The International Price Program (IPP) produces Import/Export Price Indexes (MXP) containing data on changes in the prices of nonmilitary goods and services traded between the U.S. and the rest of the world.

Announcement

  • NEW Index Estimation and Review Systems Improvements (HTML)
  • 2017 Publication Changes (PDF)
  • Comparison of BLS Price and Spending Measures (HTML)

Next Release:

  • August 2017 U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes are scheduled to be released on September 19, 2017, at 8:30 A.M. Eastern Time.

On This Page

 

MXP News Releases

Import prices up 0.1% in July after declines in June and May; export prices rise 0.4%

08/15/2017

U.S. import prices edged up 0.1 percent in July, led by higher fuel prices which more than offset lower prices for nonfuel imports. Import prices rose 1.5 percent over the past 12 months. U.S. export prices advanced 0.4 percent in July and increased 0.8 percent over the past year.
HTML | PDF | RSS | Charts

Current

  • U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes (Current Month) (HTML) (PDF)
  • Subscribe to the BLS News Service—Receive the U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes news release by e-mail.
  • Upcoming Release Dates for the rest of this calendar year.

Archived

 

MXP Databases

MXP Databases

Database Name Special
Notice		 Top
Picks		 One
Screen		 Multi-
Screen		 Tables Text Files
Import/Export Price Indexes
(International Price Program - IPP) 		  Top Picks One Screen Data Search Multi Screen Data Search Tables Text Files

 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Database holds current time series data that are published simultaneously with the Import and Export Price Index News Release. The data query and extraction tool provides users with an interface to select more than 1000 data series. Unique letter/number combinations represent different descriptors that characterize the index type, product or industry classification, geographic coverage, and time period availability. More information on the format of the data can be found at https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/ei/ei.txt.

More Tools

  • Series Identifiers Key—Not sure what code to use for what you are looking for? Use this as a guide to how the series codes are defined. The Series Identifiers Key presents all published data series for the Import and Export Price Indexes with detailed descriptions of the data series codes. The purpose of this file is to act as a data dictionary for data users to more easily identify the data series they would like to use.
  • Series Report—Already know the series identifier for the statistic you want? Use this shortcut to retrieve your data.
  • Text files (FTP) - For those who want it all. Download a flat file of the entire database or large subset of the database.

MXP Tables

MXP Tables

Previous versions of these tables are available upon request.

MXP Publications

Overview Publications

  • Overview Pamphlet (PDF)
  • BLS Handbook of Methods, Chapter 15, International Price Indexes (PDF)
  • Addendum

Regional Publications

  • California Export Highlights (PDF)
  • Georgia Export Highlights (PDF)
  • Texas Export Highlights (PDF)
  • Louisiana & Texas Energy Export Highlights (PDF)
  • Mountain-Plains Export Highlights (PDF)
  • New England Export Highlights (PDF)
  • New Jersey & New York Export Highlights (PDF)
  • Mid-Atlantic Export Highlights (PDF)
  • Great Lakes Export Highlights (PDF)
  • Puerto Rico Export Highlights (PDF)

Industry Publications

  • Chemical Industry (PDF)
  • Meat Industry (PDF)
  • Metal Industry (PDF)
  • Pharmaceutical Industry (PDF)
  • Semiconductor Industry (PDF)
  • Computer Industry (PDF)

Country of Import Publications

Data Uses Publications

  • Contract Escalation (PDF)

Fact Sheets

Measuring Price Change in the U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes for:
  • Air Freight (HTML) (PDF)
  • Air Passenger Fares (HTML) (PDF)
  • Base and Precious Metals and Diamonds (HTML) (PDF)
  • Crude Oil, Gasoline, and Fuel Oil (HTML) (PDF)
  • Grains (HTML) (PDF)

Other Publications

MXP Variance Statistics

In order to help users assess the precision of the U.S. import and export price index series, BLS is now providing variance estimates for these figures. Currently, the data are only calculated for the all-import and all-export series. In the future, however, the published variance estimates will also be made available at a more detailed level.



Report

  • Variance Estimates for Changes in the Import and Export Price Indexes, January–December 2016 (PDF)
  • Variance Estimates for Changes in the Import and Export Price Indexes, January–December 2015 (PDF)
  • Variance Estimates for Changes in the Import and Export Price Indexes, January–December 2014 (PDF)
  • Variance Estimates for Changes in the Import and Export Price Indexes, January–December 2013 (PDF)
  • Variance Estimates for Changes in the Import and Export Price Indexes, January–December 2012 (PDF)
  • Variance Estimates for Changes in the Import and Export Price Indexes, January–December 2011 (PDF)

MXP Events

Import and Export Price Index Discussion Series

Conference and Training Center

Bureau of Labor Statistics
Postal Square Building
2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20212

10:00 A.M. — 11:00 A.M.

The Import and Export Price Index Discussion Series events are
presentations followed by an open discussion of a topic relating to Import and Export prices. The discussion is preceded by tea and coffee at 9:30 a.m., and begins at 10:00 a.m.

Space is limited and is available on a first come, first served basis.
Future event information will be posted as new events are scheduled. To RSVP or suggest future topics, please email: [email protected].

To view past events, please visit our MXP Events page.

International Price Comparisons

OECD Purchasing Power Parities

World Bank International Comparisons Program

Penn Tables

MXP Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What are the U.S. Import and U.S. Export price indexes?
  2. How are the Import/Export Price Indexes used?
  3. What goods and services do the Import/Export Price Indexes measure?
  4. What classification systems are used to aggregate Import/Export price indexes?
  5. How are Import/Export Price Index data obtained?
  6. What prices are used to calculate the Import/Export Price Indexes?
  7. Are adjustments made for changes in the price or quality of a measured item?
  8. How are the Import/Export Price Indexes weighted?
  9. How are the Import/Export Price Indexes constructed?
  10. How are the Import/Export Price Indexes interpreted?
  11. When are Import/Export Price Index data available?
  12. Are there limitations to the Import/Export Price Indexes?
  13. How does the International Price Program handle survey items that are priced in foreign currencies?
  14. How do unit value indexes differ from the Import/Export Price Indexes?
  15. Where can I obtain international price information?
  16. Where can I obtain more information about the Import/Export Price Indexes?

All MXP FAQs »

MXP Special Notices

MXP Notices

NONE

Related Links

BLS Programs

  • International Labor Comparisons—Comparative information by country on productivity and unit labor costs; compensation; labor force, employment, and unemployment; and consumer prices.

Non-BLS Programs

MXP Contacts

Contacts

Technical Assistance:

  • Telephone: (202) 691-7101
  • E-Mail: Contact us
  • Fax (202) 691-7179
  • Mail:
    • Division of International Prices
    Bureau of Labor Statistics
    2 Massachusetts Avenue N.E.
    Rm. 3955
    Washington, DC 20212

Media Contact:

  • Telephone: (202) 691-5902

Regional Office Assistance:

Information about the Import/Export Price Indexes and other BLS data may be obtained from any of the eight BLS Regional Economic Analysis and Information offices.

BLS Email Subscription Service:

Subscribers to the BLS Email Subscription Service can receive the Import/Export Price Indexes and other BLS news releases; data summaries; and new publication notifications by email. More information about this free service may be found on the BLS News Service Subscription Page.