NOTICE - Upcoming Changes to the Real (chain-dollar) Series

With the release of the January 2012 statistics on March 9, 2012, the U.S. Census Bureau (Census) began seasonally adjusting selected export and import prices that previously were not seasonally adjusted. At that time, chain-weighted dollar statistics for 2010 and 2011 were revised accordingly.

Effective with the release of the April 2012 statistics on June 8, 2012, Census has incorporated these revision even further back. This additional revision will 1) update selected seasonally adjusted export and import prices back to 2002 and 2) incorporate improved quality-adjusted price indexes for capital goods (telecommunications equipment) back to 2002.  The historical chained-dollar series were revised back to 1994 because the reference year (2005) was revised.  These changes improve consistency between the Census chained-dollar data and the chained-dollar data published by BEA in the National Income and Product Accounts.  For related changes implemented by BEA, see “Annual Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts” in the August 2011 Survey of Current Business.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact the Special Projects Branch of the U.S. Census Bureau's Foreign Trade Division on (301) 763-3251.

Updated June 8, 2012