
PART A:    SEASONALLY ADJUSTED

EXHIBIT 2. U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES 
           THREE-MONTH MOVING AVERAGES -- JANUARY 1996 TO FEBRUARY 1998

(In millions of dollars. Details may not equal totals due to seasonal
adjustment and rounding. (R) Revised.)
                         

                             
    Center
   Month of                    Balance
    Moving
   Average        Total       Goods (1)      Services

1996           

January        
February             -8,180       -14,308         6,128
March                -8,235       -14,438         6,202
April                -9,007       -15,686         6,679
May                  -9,260       -15,854         6,594
June                 -9,909       -16,474         6,565

July                 -9,921       -16,452         6,531
August              -10,839       -17,498         6,658
September            -9,610       -16,685         7,075
October              -8,829       -16,157         7,328
November             -8,734       -16,064         7,330
December             -9,962       -17,013         7,051

1997           

January             -10,695       -17,547         6,853
February             -9,774       -16,614         6,840
March                -8,611       -15,741         7,130
April                -8,388       -15,608         7,219
May                  -8,557       -15,730         7,173
June                 -9,154       -16,170         7,016

July                 -9,086       -16,235         7,150
August               -9,969       -17,334         7,365
September            -9,656       -17,211         7,555
October              -9,626       -16,932         7,306
November             -9,593       -16,647         7,054
December (R)        -10,473       -17,257         6,784

1998           

January             -11,541       -18,198         6,657
February                                   
March                                      
April                                      
May                                        
June                                       
                             
July                                       
August                                     
September                                  
October                                    
November                                   
December                                   
____________________________________________________

    Center
   Month of                    Exports
    Moving
   Average        Total       Goods (1)      Services

1996           

January        
February             69,035        50,016        19,019
March                69,819        50,648        19,171
April                70,639        50,931        19,708
May                  70,716        51,137        19,579
June                 70,222        50,568        19,654

July                 70,180        50,559        19,621
August               70,028        50,255        19,774
September            71,558        51,393        20,164
October              72,497        52,045        20,452
November             73,167        52,615        20,552
December             72,734        52,322        20,412

1997           

January              72,819        52,461        20,358
February             74,693        54,114        20,579
March                76,871        55,939        20,932
April                78,107        57,001        21,106
May                  78,187        57,075        21,112
June                 77,972        56,936        21,036

July                 78,285        57,088        21,197
August               78,217        56,752        21,466
September            79,013        57,320        21,693
October              78,944        57,407        21,537
November             79,360        58,109        21,251
December (R)         78,552        57,541        21,010

1998           

January              78,002        56,903        21,099
February                                   
March                                      
April                                      
May                                        
June                                       
                             
July                                       
August                                     
September                                  
October                                    
November                                   
December                                   
____________________________________________________

    Center
   Month of                     Imports
    Moving
   Average        Total       Goods (1)      Services

1996           

January        
February             77,215        64,324        12,891
March                78,054        65,085        12,969
April                79,646        66,617        13,029
May                  79,976        66,991        12,985
June                 80,132        67,042        13,089

July                 80,101        67,011        13,090
August               80,868        67,752        13,115
September            81,168        68,079        13,089
October              81,327        68,203        13,124
November             81,901        68,679        13,222
December             82,696        69,335        13,361

1997           

January              83,514        70,008        13,506
February             84,467        70,728        13,739
March                85,482        71,680        13,802
April                86,495        72,609        13,887
May                  86,744        72,805        13,939
June                 87,126        73,107        14,020

July                 87,371        73,324        14,047
August               88,187        74,086        14,101
September            88,669        74,531        14,138
October              88,570        74,339        14,232
November             88,953        74,756        14,197
December (R)         89,025        74,799        14,226

1998           

January              89,543        75,102        14,441
February                                   
March                                      
April                                      
May                                        
June                                       
                                           
July                                       
August                                     
September                                  
October                                    
November                                   
December                                   

(1) Data presented on a Balance of Payments (BOP) Basis.

Note: The three-month moving averages shown in this exhibit are computed 
      by summing the subject month, the two prior months, dividing by three 
      and showing the average at the center month of the period.  Using 
      this method, an average is not available for the current month.
      A centered moving average is useful in smoothing the volatile trade 
      data so that trends can better be discerned.

SOURCE: Report FT900 (CB-98-60), Bureau of the Census, Foreign Trade
        Division, FEBRUARY 1998.  For more information, contact Haydn R. 
        Mearkle (301-457-2246) or Richard M. Preuss (301-457-2311), 
        Foreign Trade Division.