U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes

U.S. import prices rose 0.3 percent in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over 
the past five months, import prices have shown little net change. Export prices increased 0.4 percent in 
September after advancing 0.5 percent the previous month.


Imports
 	
All Imports: Import prices advanced 0.3 percent in September after falling 0.2 percent the previous month. 
Overall, import prices have not changed by more than 0.6 percent in any month since rising 2.6 percent in 
April. Higher prices for both fuel and nonfuel imports contributed to the September advance. The price 
index for overall imports increased 13.4 percent over the past 12 months, led by a sharp rise in fuel prices. A 
5.5 percent advance in nonfuel prices also contributed to the overall increase.   

Fuel Imports: Fuel prices ticked up 0.1 percent in September, but declined in three of the past five months, 
falling 4.1 percent over that period. Despite the recent decreases, fuel prices rose 43.4 percent for the year 
ended in September. For September, import petroleum prices advanced 0.3 percent after falling 1.6 percent 
in August. Petroleum prices increased 45.9 percent over the past 12 months. Natural gas prices declined 4.8 
percent in September, yet rose 9.2 percent for the September 2010-11 period.   

All Imports Excluding Fuel: Prices for nonfuel imports increased 0.2 percent in September. Rising nonfuel 
industrial supplies and materials prices were the largest contributor to the higher nonfuel prices, although 
foods, feeds, and beverages prices and prices for each of the major finished goods categories all recorded 
increases for the month. The price index for nonfuel imports rose 5.5 percent over the past year. The largest 
previous year-over-year advance was 6.1 percent for the year ended September 2008.         


Table A. Percent changes

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

2010

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

0.1 -0.6 0.3 0.4 -1.1 0.5

June

(r)-0.6 -2.3 0.0 (r)0.1 (r)0.8 0.2

July

(r)0.1 (r)0.1 0.2 (r)-0.3 (r)-4.0 (r)0.2

August

(r)-0.2 (r)-1.4 0.2 0.5 (r)2.1 0.3

September

0.3 0.1 0.2 0.4 1.6 0.3

Sept. 2009 to 2010

3.6 8.1 2.5 4.9 12.2 4.3

Sept. 2010 to 2011

13.4 43.4 5.5 9.5 22.9 8.0

Footnotes
(r) Revised

Exports

All Exports: Export prices increased 0.4 percent in September after rising a similar 0.5 percent in August,
resuming an upward trend following a 0.3 percent downturn in July. Higher prices for agricultural and
nonagricultural exports each contributed to the advance. Prices for U.S. exports rose 9.5 percent over the
past year. Despite increasing in August and September, the 12-month increase in export prices is less than
the recent peak of 10.1 percent recorded in June.

Agricultural Exports: Prices for agricultural exports rose 1.6 percent in September after a 2.1 percent
increase the previous month. For the second consecutive month, higher prices for wheat, corn, and soybeans,
up 13.3 percent, 5.2 percent, and 3.6 percent, respectively, in September drove the overall advance.
Agricultural prices increased 22.9 percent over the past year, led by rising prices for corn, soybeans, wheat,
and cotton.

All Exports Excluding Agriculture: The price index for nonagricultural exports advanced 0.3 percent for
the second consecutive month in September. The increase was led by higher prices for nonagricultural
industrial supplies and materials, while finished goods prices were mixed. Prices for nonagricultural exports
rose 8.0 percent over the past year.

SELECTED SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

Import Prices

Nonfuel Industrial Supplies and Materials: Prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials increased
0.7 percent in September following a 0.9 percent advance the previous month. A 0.9 percent advance in
unfinished metals prices was the largest contributor to the September rise in the price index for nonfuel
industrial supplies and materials prices. Higher prices for gold and other precious metals more than offset
price declines for aluminum, copper, nickel, zinc, and tin.

Finished Goods: Consumer goods prices rose 0.3 percent for the fourth consecutive month in September.
Prices for consumer goods advanced 2.4 percent over the past year, the largest 12-month increase since a 2.8
percent rise for the year ended October 2008. The price indexes for capital goods and automotive vehicles
each increased in September, ticking up 0.1 percent.

Foods, Feeds, and Beverages: Prices for foods, feeds, and beverages advanced 0.5 percent in September
after declining 0.7 percent in August. Coffee prices, which fell 12.7 percent in August, rose 11.4 percent in
September. The overall price index for foods, feeds, and beverages increased 14.4 percent over the past 12
months.

Imports by Locality of Origin: Import prices from China and the European Union each increased in
September, ticking up 0.2 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively. Prices for imports from China rose 3.8
percent over the past year, the largest 12-month advance since the index increased 4.3 percent in October
2008. In contrast, prices for imports from Canada fell 0.6 percent in September, while import prices from
Japan and Mexico were unchanged.

Transportation Services: Import air passenger rates declined 2.1 percent in September following a 3.0
percent drop in August. The decrease was driven by a 7.9 percent fall in Latin American/Caribbean fares and
a 3.4 percent decline in Asian fares. Import air freight prices edged down 0.1 percent in September after
decreasing 0.2 percent in each of the two previous months.

Export Prices

Nonagricultural Industrial Supplies and Materials: The price index for nonagricultural industrial supplies
and materials rose 0.8 percent in September, similar to the 0.7 percent advance the previous month. Higher
prices for nonferrous metals and steelmaking materials, up 5.1 percent and 3.7 percent, respectively, drove
the September rise.

Finished Goods: Prices for consumer goods and automotive vehicles each increased 0.3 percent in
September, while capital goods prices edged down 0.1 percent for the month. The price index for consumer
goods rose 5.1 percent over the past year. Automotive vehicles prices advanced 2.5 percent over the same
period.

Transportation Services: The index for export air passenger fares dropped 12.9 percent in September after
an 8.5 percent increase the previous month. The September decrease was led by lower Asian and European
fares, down 17.3 percent and 12.9 percent, respectively. In contrast, export air freight prices rose 0.5
percent, the first increase since a 3.6 percent increase in May.

Import and Export Price Index data for October 2011 are scheduled for release on Thursday,
November 10, 2011 at 8:30 a.m. (EST).

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

All commodities

100.000 142.1 142.5 13.4 -0.6 0.1 -0.2 0.3

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

67.468 103.4 103.7 - 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.3

All imports excluding petroleum

74.618 116.9 117.1 5.5 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.2

All imports excluding fuels (Dec. 2001=100)

73.158 120.7 121.0 5.5 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.2

Foods, feeds, & beverages

5.690 174.5 175.4 14.4 -1.7 0.6 -0.7 0.5

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

4.433 196.4 197.6 15.5 -2.4 0.4 -0.7 0.6

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

1.257 125.1 125.2 10.8 0.5 1.4 -0.9 0.1

Industrial supplies & materials

40.131 265.0 265.7 32.8 -1.7 0.2 -0.6 0.3

Industrial supplies & materials excluding petroleum

14.749 174.4 174.8 15.8 -0.5 0.1 1.0 0.2

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

13.289 195.6 196.9 16.6 -0.4 0.5 0.9 0.7

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

8.132 188.3 189.9 16.9 -1.2 0.4 1.6 0.8

Industrial supplies & materials nondurable excluding petroleum

5.157 158.3 157.5 14.5 0.5 -0.4 0.4 -0.5

Fuels & lubricants

26.842 354.1 354.4 43.4 -2.3 0.1 -1.4 0.1

Petroleum & petroleum products

100

25.382 392.5 393.6 45.9 -2.4 0.3 -1.6 0.3

Crude

10000

18.483 392.7 396.9 43.5 -2.3 -0.8 -3.3 1.1

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

101

1.121 133.6 127.7 7.6 -0.4 -2.5 2.7 -4.4

Gas-natural

10110

0.998 118.2 112.5 9.2 -0.5 -3.0 3.0 -4.8

Paper & paper base stocks

0.631 118.3 117.2 -0.3 -0.1 0.8 -1.7 -0.9

Materials associated with nondurable supplies & materials

4.606 175.0 175.9 19.1 1.0 0.9 0.2 0.5

Selected building materials

1.048 131.2 131.8 5.8 -1.5 1.1 0.4 0.5

Unfinished metals related to durable goods

4.004 303.2 305.9 25.3 -2.5 -0.2 2.3 0.9

Finished metals related to durable goods

1.590 164.5 166.4 12.7 0.5 0.5 1.6 1.2

Nonmetals related to durable goods

1.410 115.5 116.2 7.9 0.9 0.6 0.4 0.6

Capital goods

20.770 92.9 93.0 1.3 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1

Electric generating equipment

2.670 118.7 119.0 5.6 0.1 1.0 0.3 0.3

Nonelectrical machinery

16.289 86.4 86.5 0.5 0.0 -0.1 0.1 0.1

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

1.811 126.3 126.3 3.9 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

9.208 113.2 113.3 3.7 0.4 -0.2 0.1 0.1

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

24.201 106.4 106.7 2.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3

Nondurables, manufactured

11.888 112.7 112.8 2.5 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.1

Durables, manufactured

11.285 99.8 100.1 1.4 -0.2 -0.1 0.2 0.3

Nonmanufactured consumer goods

1.028 114.0 114.8 11.5 2.2 2.2 -0.3 0.7

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: September 2010 to September 2011 [2000=100, unless otherwise noted] Description End
Use Relative
import-
ance
Aug.
2011(1) Index Percent change Aug.
2011 Sept.
2011 Annual Monthly Sept.
2010
to
Sept.
2011 May
2011
to
June
2011 June
2011
to
July
2011 July
2011
to
Aug.
2011 Aug.
2011
to
Sept.
2011

All commodities

100.000 134.8 135.4 9.5 0.1 -0.3 0.5 0.4

Agricultural commodities

11.626 213.0 216.5 22.9 0.8 -4.0 2.1 1.6

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

80.433 103.6 103.9 - 0.2 -0.1 0.3 0.3

Nonagricultural commodities

88.375 129.2 129.6 8.0 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3

Foods, feeds, & beverages

10.549 210.1 214.3 22.7 1.5 -3.5 3.3 2.0

Agricultural foods, feeds & beverages, excluding distilled beverages

9.807 213.2 217.7 22.6 1.4 -4.1 3.5 2.1

Nonagricultural foods (fish, distilled beverages)

0.742 184.6 185.4 24.1 2.6 5.1 0.6 0.4

Industrial supplies & materials

35.166 192.1 193.4 18.9 -0.7 -0.2 0.4 0.7

Industrial supplies & materials, durable

12.504 192.4 196.8 17.8 0.2 -0.5 1.6 2.3

Industrial supplies & materials, nondurable

22.663 192.8 192.5 19.7 -1.1 -0.1 -0.4 -0.2

Agricultural industrial supplies & materials

1.819 215.3 213.4 23.2 -2.4 -3.5 -5.0 -0.9

Nonagricultural industrial supplies & materials

33.348 191.4 192.9 18.8 -0.6 0.0 0.7 0.8

Fuels & lubricants

9.019 285.0 285.8 34.1 -1.3 0.8 -0.4 0.3

Nonagricultural supplies & materials excluding fuels & building materials

23.481 179.9 181.7 15.0 -0.2 -0.3 1.1 1.0

Selected building materials

0.848 115.3 115.6 -1.3 -0.2 -0.4 -0.3 0.3

Capital goods

34.200 104.6 104.5 1.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 -0.1

Electrical generating equipment

3.360 114.1 114.0 4.9 0.2 0.4 0.1 -0.1

Nonelectrical machinery

23.863 94.3 94.1 -0.2 0.2 0.0 0.1 -0.2

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

6.977 144.8 144.9 3.4 0.1 -0.2 -0.1 0.1

Automotive vehicles, parts & engines

6.676 111.1 111.4 2.5 0.1 0.5 0.3 0.3

Consumer goods, excluding automotives

13.409 117.2 117.5 5.1 1.2 0.5 0.3 0.3

Nondurables, manufactured

6.698 114.9 114.7 1.6 0.0 0.5 0.2 -0.2

Durables, manufactured

5.336 113.0 113.7 3.5 1.2 0.1 0.2 0.6

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: September 2010 to September 2011 [December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted] Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
Aug.
2011(1) Index Percent change Aug.
2011 Sept.
2011 Annual Monthly Sept.
2010
to
Sept.
2011 May
2011
to
June
2011 June
2011
to
July
2011 July
2011
to
Aug.
2011 Aug.
2011
to
Sept.
2011

Nonmanufactured articles

22.739 170.8 172.3 38.3 -2.6 -0.7 -2.7 0.9

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

2.077 176.6 181.2 18.1 -5.8 0.9 -2.6 2.6

Crop production

111

1.503 182.1 188.5 18.3 -7.0 1.2 -3.2 3.5

Mining

20.662 169.8 171.1 40.7 -2.2 -0.9 -2.7 0.8

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

212

0.381 158.2 158.1 13.5 -0.1 0.3 1.9 -0.1

Manufactured articles

76.752 118.6 118.7 7.7 0.0 0.4 0.6 0.1

Manufactured goods, part 1

10.931 123.6 123.4 11.3 1.1 0.7 0.7 -0.2

Food manufacturing

311

3.308 157.7 156.7 18.3 1.1 0.1 0.6 -0.6

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

0.885 111.6 111.8 2.9 0.1 1.3 -0.4 0.2

Textile product mills

314

0.862 117.8 118.2 14.0 0.0 1.0 0.2 0.3

Apparel manufacturing

315

4.047 111.4 111.5 9.6 1.6 1.0 1.2 0.1

Leather and allied product manufacturing

316

1.456 114.3 114.2 5.5 0.5 1.0 0.0 -0.1

Manufactured goods, part 2

19.131 141.8 141.0 16.1 -0.5 1.4 1.1 -0.6

Wood product manufacturing

321

0.643 109.0 110.1 8.0 -2.6 1.1 0.6 1.0

Paper manufacturing

322

1.158 112.9 112.4 1.9 0.4 0.7 -0.9 -0.4

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

5.712 190.0 185.7 53.7 -2.5 4.5 3.5 -2.3

Chemical manufacturing

325

9.027 133.2 133.4 5.5 0.5 -0.1 0.2 0.2

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

1.732 125.1 125.3 7.9 0.5 1.2 0.2 0.2

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

0.769 127.7 127.7 4.5 0.1 -0.1 0.2 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 3

46.690 110.4 110.8 4.0 -0.1 0.0 0.3 0.4

Primary metal manufacturing

331

4.723 195.0 197.3 22.9 -1.8 -0.3 2.1 1.2

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

2.476 127.5 129.1 8.4 0.5 0.5 0.8 1.3

Machinery manufacturing

333

5.328 119.3 119.4 5.0 0.0 0.3 0.5 0.1

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

14.277 83.2 83.2 -3.6 -0.2 -0.5 -0.1 0.0

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

3.441 116.4 116.5 3.2 0.0 0.6 0.3 0.1

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

10.280 109.8 109.9 3.5 0.5 -0.3 0.1 0.1

Furniture and related product manufacturing

337

1.194 111.7 112.1 5.4 0.6 0.5 0.3 0.4

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

4.971 122.1 122.8 8.9 0.7 0.7 0.2 0.6

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: September 2010 to September 2011 [December 2005=100, unless otherwise noted] Description NAICS Relative
import-
ance
Aug.
2011(1) Index Percent change Aug.
2011 Sept.
2011 Annual Monthly Sept.
2010
to
Sept.
2011 May
2011
to
June
2011 June
2011
to
July
2011 July
2011
to
Aug.
2011 Aug.
2011
to
Sept.
2011

Nonmanufactured articles

9.291 180.0 182.4 26.1 -0.1 -4.0 1.9 1.3

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

6.793 204.3 208.6 33.0 0.7 -6.3 2.5 2.1

Crop production

111

6.343 211.4 216.3 33.7 0.8 -7.0 2.4 2.3

Mining

2.498 126.5 125.3 11.0 -2.3 2.5 0.4 -0.9

Mining (except oil and gas)

212

1.683 149.4 147.4 10.7 -1.2 5.1 1.5 -1.3

Manufactured articles

87.024 121.1 121.4 7.6 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

Manufactured goods, part 1

7.336 145.2 146.2 13.3 0.2 -0.1 0.8 0.7

Food manufacturing

311

5.106 163.9 165.7 14.4 0.4 0.6 1.3 1.1

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

312

0.535 114.6 115.8 2.8 2.2 -2.9 -0.8 1.0

Apparel manufacturing

315

0.406 114.2 114.2 8.1 2.4 0.3 0.0 0.0

Manufactured goods, part 2

26.824 136.4 136.4 13.5 -0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0

Wood product manufacturing

321

0.377 113.8 115.0 1.1 -0.9 -0.8 -0.4 1.1

Paper manufacturing

322

1.956 125.7 124.7 0.6 -1.3 -0.5 0.6 -0.8

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

324

6.115 174.4 176.0 44.7 -1.6 0.2 -0.8 0.9

Chemical manufacturing

325

15.706 133.5 133.1 8.7 -0.2 0.4 0.5 -0.3

Plastics and rubber products manufacturing

326

1.992 115.0 115.1 6.7 0.4 2.3 0.7 0.1

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

327

0.679 110.2 111.0 -1.9 0.0 -0.1 -0.1 0.7

Manufactured goods, part 3

52.864 112.7 113.1 4.3 0.5 0.1 0.2 0.4

Primary metal manufacturing

331

5.212 182.3 187.9 26.6 0.3 0.1 1.7 3.1

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

332

2.458 128.0 127.7 5.3 -0.1 0.3 0.2 -0.2

Machinery manufacturing

333

10.332 117.7 117.7 2.4 0.8 0.3 0.1 0.0

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

334

13.541 89.5 89.3 -2.4 -0.1 0.0 -0.1 -0.2

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

335

3.055 113.2 113.3 4.6 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1

Transportation equipment manufacturing

336

12.829 114.4 114.6 2.9 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2

Miscellaneous manufacturing

339

5.139 124.0 124.3 11.4 3.7 0.3 0.3 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: September 2010 to September 2011 [2000=100, unless otherwise noted] Description Harmo-
nized
system Relative
import-
ance
Aug.
2011(1) Index Percent change Aug.
2011 Sept.
2011 Annual Monthly Sept.
2010
to
Sept.
2011 May
2011
to
June
2011 June
2011
to
July
2011 July
2011
to
Aug.
2011 Aug.
2011
to
Sept.
2011

Live animals; animal products

1.317 167.3 166.0 12.2 -1.4 0.9 -1.1 -0.8

Meat and edible meat offal

0.316 214.7 209.1 14.1 -2.1 0.0 2.3 -2.6

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates

0.700 125.6 124.6 10.3 -0.2 1.0 -2.0 -0.8

Vegetable products

1.819 210.8 216.9 21.8 -5.3 1.4 -1.3 2.9

Edible vegetables, roots, and tubers

0.318 316.0 341.2 8.6 -18.8 -0.6 6.0 8.0

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

0.549 129.2 123.4 10.2 -3.6 3.4 0.3 -4.5

Coffee, tea, mate and spices

0.454 268.5 294.7 46.3 -3.1 2.0 -9.7 9.8

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

III

0.313 143.6 137.7 22.9 1.6 -7.8 -0.8 -4.1

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco

2.579 158.1 157.8 10.2 1.4 0.8 0.0 -0.2

Cocoa and cocoa preparations (Dec. 2009=100)

0.214 99.3 98.7 4.7 -2.8 -0.3 0.6 -0.6

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

0.259 128.2 127.7 2.6 0.4 -0.7 0.2 -0.4

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

0.373 162.8 159.8 23.4 2.0 0.6 0.9 -1.8

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar

0.857 121.8 122.1 3.5 0.0 1.8 -0.7 0.2

Mineral products

26.391 355.5 355.8 42.6 -2.3 0.1 -1.4 0.1

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

26.029 351.3 351.6 43.0 -2.3 0.1 -1.5 0.1

Products of the chemical or allied industries

8.674 147.6 148.0 5.9 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.3

Inorganic chemicals

1.099 373.8 378.5 32.4 0.1 -1.6 -0.3 1.3

Organic chemicals

2.802 138.3 138.5 3.7 0.0 0.4 0.7 0.1

Pharmaceutical products

3.053 111.6 111.5 -5.7 0.1 -0.3 0.0 -0.1

Fertilizers (Dec. 2009=100)

0.308 153.1 157.4 57.4 10.3 7.8 2.2 2.8

Essential oils and resinoids (Dec. 2001=100)

0.419 126.4 126.5 6.7 -0.4 1.2 -0.2 0.1

Miscellaneous chemical products

0.491 107.9 107.1 14.1 -0.6 1.0 -0.9 -0.7

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

2.911 152.6 153.2 10.9 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.4

Plastics and articles thereof

1.787 141.6 142.4 7.6 0.4 -0.1 0.3 0.6

Rubber and articles thereof

1.124 173.8 173.9 16.6 0.5 1.2 0.1 0.1

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

VIII

0.528 121.9 121.8 5.8 0.7 0.9 -0.1 -0.1

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

0.483 122.1 122.1 6.0 0.7 0.9 -0.2 0.0

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

0.676 131.6 132.9 8.0 -2.3 1.1 0.5 1.0

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

1.261 115.4 115.0 1.0 0.2 0.6 -0.9 -0.3

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

0.845 109.3 109.0 2.8 0.6 0.7 -0.2 -0.3

Textile and textile articles

5.204 115.5 115.7 11.5 1.2 1.0 1.3 0.2

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted

1.998 106.9 106.9 7.8 2.2 0.9 -0.3 0.0

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted

1.948 116.6 116.8 13.5 0.9 1.1 4.1 0.2

Made-up or worn textile articles

0.642 111.6 112.6 17.3 -0.5 1.0 -0.1 0.9

Headgear, umbrellas, artifical flowers, etc.

XII

1.207 113.7 113.8 5.1 0.6 0.7 0.1 0.1

Footwear and parts of such articles

1.031 112.9 112.8 4.8 0.5 0.9 0.1 -0.1

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

XIII

0.699 129.3 129.2 4.0 -0.1 0.2 0.2 -0.1

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

0.241 122.5 122.1 3.3 0.0 0.3 0.5 -0.3

Ceramic products

0.203 141.2 141.2 2.2 -0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0

Glass and glassware

0.256 123.2 123.4 6.6 -0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2

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

XIV

3.141 204.6 215.2 33.4 -0.5 0.2 3.2 5.2

Base metals and articles of base metals

5.159 202.2 199.8 10.3 -1.0 0.2 0.7 -1.2

Iron and steel

0.960 263.6 265.3 16.1 -0.1 0.4 -0.3 0.6

Articles of iron or steel

1.537 160.8 161.9 6.5 0.7 0.1 0.4 0.7

Copper and articles thereof

0.611 419.4 397.7 19.4 -3.5 3.2 3.5 -5.2

Nickel and articles thereof (Dec. 2009=100)

0.165 132.9 126.5 3.4 -6.4 -5.4 5.2 -4.8

Aluminum and articles thereof

0.895 154.6 150.7 11.1 -1.3 -0.7 -0.8 -2.5

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

0.313 123.5 124.2 5.1 0.1 0.3 0.0 0.6

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

0.359 131.8 131.8 3.7 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.0

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

XVI

22.887 85.8 85.8 -0.5 -0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

11.352 88.5 88.7 0.5 -0.1 -0.1 0.0 0.2

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

11.535 83.1 83.1 -1.4 -0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

8.592 114.7 114.8 3.9 0.6 -0.2 0.2 0.1

Motor vehicles and their parts

7.638 113.9 114.0 4.1 0.6 -0.3 0.3 0.1

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

0.866 115.9 115.9 1.9 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.0

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

XVIII

3.102 105.4 105.6 4.6 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.2

Optical, photographic, measuring and medical instruments

2.862 103.0 103.2 4.6 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.2

Clocks and watches and parts thereof

0.178 128.6 129.6 5.8 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.8

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

3.460 110.6 110.8 3.8 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.2

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

1.704 114.2 114.6 4.5 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.4

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

1.553 103.3 103.5 2.6 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

0.203 133.1 133.7 9.2 3.3 0.1 0.0 0.5

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: September 2010 to September 2011 [2000=100, unless otherwise noted] Description Harmo-
nized
system Relative
import-
ance
Aug.
2011(1) Index Percent change Aug.
2011 Sept.
2011 Annual Monthly Sept.
2010
to
Sept.
2011 May
2011
to
June
2011 June
2011
to
July
2011 July
2011
to
Aug.
2011 Aug.
2011
to
Sept.
2011

Live animals; animal products

2.087 212.2 208.9 19.0 -2.3 3.0 6.1 -1.6

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

1.208 163.5 167.3 16.4 -1.9 1.2 1.4 2.3

Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates

0.430 200.2 201.1 28.3 1.4 6.0 0.8 0.4

Vegetable products

5.985 248.1 256.5 31.1 2.2 -6.6 3.6 3.4

Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons

0.958 132.1 122.3 3.8 2.6 -1.3 1.8 -7.4

Cereals

2.373 301.4 325.7 50.4 3.2 -12.6 8.0 8.1

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

2.133 263.7 271.9 30.8 2.3 -3.6 2.1 3.1

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

III

0.537 160.2 161.3 46.0 2.5 -0.6 0.0 0.7

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages,and tobacco

2.625 150.8 152.8 6.9 1.1 -0.9 0.1 1.3

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

0.342 109.2 109.2 5.2 0.1 1.0 0.6 0.0

Miscellaneous edible preparations

0.431 117.7 117.5 -0.8 0.2 0.1 0.0 -0.2

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

0.330 105.7 105.8 2.6 0.2 0.4 0.3 0.1

Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal feed

0.692 219.2 226.6 14.0 3.0 -4.6 -2.0 3.4

Mineral products

8.983 338.4 339.1 33.0 -1.7 0.9 -0.3 0.2

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

8.376 334.9 336.4 37.0 -1.5 0.9 -0.4 0.4

Products of the chemical or allied industries

12.877 155.7 155.4 6.6 0.1 0.8 0.3 -0.2

Inorganic chemicals

1.002 196.3 194.1 4.4 -0.5 0.1 0.4 -1.1

Organic chemicals

3.371 170.6 170.0 10.4 -0.1 0.5 0.6 -0.4

Pharmaceutical products

3.864 126.1 125.9 1.5 0.0 0.7 0.0 -0.2

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

0.563 127.1 127.1 7.3 -0.6 -0.3 0.2 0.0

Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery cosmetic or toilet preparations

0.758 133.7 134.0 7.5 1.9 1.5 0.4 0.2

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

0.464 122.8 122.6 -0.2 0.3 -0.9 0.9 -0.2

Miscellaneous chemical products

1.843 152.7 153.9 7.8 0.7 1.3 0.0 0.8

Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof

VII

5.308 153.7 153.6 11.1 -0.5 0.9 0.7 -0.1

Plastics and articles thereof

4.221 143.4 143.5 9.0 -1.2 0.3 0.3 0.1

Rubber and articles thereof

1.087 202.6 202.0 20.6 2.8 3.2 1.6 -0.3

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

VIII

0.426 135.9 132.8 10.0 -0.6 -1.3 0.2 -2.3

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

0.495 108.5 109.1 -0.3 -0.3 -0.7 -0.1 0.6

Woodpulp, recovered paper, and paper products

2.698 128.2 127.1 4.1 -0.4 0.4 0.4 -0.9

Woodpulp and recovered paper

0.951 155.9 152.6 9.7 -0.9 1.4 0.6 -2.1

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

1.265 120.2 119.9 1.4 -0.2 -0.5 0.3 -0.2

Printed material

0.482 119.2 119.2 2.6 -0.1 0.9 0.0 0.0

Textile and textile articles

2.142 139.8 138.1 14.4 -3.7 -2.7 -3.4 -1.2

Cotton, including yarns and woven fabrics thereof

0.868 197.0 191.9 29.7 -8.5 -6.2 -8.5 -2.6

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

XIII

0.670 115.8 116.5 0.4 0.0 0.0 -0.1 0.6

Glass and glassware

0.375 99.0 99.0 1.0 0.0 -0.4 0.0 0.0

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

XIV

5.524 288.2 305.0 41.5 4.0 0.7 3.0 5.8

Base metals and articles of base metals

5.805 184.4 183.9 12.3 0.0 -1.7 0.3 -0.3

Iron and steel

1.853 230.4 233.5 19.3 0.5 -6.2 0.5 1.3

Articles of iron or steel

1.252 170.3 170.6 7.1 -0.6 0.0 -0.1 0.2

Copper and articles thereof

0.759 291.4 281.7 18.6 0.7 4.2 0.5 -3.3

Aluminum and articles thereof

0.954 138.4 136.5 10.7 -0.8 -0.9 0.4 -1.4

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

0.333 127.4 127.3 2.6 0.2 1.4 0.0 -0.1

Miscellaneous articles of base metal

0.304 135.7 135.7 9.3 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.0

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

XVI

26.081 96.4 96.4 1.3 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0

Machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

15.322 108.6 108.5 1.9 0.6 -0.1 0.0 -0.1

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts and accessories thereof

10.759 83.2 83.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.0

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

XVII

10.540 123.7 123.9 1.8 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.2

Motor vehicles and their parts

5.921 110.4 110.6 1.9 0.0 0.5 0.2 0.2

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

XVIII

5.713 105.6 105.6 -1.1 -0.1 0.1 0.2 0.0

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

1.362 108.8 108.7 0.8 0.0 -1.5 0.4 -0.1

Furniture; stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings nesoi;

0.655 120.5 120.3 1.3 0.2 0.3 0.8 -0.2

Toys, games and sports equipment; parts and accessories thereof

0.582 89.4 89.4 -3.4 0.0 -3.6 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 7. U.S. import price indexes and percent changes by locality of origin: September 2010 to September 2011 [2000=100, unless otherwise noted] Description Percent
of
U.S.
imports(1) Index Percent change Aug.
2011 Sept.
2011 Annual Monthly Sept.
2010
to
Sept.
2011 May
2011
to
June
2011 June
2011
to
July
2011 July
2011
to
Aug.
2011 Aug.
2011
to
Sept.
2011

Industrialized Countries(2)

39.494 133.7 133.7 7.4 -0.8 0.2 -0.3 0.0

Nonmanufactured articles

4.457 239.4 239.5 27.3 -3.8 -0.8 -4.2 0.0

Manufactured articles

34.670 125.0 125.1 4.9 -0.2 0.3 0.4 0.1

Other Countries(3)

60.506 141.9 142.3 15.0 -0.4 0.6 -0.1 0.3

Nonmanufactured articles

12.079 359.0 363.1 43.0 -2.2 -0.6 -1.6 1.1

Manufactured articles

48.226 112.4 112.3 6.6 0.3 1.1 0.5 -0.1

Canada

14.271 157.9 157.0 12.2 -2.1 -0.3 -0.8 -0.6

Nonmanufactured articles

3.991 228.2 228.6 25.6 -4.5 -1.3 -4.4 0.2

Manufactured articles

10.005 143.5 142.2 7.3 -0.9 0.1 1.0 -0.9

European Union(4)

17.186 136.5 136.7 6.5 0.5 0.6 -0.1 0.1

Nonmanufactured articles

0.256 367.9 371.2 47.4 6.0 3.3 -3.0 0.9

Manufactured articles

16.854 132.9 133.0 5.6 0.4 0.5 -0.1 0.1

France (Dec. 2003=100)

1.995 120.2 120.2 -1.0 0.5 0.5 -0.3 0.0

Germany (Dec. 2003=100)

4.510 115.9 115.9 3.8 -0.3 0.1 -0.1 0.0

United Kingdom (Dec. 2003=100)

2.795 135.6 136.2 8.1 0.8 0.5 -0.2 0.4

Latin America(5)

18.406 180.4 181.0 16.4 -1.2 0.2 -0.7 0.3

Nonmanufactured articles

5.479 379.4 384.2 37.8 -2.6 -0.7 -2.4 1.3

Manufactured articles

12.844 137.5 136.9 5.7 -0.3 0.7 0.4 -0.4

Mexico (Dec. 2003=100)

11.380 147.2 147.2 8.2 -2.0 -0.1 -1.1 0.0

Nonmanufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100)

1.900 202.6 203.4 38.0 -3.6 1.0 -4.2 0.4

Manufactured articles (Dec. 2008=100)

9.437 96.6 96.4 0.6 -1.5 -0.5 0.0 -0.2

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

34.852 104.7 104.8 3.4 0.4 0.0 0.1 0.1

China (Dec. 2003=100)

19.595 104.1 104.3 3.8 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.2

Japan

6.198 101.7 101.7 2.7 0.0 -0.1 0.3 0.0

Asian NICs(7)

5.555 91.9 91.9 3.7 -0.3 -0.5 0.0 0.0

ASEAN (Dec. 2003=100)(8)

5.987 105.6 105.8 8.7 0.2 0.4 0.7 0.2

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

3.795 270.8 271.7 33.4 -0.6 0.3 -1.4 0.3

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: September 2010 to September 2011 [2000=100, unless otherwise noted] Description Relative
import-
ance
Aug.
2011(1) Index Percent change Aug.
2011 Sept.
2011 Annual Monthly Sept.
2010
to
Sept.
2011 May
2011
to
June
2011 June
2011
to
July
2011 July
2011
to
Aug.
2011 Aug.
2011
to
Sept.
2011

Air Freight

Import Air Freight

100.000 183.6 183.5 12.4 -0.4 -0.2 -0.2 -0.1

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

24.676 171.2 172.4 30.9 -0.9 0.5 1.2 0.7

Asia

71.902 163.4 162.9 7.4 -0.2 -0.5 -0.7 -0.3

Export Air Freight

100.000 145.8 146.6 16.6 -0.4 -0.6 -0.5 0.5

Europe (Dec. 2006=100)

38.769 131.8 132.2 15.7 -0.5 -0.5 -0.5 0.3

Inbound Air Freight

100.000 163.2 163.5 11.1 -0.4 -0.5 -0.2 0.2

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

24.647 153.4 154.6 24.2 -0.7 0.3 0.2 0.8

Asia

64.148 146.6 146.6 7.0 0.1 -0.7 -0.5 0.0

Outbound Air Freight

100.000 143.0 143.4 16.8 -1.0 -0.3 0.9 0.3

Europe (Dec. 2003=100)

36.169 160.0 159.3 12.7 -0.6 -0.1 1.0 -0.4

Asia

45.588 136.0 137.2 22.9 -1.2 -0.3 1.4 0.9

Air Passenger Fares

Import Air Passenger Fares

100.000 178.3 174.6 8.5 6.8 -0.1 -3.0 -2.1

Europe

37.410 182.9 182.9 3.3 11.4 -5.0 -6.6 0.0

Asia

26.559 157.3 151.9 8.4 11.7 0.6 -2.2 -3.4

Latin America/Caribbean

15.301 181.9 167.6 17.4 -1.2 6.1 2.3 -7.9

Export Air Passenger Fares

100.000 222.4 193.8 12.5 1.8 9.8 8.5 -12.9

Europe

30.367 262.8 228.8 5.8 13.9 10.6 -1.8 -12.9

Asia

32.453 218.2 180.5 10.6 -7.4 8.4 23.4 -17.3

Latin America/Caribbean

17.220 197.6 193.7 15.2 0.5 8.9 -1.1 -2.0

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

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: October 14, 2011

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