 0.0

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)(8)

5.274 96.7 96.9 1.7 0.4 -0.5 -0.1 0.2

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

5.380 207.2 214.1 40.9 -1.3 2.3 1.7 3.3

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: March 2009 to March 2010 2000=100, unless otherwise noted
Description Relative
import-
ance
Feb.
2010(1)
Index Percent change
Feb.
2010
Mar.
2010
Annual Monthly
Mar.
2009
to
Mar.
2010
Nov.
2009
to
Dec.
2009
Dec.
2009
to
Jan.
2010
Jan.
2010
to
Feb.
2010
Feb.
2010
to
Mar.
2010

Air Freight

Import Air Freight

100.000 156.2 156.0 17.4 7.5 -4.4 -0.3 -0.1

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

22.201 136.8 131.8 5.8 2.1 -1.6 -1.2 -3.7

Asia

69.829 141.5 143.2 20.9 10.1 -5.6 -0.6 1.2

Export Air Freight

100.000 123.7 124.4 0.2 0.9 0.2 0.5 0.6

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)

33.145 113.5 114.7 -0.4 2.1 0.0 0.2 1.1

Inbound Air Freight

100.000 143.1 143.6 12.6 5.0 -2.2 -0.6 0.3

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

23.553 127.3 123.5 1.7 1.4 -0.5 -1.2 -3.0

Asia

66.338 131.0 132.5 17.9 7.1 -3.1 -0.6 1.1

Outbound Air Freight

100.000 115.9 117.0 -2.3 1.1 0.3 0.9 0.9

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

40.855 133.0 133.7 -5.7 1.6 0.3 0.6 0.5

Asia

42.716 107.2 108.3 3.0 1.0 0.8 1.2 1.0

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares

100.000 142.2 149.8 11.0 3.3 -3.2 -3.5 5.3

Europe

40.612 147.9 162.6 20.8 -2.3 -1.6 -3.6 9.9

Asia

27.920 122.8 126.4 2.7 11.0 -5.3 -7.6 2.9

Latin America/Caribbean

13.363 132.3 135.9 15.0 12.6 -10.8 1.1 2.7

Export Air Passenger Fares

100.000 146.6 151.4 6.8 10.2 1.0 -7.0 3.3

Europe

34.412 180.0 181.7 18.2 5.3 -0.6 -3.4 0.9

Asia

29.194 122.0 130.8 1.9 10.9 6.0 -9.6 7.2

Latin America/Caribbean

24.050 159.5 162.3 8.4 16.1 2.7 -9.6 1.8

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: April 13, 2010