U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES:  JANUARY 1995 

IMPORTANT:  This release contains sensitive economic data not to be 
            released before 8:30 a.m. Wednesday March 22, 1995.

CB-95-58 Press Copy
FT-900 (95-01)

For information on goods contact: Bureau of the Census:

Haydn R. Mearkle(301) 457-2246 
Richard M. Preuss(301) 457-2311

For information on services contact: Bureau of Economic Analysis:

Media: Larry Moran                        (202) 606-2649 
Technical: Christopher Bach               (202) 606-9545



The Bureau of the Census and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the 
Department of Commerce, announced today that total January exports of 
$60.7 billion and imports of $72.9 billion resulted in a goods and 
services trade deficit of $12.2 billion, $5.0 billion more than the $7.3 
billion of December, revised.  January exports were $2.9 billion less than 
December exports of $63.6 billion.  January imports were $2.1 billion more 
than December imports of $70.9 billion.  The January deficit of $12.2 
billion is the largest since the monthly goods and services series started 
in January of 1992.
 
In January, the goods deficit increased to $17.2 billion from $12.9 
billion in December, and the services surplus decreased to $5.0 billion 
from $5.6 billion.  Exports of goods decreased to $44.0 billion from $46.5 
billion, and imports of goods increased to $61.2 billion from $59.4 
billion.  Exports of services decreased to $16.7 billion from $17.1 
billion, and imports of services increased to $11.8 billion from $11.5 
billion.

The December to January change in the exports of goods reflected decreases 
in capital goods of $2.1 billion (primarily aircraft, semiconductors, and
telecommunications equipment), foods, feeds, and beverages ($0.4 billion), 
consumer goods ($0.4 billion), and automotive vehicles, parts and engines
($0.2 billion); there were increases in other goods ($0.2 billion) and 
industrial supplies and materials ($0.1 billion).

The December to January change in the imports of goods reflected increases 
in consumer goods of $0.5 billion (such as toys, games, televisions, and 
VCR's), capital goods ($0.4 billion), automotive vehicles, parts and 
engines ($0.4 billion), industrial supplies and materials ($0.4 billion), 
and foods, feeds, and beverages ($0.2 billion); there was a decrease in
other goods ($0.1 billion). 

Note: Total goods are reported on a balance of payments basis; commodity 
and country detail for goods are on a Census basis.  Definitions are 
explained in the notes starting on page 25 of this release.

For the three months ending in January, exports of goods and services, 
using a centered three month moving average, were $62.1 billion, while 
imports of goods and services averaged $71.8 billion, resulting in an 
average trade deficit of $9.7 billion.  For the three months ending in 
December, the average trade deficit was $9.0 billion, reflecting average 
exports of $61.8 billion and average imports of $70.8 billion.

The December to January change in services exports largely reflected a 
decrease in travel ($0.4 billion).  Other categories of services exports 
changed little.  

The December to January change in services imports largely reflected an 
increase in other transportation ($0.2 billion).  Other categories of 
services imports changed little.



Selected Not Seasonally Adjusted Goods Details 

Advanced technology products (ATP) exports were $9.2 billion for January 
and imports were $8.5 billion, resulting in a surplus of $0.7 billion, 
$1.5 billion less than the December surplus of $2.1 billion.  January 
exports were $2.2 billion less than the $11.5 billion of December, while
imports were $0.8 billion less than the $9.3 billion of December.

The January figures showed surpluses in billions of dollars with Australia 
$0.5 (for December, $0.7), Argentina $0.3 ($0.2), Hong Kong $0.1 ($0.3), 
and Egypt $0.1 ($0.3); Deficits were recorded in billions of dollars with  
Japan  -$4.9   (-$5.6),  China -$2.7 -($2.0), Canada -$1.4 (-$1.6),
Western Europe -$1.3 (-$0.2), Taiwan -$1.0 (-$0.6), Mexico -$0.9 
(virtually zero), OPEC -$0.8 (-$1.0), Singapore  -$0.4 (-$0.3), and 
Korea -$0.2 ($0.2),     

Carry-over in January was $0.2 billion (0.5 percent) for exports and 
$0.4 billion (0.7 percent) for imports.  For December, revised exports 
carry-over was virtually zero, revised down from $0.4 billion 
(0.8 percent).  For December, revised imports carry-over was $0.1 billion 
(0.2 percent), revised down from $0.3 billion (0.5 percent).

NOTE:  Exhibit numbers in this release have been renumbered from the 
       previous report. All exhibits have been moved up one.
       example: exhibit 4 now becomes exhibit 3

SOURCE: Report FT900 (CB-95-58), Bureau of the Census, Foreign Trade
        Division, JANUARY 1995.  For more information, contact Haydn R. 
        Mearkle (301-457-2246) or Richard M. Preuss (301-457-2311), 
        Foreign Trade Division.
