International Price Index (EI)
					ei.txt


Section Listing

1. Survey Definition
2. FTP files listed in the survey directory.
3. Time series, series file, data file, & mapping file definitions and relationships
4. Series file format and field definitions
5. Data file format and field definitions
6. Mapping file formats and field definitions
7. Data Element Dictionary
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Section 1
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The following is a definition of:  INTERNATIONAL PRICE INDEX (EI)

Summary Data Available:  LABSTAT contains merchandise import and export 
index time series based on several classification systems and selected 
import and export services indexes.  Full coverage of merchandise imports 
began in February 1983 and full coverage of merchandise exports began in 
1984.

Frequency of Observations:  Prior to 1974, data was collected in June only. 
From 1974 through 1992, all data was published quarterly.  Beginning in 
1993, two-digit price data is available on a monthly basis through the 
International Price Index press release, while more detailed information 
is available through supplemental tables.

Data Characteristics:  Indexes and percentage changes are calculated to one 
decimal place.

Update Schedule:  Monthly data may be revised in each of the
three months after original publication.

References:	BLS Handbook of Methods

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Section 2
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The following International Price Index files are on the BLS internet in the 
sub-directory pub/time.series/ei:

	ei.contacts			 -  Contacts for ei survey
	ei.data.0.Current		 -  All current year-to-date ei data
	ei.data.01.BEAImport		 -  BEA End Use Import 
					    (index code IR)
	ei.data.02.BEAExport		 -  BEA End Use Export 
					    (index code IQ)
	ei.data.03.NAICSImport		 -  NAICS Import 
					    (index code IZ)
	ei.data.04.NAICSExport		 -  NAICS Export 
					    (index code IY)
	ei.data.05.HarmonizedImport	 -  Harmonized Import
					    (index code IP)
	ei.data.06.HarmonizedExport	 -  Harmonized Export
					    (index code ID)
	ei.data.07.LocalityofOrigin	 -  Locality of Origin
					    (index code CO)
	ei.data.08.LocalityofDestination -  Locality of Destination
					    (index code CD)
	ei.data.09.TermsofTrade		 -  Terms of Trade
					    (index code CT)
	ei.data.10.ServicesImport	 -  Services Import
					    (index code IV)
	ei.data.11.ServicesExport	 -  Services Export
					    (index code IH)
	ei.data.12.ServicesInbound	 -  Services Inbound
					    (index code IC)
	ei.data.13.ServicesOutbound	 -  Services Outbound
					    (index code IS)
	ei.footnote			 -  Footnotes applicable to ei data
	ei.index			 -  Index codes mapping file
	ei.period			 -  Period codes mapping file
	ei.series			 -  All series and their beginning and end dates
	ei.txt				 -  General Information

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Section 3
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The definition of a time series, its relationship to and the interrelationship
among series, data and mapping files is detailed below:

A time series refers to a set of data observed over an extended period of time
over consistent time intervals (i.e. monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, annually).  
BLS time series data are typically produced at monthly intervals and represent data 
ranging from a specific consumer item in a specific geographical area whose price 
is gathered monthly to a category of worker in a specific industry whose employment
rate is being recorded monthly, etc.

The FTP files are organized such that data users are provided with the following
set of files to use in their efforts to interpret data files:

a)  a series file (only one series file per survey)
b)  mapping files
c)  data files

The series file contains a set of codes which, together, compose a series 
identification code that serves to uniquely identify a single time series.  
Additionally, the series file also contains the following series-level information:

a) the period and year corresponding to the first data observation 
b) the period and year corresponding to the most recent data observation
c) the base period for which the series begins
d) the series title, which provides a detailed description of the series. 

The mapping files are definition files that contain explanatory text descriptions
that correspond to each of the various codes contained within each series
identification code.

The data file contains one line of data for each observation period pertaining to a
specific time series.  Each line contains a reference to the following:

a) a series identification code
b) year in which data is observed
c) period for which data is observed (M13, Q05, and S03 indicate annual averages)
d) value
e) footnote code (if available)
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Section 4
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File Structure and Format: The following represents the file format used to define 
ei.series.  Note that the Field Numbers are for reference only; they do not exist 
in the database.  Data files are in ASCII text format.  Data elements are separated 
by tabs; the first record of each file contains the column headers for the data
elements stored in each field.  Each record ends with a new line character. 

Field #/Data Element	Length		Value(Example)		

1.  series_id		  30		EIUCOCANMANU

2.  seasonal		   1		U

3.  index_code		   2		CO

4.  series_name	   	 100		Text		

5.  base_period    	  35		2000 = 100	

6.  series_title	 256		Text	

7.  footnote_code	  10		Text	
						
8.  begin_year	   	   4		1990	
						
9.  begin_period	   3		M12
					
10. end_year		   4		2002

11. end_period	   	   3		M03	
					
				
The series_id (EIUCOCANMANU) can be broken out into:

Code					Value

survey abbreviation	=		EI
seasonal(code)		=		U
index_code		=		CO
series_name		=		CANMANU
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Section 5
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File Structure and Format: The following represents the file format used to define
each data file.  Note that the field numbers are for reference only; they do not 
exist in the database.  Data files are in ASCII text format.  Data elements are 
separated by tabs; the first record of each file contains the column headers for 
the data elements stored in each field.  Each record ends with a new line character.  

The ei.data file is partitioned into several separate files:  See Section 2

All of the above-referenced data files have the following format:

Field #/Data Element	Length		Value(Example)		

1. series_id		  17		EIUCOCANMANU

2. year			   4		1995	

3. period		   3		M01		

4. value		  12      	97.7	
				 
5. footnote_codes	  10		It varies
				

The series_id (EIUCOCANMANU) can be broken out into:

Code					Value

survey abbreviation	=		EI
seasonal(code)		=		U
index_code		=		CO
series_name		=		CANMANU
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Section 6
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File Structure and Format:  The following represents the file format used to define
each mapping file. Note that the field numbers are for reference only; they do not
exist in the database.  Mapping files are in ASCII text format.  Data elements are
separated by tabs; the first record of each file contains the column headers for the
data elements stored in each field.  Each record ends with a new line character.   

File Name:  ei.index

Field #/Data Element		Length		Value(Example)		

1.  index_code		  	2		IM

2.  index_name			50         	Text
											

File Name:  ei.period

Field #/Data Element		Length		Value(Example)		

1.  period			3		M01		
						
2.  period_abbr			5		JAN	
				 		
3.  period_name			20		January	

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Section 7
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INTERNATIONAL PRICE INDEX (EI) DATABASE ELEMENTS

Data Element	 Length		Value(Example)			Description

base_period	35		2000=100		Identifies the particular time
				2012=100		period used as a benchmark for
							the series.

begin_period	3		M01-M13 or		Identifies first data observation
				Q01-Q05			within the first year for which
				Ex: M06=June		data is available for a given
				(M=Monthly, M13=Annual	time series.
				Avg, Q=Quarterly, Q05=
				Annual Avg)

begin_year	4		YYYY			Identifies first year for which
				Ex: 1975		data is available for a given
							time series.
							
end_period	3		M01-M13 or		Identifies last data observation
				Q01-Q05			within the last year for which 
				Ex: Q02=2nd Quarter	data is available for a given 
				(M=Monthly, M13=Annual	time series.
				Avg, Q=Quarterly, Q05=
				Annual Avg)

end_year	4		YYYY			Identifies last year for which 
				Ex: 1980		data is available for a given
							time series.
							
footnote_codes	10		Varies			Identifies footnotes for the data 
							series.	
							
index_code	2		Ex. IZ=NAICS Import	Code identifying index.
				    Price Indexes 

index_name	50		Text			Name of index.
				

period_abbr	5		Period name 		Abbreviation of period name.
				abbreviation
				Ex: JUN

period		3		M01-M13 or		Identifies period for which
				Q01-Q05			data is observed. 
				Ex: M06=June		
				(M=Monthly, M13=Annual
				Avg, Q=Quarterly, Q05=
				Annual Avg)
				
period_name	20		Text			Full name of period to which
				Ex: June		the data observation refers.
				
seasonal	1		S=Seasonally		Code identifying whether the
				  Adjusted		data are seasonally adjusted.
				U=Unadjusted

series_id	17		EIUCOCANMANU		Code identifying the specific 
							series.
							
series_name    100		Text			Identifies the name of the series.
				Ex:All Commodities

series_title   256		Text			Describes the series.
				
value		12		Index			Price index for item.
				Ex. 97.7
				
year		4		YYYY			Identifies year of observation.
				Ex: 1990