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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-11-1325
8:30 a.m. (EDT) Tuesday, September 13, 2011

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 - AUGUST 2011

U.S. import prices declined 0.4 percent in August, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, led 
by a 1.8 percent decrease in fuel prices. The August drop in import prices followed a 0.3 percent rise the 
previous month. In contrast, prices for U.S. exports rose 0.5 percent after declining 0.4 percent in July.


Imports
 	
All Imports: The price index for overall imports fell for the second time in three months in August, 
decreasing 0.4 percent following a 0.3 percent upturn in July and a 0.7 percent drop in June. Import prices 
declined 0.6 percent over the past four months after rising 13.7 percent between September 2010 and April 
2011. Overall, the index increased 13.0 percent for the year ended in August, compared to a 13.8 percent 
advance for the July 2010-11 period.

Fuel Imports: The August drop in overall import prices was driven by a 1.8 percent decline in fuel prices. 
The decrease was led by a 2.1 percent drop in petroleum prices which more than offset a 3.3 percent 
advance in the price index for natural gas. Despite declines in three of the past four months, fuel prices rose 
41.1 percent over the past year. Prices for petroleum and natural gas each increased over the past 12 months, 
rising 43.5 percent and 8.0 percent, respectively.  

All Imports Excluding Fuel: In contrast, nonfuel prices advanced 0.2 percent for the second consecutive 
month in August. The price indexes for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials, consumer goods, and 
capital goods all increased in August, while foods, feeds, and beverages prices declined and prices for 
automotive vehicles remained unchanged. Nonfuel prices rose 5.3 percent for the year ended in August, 
primarily driven by a 17.1 percent advance in the prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials.         

Table A. Percent changes

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

2010

August

0.4 1.0 0.3 0.8 4.2 0.5

September

0.0 -1.5 0.3 0.6 2.4 0.4

October

1.1 4.3 0.3 0.8 2.8 0.6

November

1.7 4.8 0.8 1.5 7.6 0.8

December

1.4 5.6 0.3 0.7 2.0 0.6

2011

January

1.5 4.1 0.7 1.3 3.1 1.0

February

1.7 5.6 0.5 1.3 4.6 1.0

March

3.0 9.7 0.8 1.5 2.2 1.4

April

2.6 7.6 0.8 0.8 -0.5 0.9

May

(r)0.1 -0.6 (r)0.3 0.4 -1.1 (r)0.5

June

(r)-0.7 (r)-2.3 (r)0.0 (r)0.2 0.7 (r)0.2

July

0.3 0.4 0.2 -0.4 (r)-3.9 (r)0.1

August

-0.4 -1.8 0.2 0.5 2.2 0.3

Aug. 2009 to 2010

3.8 8.4 2.7 4.1 6.4 3.9

Aug. 2010 to 2011

13.0 41.1 5.3 9.6 23.9 8.1

Footnotes
(r) Revised

Exports

All Exports: Export prices resumed an upward trend in August, rising 0.5 percent following a 0.4 percent 
downturn in July. Higher prices for agricultural and nonagricultural exports each contributed to the overall 
advance in August. The price index for overall exports also increased over the past year, increasing 9.6 
percent.

Agricultural Exports: Agricultural export prices advanced 2.2 percent in August after declining 3.9 percent 
the previous month. In August, rising prices for corn, soybeans, and wheat, up 8.1 percent, 2.3 percent, and 
5.6 percent, more than offset an 11.3 percent drop in cotton prices. The price index for agricultural exports 
advanced 23.9 percent over the past 12 months, primarily led by a 73.7 percent increase in corn prices, 
although higher prices for soybeans, cotton, meat, and wheat also contributed to the overall increase.  

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: The price index for nonagricultural prices rose 0.3 percent in August 
after ticking up 0.1 percent in July. A 0.6 percent advance in nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials 
prices was the largest contributor to the increase. Prices for consumer goods and automotive vehicles also 
rose, while capital goods prices recorded no change. Nonagricultural export prices increased 8.1 percent for 
the year ended in August.   
 				


                                      SELECTED AUGUST HIGHLIGHTS

Import Prices

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Nonfuel industrial supplies and materials prices advanced 0.9 
percent in August following a 0.6 percent rise in July. The August increase was led by higher prices for 
unfinished metals, notably a 3.2 percent increase in nonmonetary gold prices and a 5.4 percent advance in 
the price index for other precious metals.         

Finished Goods: Prices for finished goods were mostly up in August. Consumer goods prices rose 0.3 
percent and were driven by a 1.8 percent increase in the price index for cotton apparel and household goods, 
which also increased 13.1 percent over the past year. Capital goods prices ticked up 0.1 percent despite a 0.4 
percent drop in computer, peripheral, and semiconductor prices.        
 
Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Foods, feeds, and beverages prices fell 0.8 percent in August, led by a 12.9 
percent drop in coffee prices. Prior to the August downturn, coffee prices had trended up since early 2010, 
rising 102.2 percent from March 2010 to July 2011. 

Imports by Locality of Origin: The price index for imports from China ticked up 0.1 percent in August, the 
smallest monthly increase since the index was unchanged in September 2010. Import prices from China rose 
3.6 percent over the past year, the largest 12-month advance since a 4.3 percent increase in October 2008. 
Import prices from Japan also rose in August, increasing 0.2 percent after a 0.2 percent drop the previous 
month. In contrast, the price indexes for imports from Mexico, Canada, and the European Union all 
decreased in August, down 0.9 percent, 0.2 percent, and 0.1 percent, respectively.  

Transportation Services: The index for import air passenger fares declined 3.0 percent in August, led by a 
6.6 percent drop in European fares. Despite the decline, import air passenger fares advanced 7.4 percent over 
the past 12 months. Import air freight prices increased 0.6 percent in August and 13.9 percent over the past 
year.    

Export Prices
 
Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: Prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies and 
materials rose 0.6 percent in August after edging down 0.1 percent in July. The August increase was driven 
by a 3.0 percent increase in nonferrous metals prices which more than offset lower fuel prices.      
 
Finished Goods: The price indexes for consumer goods and automotive vehicles each increased in August. 
The 0.2 percent increase in consumer goods prices followed a 0.6 percent increase in July. Automotive 
vehicles prices advanced 0.4 percent in August, led by a 0.6 percent rise in passenger cars.             

Transportation Services: Export air passenger fares rose 9.7 percent in August after increasing a similar 9.8 
percent in July. The August advance was driven by a 24.8 percent jump in Asian fares, while increases in 
European, Asian, and Latin American/Caribbean fares all contributed to the increase in July. The index for 
export air passenger fares rose 19.4 percent for the year ended in August. Export air freight prices fell 0.6 
percent in August, but increased 16.4 percent over the past 12 months.
		
Import and Export Price Index data for September 2011 are scheduled for release on Friday, October 
14, 2011 at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).

Table 1. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes for selected categories of goods: August 2010 to August 2011
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description End
Use
Relative
import-
ance
July
2011(1)
Index Percent change
July
2011
Aug.
2011
Annual Monthly
Aug.
2010
to
Aug.
2011
Apr.
2011
to
May
2011
May
2011
to
June
2011
June
2011
to
July
2011
July
2011
to
Aug.
2011

All commodities

  100.000 142.5 142.0 13.0 0.1 -0.7 0.3 -0.4

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

  67.016 103.0 103.3 - 0.6 0.0 0.2 0.3

All imports excluding petroleum

  74.155 116.4 116.8 5.5 0.4 -0.1 0.1 0.3

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)

  72.730 120.3 120.5 5.3 0.3 0.0 0.2 0.2

Foods, feeds, & beverages

0

5.714 175.7 174.3 14.4 -0.7 -1.7 0.5 -0.8

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

00

4.449 197.6 196.0 15.1 -1.1 -2.4 0.3 -0.8

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

01

1.265 126.2 125.1 11.8 0.8 0.5 1.4 -0.9

Industrial supplies & materials

1

40.413 267.5 265.0 31.8 0.0 -1.7 0.5 -0.9

Industrial supplies & materials excluding petroleum

  14.568 172.7 174.5 16.3 1.5 -0.5 0.1 1.0

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

  13.143 194.0 195.7 17.1 1.5 -0.4 0.6 0.9

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

  7.990 185.5 188.3 17.2 1.7 -1.2 0.5 1.5

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable excluding petroleum

  5.154 157.7 158.4 15.1 1.2 0.4 -0.3 0.4

Fuels & lubricants

10

27.270 360.6 354.0 41.1 -0.6 -2.3 0.4 -1.8

Petroleum & petroleum products

100

25.845 400.7 392.4 43.5 -0.8 -2.4 0.7 -2.1

Crude

10000

19.161 408.2 392.4 40.3 -0.9 -2.2 -0.3 -3.9

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

101

1.087 129.8 133.6 7.7 2.8 -0.6 -2.6 2.9

Gas-natural

10110

0.965 114.4 118.2 8.0 3.1 -0.6 -3.3 3.3

Paper & paper base stocks

11

0.641 120.4 118.3 1.8 0.6 -0.1 0.8 -1.7

Materials associated with nondurable supplies & materials

12

4.592 175.0 175.2 19.6 1.1 1.0 1.2 0.1

Selected building materials

13

1.041 130.6 131.1 4.9 -0.5 -1.6 1.1 0.4

Unfinished metals related to durable goods

14

3.902 296.2 302.9 26.6 3.1 -2.5 -0.2 2.3

Finished metals related to durable goods

15

1.563 162.0 164.8 12.9 0.9 0.6 0.5 1.7

Nonmetals related to durable goods

16

1.404 115.3 115.7 7.5 0.4 0.9 0.9 0.3

Capital goods

2

20.696 92.8 92.9 1.4 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1

Electric generating equipment

20

2.655 118.3 118.8 5.9 0.3 0.2 0.9 0.4

Nonelectrical machinery

21

16.238 86.3 86.4 0.5 0.1 0.0 -0.1 0.1

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

22

1.803 126.1 126.0 3.6 0.0 0.0 0.1 -0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

3

9.148 112.8 112.8 3.4 0.9 0.4 -0.4 0.0

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

4

24.029 105.9 106.2 2.0 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3

Nondurables, manufactured

40

11.766 111.8 112.2 2.1 0.1 0.5 0.4 0.4

Durables, manufactured

41

11.234 99.6 99.8 1.2 0.4 -0.2 -0.1 0.2

Nonmanufactured consumer goods

42

1.028 114.3 114.0 10.6 -0.1 2.2 2.2 -0.3

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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: August 2010 to August 2011
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description End
Use
Relative
import-
ance
July
2011(1)
Index Percent change
July
2011
Aug.
2011
Annual Monthly
Aug.
2010
to
Aug.
2011
Apr.
2011
to
May
2011
May
2011
to
June
2011
June
2011
to
July
2011
July
2011
to
Aug.
2011

All commodities

  100.000 134.1 134.8 9.6 0.4 0.2 -0.4 0.5

Agricultural commodities

  11.442 208.6 213.1 23.9 -1.1 0.7 -3.9 2.2

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

  80.638 103.4 103.7 - 0.5 0.2 0.0 0.3

Nonagricultural commodities

  88.559 128.8 129.2 8.1 0.5 0.2 0.1 0.3

Foods, feeds, & beverages

0

10.269 203.5 210.4 23.0 -0.4 1.5 -3.4 3.4

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

00

9.516 205.9 213.3 22.7 -0.8 1.4 -4.1 3.6

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

01

0.753 186.5 187.8 27.6 5.9 3.4 6.0 0.7

Industrial supplies & materials

1

35.230 191.5 192.2 19.2 0.8 -0.5 -0.3 0.4

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

  12.398 189.8 192.9 16.9 0.9 0.4 -0.4 1.6

Industrial supplies & materials, nondurable

  22.834 193.3 192.7 20.6 0.7 -1.0 -0.2 -0.3

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials

10

1.926 226.9 215.9 29.6 -2.3 -2.3 -3.4 -4.8

Nonagricultural industrial supplies & materials

  33.305 190.2 191.4 18.7 1.0 -0.4 -0.1 0.6

Fuels & lubricants

11

9.094 286.1 284.4 32.5 0.2 -1.3 0.7 -0.6

Nonagricultural supplies & materials excluding fuels & building materials

12

23.354 178.0 180.1 15.3 1.2 -0.1 -0.4 1.2

Selected building materials

13

0.857 116.0 115.7 -1.4 -0.3 -0.2 -0.2 -0.3

Capital goods

2

34.376 104.7 104.7 1.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.0

Electrical generating equipment

20

3.374 114.0 114.0 5.0 1.7 0.2 0.4 0.0

Nonelectrical machinery

21

23.982 94.3 94.3 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.0

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

22

7.020 145.0 144.8 3.4 0.3 0.1 -0.2 -0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

3

6.683 110.7 111.1 2.3 0.3 0.1 0.4 0.4

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

4

13.442 117.0 117.2 5.9 0.5 1.2 0.6 0.2

Nondurables, manufactured

40

6.711 114.6 114.8 2.3 0.4 0.0 0.4 0.2

Durables, manufactured

41

5.353 112.9 113.1 4.5 -0.9 1.2 0.2 0.2

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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: August 2010 to August 2011
[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
July
2011(1)
Index Percent change
July
2011
Aug.
2011
Annual Monthly
Aug.
2010
to
Aug.
2011
Apr.
2011
to
May
2011
May
2011
to
June
2011
June
2011
to
July
2011
July
2011
to
Aug.
2011

Nonmanufactured articles

  23.419 176.3 170.6 35.2 -0.9 -2.5 -0.3 -3.2

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

11

2.128 181.3 176.2 14.6 -3.2 -5.8 0.9 -2.8

Crop production

111

1.550 188.2 181.7 12.9 -3.6 -7.0 1.2 -3.5

Mining

21

21.291 175.4 169.7 37.7 -0.6 -2.2 -0.5 -3.2

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

212

0.374 155.5 158.3 13.7 1.0 -0.1 0.3 1.8

Manufactured articles

  76.088 117.9 118.5 7.8 0.3 0.0 0.4 0.5

Manufactured goods, part 1

31

10.837 122.8 123.5 11.7 0.5 1.0 0.8 0.6

Food manufacturing

311

3.273 156.4 157.2 19.6 0.6 1.0 0.1 0.5

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

0.887 112.2 111.8 2.9 -0.2 0.1 1.4 -0.4

Textile product mills

314

0.859 117.6 117.7 13.8 0.7 0.0 1.0 0.1

Apparel manufacturing

315

3.994 110.2 111.5 9.6 0.5 1.6 1.1 1.2

Leather and allied product manufacturing

316

1.451 114.2 114.2 5.8 0.7 0.5 0.9 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 2

32

18.845 140.0 141.6 16.4 -0.1 -0.6 1.4 1.1

Wood product manufacturing

321

0.637 108.3 108.8 6.5 -1.0 -2.7 1.1 0.5

Paper manufacturing

322

1.166 114.0 113.1 3.3 0.4 0.4 0.8 -0.8

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

5.506 183.6 190.2 54.1 -1.2 -2.5 4.6 3.6

Chemical manufacturing

325

8.950 132.4 132.6 5.4 0.5 0.3 -0.2 0.2

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

1.729 125.1 125.4 8.2 0.6 0.5 1.4 0.2

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

0.766 127.5 127.7 4.8 0.4 0.1 -0.1 0.2

Manufactured goods, part 3

33

46.406 110.0 110.4 4.0 0.5 -0.1 -0.1 0.4

Primary metal manufacturing

331

4.610 190.8 195.0 23.9 2.7 -1.8 -0.3 2.2

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

2.454 126.6 127.6 7.2 0.9 0.5 0.6 0.8

Machinery manufacturing

333

5.296 118.8 119.4 5.2 0.6 0.1 0.3 0.5

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

14.270 83.3 83.2 -3.5 -0.2 -0.2 -0.5 -0.1

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

3.427 116.2 116.4 3.3 0.3 0.0 0.7 0.2

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

10.215 109.4 109.4 3.1 0.8 0.4 -0.5 0.0

Furniture and related product manufacturing

337

1.187 111.3 111.7 5.2 0.4 0.6 0.4 0.4

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

4.946 121.8 122.1 8.5 0.3 0.7 0.7 0.2

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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: August 2010 to August 2011
[December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
July
2011(1)
Index Percent change
July
2011
Aug.
2011
Annual Monthly
Aug.
2010
to
Aug.
2011
Apr.
2011
to
May
2011
May
2011
to
June
2011
June
2011
to
July
2011
July
2011
to
Aug.
2011

Nonmanufactured articles

  9.189 177.3 180.6 29.3 -0.3 0.2 -4.0 1.9

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

11

6.654 199.3 204.5 35.4 -1.8 0.7 -6.3 2.6

Crop production

111

6.220 206.5 211.6 36.2 -2.0 0.7 -6.9 2.5

Mining

21

2.535 127.8 127.5 16.0 3.8 -0.8 2.4 -0.2

Mining (except oil and gas)

212

1.701 150.4 152.8 17.5 1.9 1.1 5.0 1.6

Manufactured articles

  87.198 120.8 121.1 7.6 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.2

Manufactured goods, part 1

31

7.324 144.4 145.6 13.9 0.6 0.3 0.1 0.8

Food manufacturing

311

5.079 162.3 164.4 14.7 0.6 0.6 0.7 1.3

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

0.541 115.5 114.6 3.0 0.3 2.2 -2.9 -0.8

Apparel manufacturing

315

0.408 114.2 114.2 9.1 0.6 2.4 0.3 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 2

32

26.875 136.1 136.3 13.6 0.7 -0.5 0.3 0.1

Wood product manufacturing

321

0.380 114.3 113.8 -0.5 -2.2 -0.9 -0.7 -0.4

Paper manufacturing

322

1.969 126.0 126.7 3.3 0.1 0.2 -1.2 0.6

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

6.192 175.8 174.4 39.3 -0.4 -1.6 0.2 -0.8

Chemical manufacturing

325

15.658 132.6 133.3 9.7 1.3 -0.2 0.2 0.5

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

1.993 114.6 115.4 7.1 1.1 0.4 2.7 0.7

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

0.683 110.3 110.2 -2.3 -0.2 0.0 -0.1 -0.1

Manufactured goods, part 3

33

52.999 112.6 112.8 4.3 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.2

Primary metal manufacturing

331

5.149 179.3 182.3 24.7 1.9 0.3 0.1 1.7

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

2.465 127.8 128.0 5.6 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2

Machinery manufacturing

333

10.367 117.6 117.7 2.4 0.2 0.9 0.2 0.1

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

13.619 89.6 89.5 -2.1 -0.2 -0.1 0.0 -0.1

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

3.063 113.1 113.2 4.9 1.6 0.1 0.2 0.1

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

12.867 114.2 114.4 2.8 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.2

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

5.171 124.3 124.6 13.1 1.0 4.0 0.6 0.2

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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: August 2010 to August 2011
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Harmo-
nized
system
Relative
import-
ance
July
2011(1)
Index Percent change
July
2011
Aug.
2011
Annual Monthly
Aug.
2010
to
Aug.
2011
Apr.
2011
to
May
2011
May
2011
to
June
2011
June
2011
to
July
2011
July
2011
to
Aug.
2011

Live animals; animal products

I

1.328 169.1 167.2 14.8 -0.2 -1.4 1.0 -1.1

Meat and edible meat offal

02

0.307 209.6 214.6 17.5 -1.5 -2.2 0.1 2.4

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates

03

0.712 128.0 125.5 13.3 0.7 -0.2 0.9 -2.0

Vegetable products

II

1.837 213.3 209.6 17.8 -2.6 -5.3 1.3 -1.7

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers

07

0.299 298.0 312.7 -5.1 -11.3 -18.8 -0.6 4.9

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

08

0.546 128.7 129.1 19.0 -0.4 -3.6 3.3 0.3

Coffee, tea, mate and spices

09

0.502 297.3 268.0 39.0 0.1 -3.1 2.0 -9.9

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

III

0.313 144.0 142.9 30.1 0.7 1.2 -7.9 -0.8

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco

IV

2.575 158.2 158.3 10.3 0.5 1.4 0.9 0.1

Cocoa and cocoa preparations (Dec. 2009=100)

18

0.213 99.1 99.6 3.5 2.0 -2.7 0.0 0.5

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

19

0.258 127.9 128.4 3.0 1.7 0.3 -0.7 0.4

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

20

0.369 161.1 162.5 25.6 0.5 2.1 0.4 0.9

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar

22

0.861 122.7 122.1 3.4 -0.3 0.1 1.8 -0.5

Mineral products

V

26.812 361.9 355.4 40.3 -0.6 -2.2 0.5 -1.8

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

27

26.469 358.0 351.2 40.6 -0.7 -2.2 0.5 -1.9

Products of the chemical or allied industries

VI

8.586 146.5 146.8 5.7 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.2

Inorganic chemicals

28

1.100 375.0 373.8 36.2 1.4 0.1 -1.6 -0.3

Organic chemicals

29

2.758 136.4 137.5 2.8 0.5 -0.3 0.1 0.8

Pharmaceutical products

30

3.016 110.5 110.5 -6.5 -0.4 -0.4 -0.8 0.0

Fertilizers (Dec. 2009=100)

31

0.301 150.0 151.6 53.4 1.5 10.3 7.9 1.1

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec. 2001=100)

33

0.420 126.8 126.3 7.2 1.1 -0.3 1.2 -0.4

Miscellaneous chemical products

38

0.495 108.9 108.7 16.6 1.0 -0.6 1.0 -0.2

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

2.909 152.8 152.9 11.2 0.4 0.4 0.7 0.1

Plastics and articles thereof

39

1.789 141.9 142.2 7.7 0.9 0.4 0.4 0.2

Rubber and articles thereof

40

1.120 173.7 173.6 17.2 -0.6 0.5 1.3 -0.1

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

VIII

0.527 122.0 121.9 6.2 0.5 0.7 0.9 -0.1

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

42

0.483 122.3 122.1 6.3 0.5 0.7 0.9 -0.2

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

IX

0.670 130.9 131.4 6.3 -0.8 -2.3 1.1 0.4

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

X

1.271 116.5 115.4 2.1 0.4 0.2 0.6 -0.9

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

48

0.844 109.5 109.3 3.4 0.0 0.6 0.7 -0.2

Textile and textile articles

XI

5.129 114.1 115.5 11.4 0.5 1.2 1.1 1.2

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted

61

2.002 107.3 106.8 7.8 0.6 2.1 1.1 -0.5

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted

62

1.870 112.2 116.9 13.5 0.5 0.9 1.3 4.2

Made-up or worn textile articles

63

0.642 111.7 111.6 16.9 0.4 -0.4 0.9 -0.1

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.

XII

1.202 113.5 113.5 5.1 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.0

Footwear and parts of such articles

64

1.027 112.6 112.7 5.0 0.6 0.5 0.7 0.1

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

XIII

0.696 129.0 129.3 4.3 0.3 -0.1 0.2 0.2

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

68

0.239 122.0 122.5 3.9 0.5 0.0 0.4 0.4

Ceramic products

69

0.202 141.2 141.2 2.3 0.1 -0.1 0.1 0.0

Glass and glassware

70

0.255 123.0 123.2 6.5 0.5 -0.2 0.1 0.2

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

XIV

3.040 198.4 204.6 28.0 3.6 -0.5 0.2 3.1

Base metals and articles of base metals

XV

5.111 200.7 202.2 13.3 1.0 -1.1 0.3 0.7

Iron and steel

72

0.960 263.9 262.8 14.9 1.2 -0.3 0.4 -0.4

Articles of iron or steel

73

1.529 160.3 161.0 6.8 0.8 0.7 0.1 0.4

Copper and articles thereof

74

0.589 405.3 417.9 32.5 -1.4 -3.5 3.3 3.1

Nickel and articles thereof (Dec. 2009=100)

75

0.156 126.4 132.5 11.9 -2.5 -6.4 -5.4 4.8

Aluminum and articles thereof

76

0.900 155.8 154.9 16.3 3.1 -1.3 -0.7 -0.6

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

82

0.313 123.5 123.5 4.6 0.5 0.1 0.3 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

83

0.357 131.1 132.0 3.9 0.1 0.5 0.5 0.7

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

XVI

22.843 85.8 85.8 -0.3 0.1 -0.2 0.0 0.0

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

84

11.326 88.5 88.6 0.6 0.0 -0.1 -0.1 0.1

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

85

11.517 83.1 83.1 -1.3 0.1 -0.2 0.0 0.0

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

8.535 114.2 114.3 3.6 1.1 0.5 -0.3 0.1

Motor vehicles and their parts

87

7.586 113.3 113.4 3.7 1.2 0.6 -0.5 0.1

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

88

0.860 115.5 115.5 1.6 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0

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

XVIII

3.088 105.1 105.2 4.3 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical instruments

90

2.849 102.7 102.8 4.3 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.1

Clocks and watches and parts thereof

91

0.177 128.2 128.6 4.7 1.0 0.6 0.3 0.3

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

XX

3.446 110.4 110.6 3.8 0.3 0.6 0.3 0.2

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

94

1.695 113.9 114.2 4.2 0.4 0.6 0.4 0.3

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

95

1.548 103.3 103.4 2.5 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.1

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

96

0.203 133.0 133.0 9.6 0.2 3.3 0.0 0.0

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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: August 2010 to August 2011
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Harmo-
nized
system
Relative
import-
ance
July
2011(1)
Index Percent change
July
2011
Aug.
2011
Annual Monthly
Aug.
2010
to
Aug.
2011
Apr.
2011
to
May
2011
May
2011
to
June
2011
June
2011
to
July
2011
July
2011
to
Aug.
2011

Live animals; animal products

I

1.990 201.4 213.5 23.8 0.4 -2.0 3.4 6.0

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

02

1.201 161.8 163.9 13.4 1.5 -1.7 1.3 1.3

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates

03

0.439 203.4 205.2 34.4 6.4 2.6 7.2 0.9

Vegetable products

II

5.802 239.4 248.9 30.7 -1.1 2.1 -6.5 4.0

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

08

0.944 129.6 129.8 8.7 -2.4 2.2 -1.1 0.2

Cereals

10

2.207 279.0 301.4 52.9 -1.4 3.2 -12.6 8.0

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

12

2.099 258.3 263.8 22.6 -1.3 2.3 -3.6 2.1

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

III

0.539 160.1 160.5 48.1 -1.2 2.4 -0.6 0.2

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and tobacco

IV

2.636 150.8 151.0 6.0 0.8 1.2 -0.8 0.1

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

20

0.341 108.5 109.2 3.4 0.4 0.1 1.0 0.6

Miscellaneous edible preparations

21

0.433 117.7 117.8 -0.3 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1

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

22

0.330 105.4 105.7 3.1 -0.4 0.2 0.4 0.3

Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal feed

23

0.709 223.7 219.3 11.7 2.3 3.1 -4.6 -2.0

Mineral products

V

9.082 340.5 338.9 32.2 0.4 -1.4 0.9 -0.5

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

27

8.449 336.2 333.9 34.6 0.6 -1.5 0.8 -0.7

Products of the chemical or allied industries

VI

12.879 155.0 155.5 7.3 0.9 0.0 0.8 0.3

Inorganic chemicals

28

1.002 195.4 196.4 5.6 -0.4 -0.5 0.0 0.5

Organic chemicals

29

3.346 168.5 169.5 10.2 1.0 -0.4 0.2 0.6

Pharmaceutical products

30

3.879 125.9 125.9 2.4 0.5 0.0 0.6 0.0

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

32

0.565 126.9 127.1 9.1 4.1 -0.6 -0.3 0.2

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery cosmetic or toilet preparations

33

0.759 133.2 133.7 7.7 0.8 1.9 1.5 0.4

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

34

0.462 121.7 122.6 2.9 -0.9 0.3 -0.9 0.7

Miscellaneous chemical products

38

1.853 152.8 152.7 6.6 1.9 0.7 1.4 -0.1

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

5.284 152.2 153.7 11.7 2.4 -0.5 0.5 1.0

Plastics and articles thereof

39

4.207 142.3 143.2 9.3 2.6 -1.2 -0.1 0.6

Rubber and articles thereof

40

1.077 199.8 204.0 21.9 2.1 2.8 3.4 2.1

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

VIII

0.427 135.6 135.8 12.3 1.0 -0.6 -1.3 0.1

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

IX

0.498 108.7 108.8 -0.9 -0.5 -0.3 -0.6 0.1

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

X

2.715 128.5 129.0 6.9 -0.4 0.5 0.1 0.4

Woodpulp and recovered paper

47

0.966 157.6 158.5 18.0 -1.2 1.8 0.4 0.6

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

48

1.265 119.7 120.2 2.0 0.2 -0.2 -0.6 0.4

Printed material

49

0.484 119.2 119.2 2.7 0.1 -0.1 0.9 0.0

Textile and textile articles

XI

2.229 144.8 139.9 19.4 -1.8 -3.7 -2.6 -3.4

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics thereof

52

0.953 215.2 197.0 43.6 -4.9 -8.5 -6.2 -8.5

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

XIII

0.673 115.9 115.8 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 -0.1

Glass and glassware

70

0.377 99.0 99.0 1.5 0.1 0.0 -0.4 0.0

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

XIV

5.399 280.4 288.2 37.4 3.6 4.2 0.7 2.8

Base metals and articles of base metals

XV

5.819 183.9 184.3 14.3 -0.4 0.0 -1.7 0.2

Iron and steel

72

1.853 229.3 230.2 20.0 -0.8 0.4 -6.1 0.4

Articles of iron or steel

73

1.260 170.6 170.4 7.5 0.4 -0.6 0.1 -0.1

Copper and articles thereof

74

0.759 289.8 291.1 26.0 -3.2 0.7 4.2 0.4

Aluminum and articles thereof

76

0.955 138.0 138.5 15.3 1.6 -0.8 -0.8 0.4

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

82

0.335 127.4 127.4 2.7 0.0 0.2 1.4 0.0

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

83

0.305 135.7 135.7 8.7 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.0

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

XVI

26.190 96.4 96.4 1.2 0.1 0.4 0.0 0.0

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

84

15.388 108.5 108.5 1.7 0.1 0.6 -0.2 0.0

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts and accessories thereof

85

10.802 83.1 83.2 0.5 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

10.585 123.7 123.8 1.8 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1

Motor vehicles and their parts

87

5.935 110.2 110.5 1.8 0.2 0.0 0.5 0.3

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

XVIII

5.734 105.4 105.6 -0.9 -0.3 -0.1 0.1 0.2

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

XX

1.374 109.3 109.6 1.8 0.9 0.0 -0.6 0.3

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings nesoi;

94

0.652 119.6 120.6 1.8 0.5 0.2 0.3 0.8

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

95

0.595 91.0 91.0 -1.5 0.3 0.0 -1.8 0.0

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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: August 2010 to August 2011
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Percent
of
U.S.
imports(1)
Index Percent change
July
2011
Aug.
2011
Annual Monthly
Aug.
2010
to
Aug.
2011
Apr.
2011
to
May
2011
May
2011
to
June
2011
June
2011
to
July
2011
July
2011
to
Aug.
2011

Industrialized Countries(2)

39.494 134.3 134.1 7.4 0.8 -0.7 0.3 -0.1

Nonmanufactured articles

4.457 252.8 246.7 27.6 0.5 -3.5 0.0 -2.4

Manufactured articles

34.670 124.5 124.9 4.7 0.8 -0.2 0.4 0.3

Other Countries(3)

60.506 142.2 141.2 14.2 -0.8 -0.4 0.7 -0.7

Nonmanufactured articles

12.079 366.3 353.4 38.2 -1.3 -2.1 -0.3 -3.5

Manufactured articles

48.226 111.8 112.3 7.0 -0.5 0.3 1.1 0.4

Canada

14.271 160.2 159.8 13.9 0.9 -2.0 0.2 -0.2

Nonmanufactured articles

3.991 241.7 236.7 26.5 0.6 -4.1 -0.4 -2.1

Manufactured articles

10.005 142.5 143.6 9.0 1.1 -0.9 0.4 0.8

European Union(4)

17.186 136.4 136.2 6.2 0.9 0.4 0.5 -0.1

Nonmanufactured articles

0.256 370.8 359.3 42.5 -1.2 6.0 1.0 -3.1

Manufactured articles

16.854 132.8 132.6 5.5 1.0 0.2 0.5 -0.2

France (Dec. 2003=100)

1.995 120.6 120.5 -0.7 0.5 0.5 0.5 -0.1

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)

4.510 116.1 115.9 4.1 0.7 -0.2 0.1 -0.2

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)

2.795 135.4 135.3 7.7 0.1 0.8 0.1 -0.1

Latin America(5)

18.406 181.6 179.5 15.4 -1.2 -1.2 0.1 -1.2

Nonmanufactured articles

5.479 389.1 375.7 33.8 -2.7 -2.6 -0.6 -3.4

Manufactured articles

12.844 136.8 137.2 6.1 -0.2 -0.2 0.5 0.3

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)

11.380 148.6 147.3 8.5 -1.2 -2.0 -0.3 -0.9

Nonmanufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100)

1.900 211.4 203.7 38.3 -4.7 -3.6 1.0 -3.6

Manufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100)

9.437 96.5 96.5 0.9 0.1 -1.4 -0.7 0.0

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

34.852 104.6 104.6 3.5 0.2 0.5 -0.1 0.0

China (Dec. 2003=100)

19.595 104.0 104.1 3.6 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.1

Japan

6.198 101.3 101.5 2.7 0.1 0.0 -0.2 0.2

Asian NICs(7)

5.555 91.9 92.0 4.0 0.4 -0.3 -0.5 0.1

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)(8)

5.987 104.9 105.5 9.0 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.6

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

3.795 277.8 270.3 33.4 0.1 -0.5 1.4 -2.7

Footnotes
(1) Percentage of trade figures are based on 2009 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: August 2010 to August 2011
[2000=100, unless otherwise noted]
Description Relative
import-
ance
July
2011(1)
Index Percent change
July
2011
Aug.
2011
Annual Monthly
Aug.
2010
to
Aug.
2011
Apr.
2011
to
May
2011
May
2011
to
June
2011
June
2011
to
July
2011
July
2011
to
Aug.
2011

Air Freight

Import Air Freight

100.000 184.4 185.5 13.9 5.8 -0.1 -0.2 0.6

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

24.627 169.2 169.3 29.8 6.5 -0.9 0.5 0.1

Asia

73.405 165.2 166.4 9.8 5.7 0.2 -0.4 0.7

Export Air Freight

100.000 146.6 145.7 16.4 3.6 -0.1 -0.8 -0.6

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)

38.734 132.5 131.8 14.7 3.7 -0.5 -0.5 -0.5

Inbound Air Freight

100.000 164.1 164.4 12.1 3.8 0.0 -0.6 0.2

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

24.467 153.1 152.6 24.3 5.1 -0.7 0.3 -0.3

Asia

64.263 147.7 148.6 8.5 3.9 0.3 -0.6 0.6

Outbound Air Freight

100.000 141.8 141.4 16.2 2.8 -0.8 -0.4 -0.3

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

36.115 158.4 158.2 11.7 0.8 -0.6 -0.1 -0.1

Asia

45.347 134.1 133.9 21.5 4.1 -1.2 -0.3 -0.1

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares

100.000 183.9 178.3 7.4 5.6 6.8 -0.1 -3.0

Europe

38.852 195.8 182.9 0.3 8.3 11.4 -5.0 -6.6

Asia

26.346 160.9 157.3 5.1 5.3 11.7 0.6 -2.2

Latin America/Caribbean

14.500 177.8 181.9 23.8 -1.2 -1.2 6.1 2.3

Export Air Passenger Fares

100.000 204.9 224.8 19.4 4.4 1.8 9.8 9.7

Europe

33.582 267.7 264.4 14.0 6.7 13.9 10.6 -1.2

Asia

28.546 176.8 220.7 12.7 12.9 -7.4 8.4 24.8

Latin America/Caribbean

18.902 199.8 198.0 17.1 -4.4 0.5 8.9 -0.9

Footnotes
(1) Relative importance figures are based on 2009 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: September 13, 2011