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 ================================================================================ Section 1 ================================================================================ 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, Chapter 17, "International price indexes", Bulletin 2490 (1997). ================================================================================== Section 2 ================================================================================== 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 ================================================================================= Section 3 ================================================================================= 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) ================================================================================= Section 4 ================================================================================= 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 ================================================================================== Section 5 ================================================================================== 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 ================================================================================ Section 6 ================================================================================ 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 ========================================================================================= Section 7 ========================================================================================= 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 It varies Identifies footnotes for the data series. index_code 2 Ex. IZ=NAICS Import Code identifying index. 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