Monthly Prices

This section of the National Cotton Council's Economics Data Center provides quick access to our most popular price tables. You can get the most up-to-date monthly prices by choosing a price series in the drop-down box. The column labeled Calendar in the table represents a calendar year average while the Crop column represents the crop-year (August-July) average. Because of the width of these tables, landscape printing works best.

• "A" Index-is a proxy for the world price of cotton. It is an average of the cheapest five quotations from a selection of the principal upland cottons (currently 19) traded internationally. For a more detailed description visit the Cotlook, Ltd. website. Recently, the "A" Index has changed emphasis by representing offering prices based on CFR Far Eastern main ports terms. As of August 1, 2008, the "A" Index quote reported in the above table will be based on CFR Far Eastern quotes. Quotes prior to August 1, 2008, were based on CIF N. Europe values.
• Spot Price-represents cash sales of cotton. Spot prices are reported by the Market News Branch of USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service. Market reporters from seven regions of the U.S. monitor daily cotton sales transactions to publish the report.
• Farm Price-or Average Price Received by Farmers represent the price paid to grower by cotton buyers. Average Price Received is reported by the National Agricultural Statistics Service of USDA.
• Average Mill Price-represents landed mill sales of cotton. Mill Delivered prices are reported by the Market News Branch of USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service. Market reporters from four regions of the U.S. monitor daily cotton sales transactions to publish the report.
• Memphis Territory (MT) Mill Price-represents landed mill sales of cotton in the north Delta region. Mill Delivered prices are reported by the Market News Branch of USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service. Market reporters from the north Delta region of the U.S. monitor daily cotton sales transactions to publish the report.
• Synthetic Producer Price Index -reported by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• ELS Spot Price-represents cash sales of ELS cotton. Spot prices are reported by the Market News Branch of USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service. Market reporters from western regions of the U.S. monitor daily cotton sales transactions to publish the report.