
PART A:    SEASONALLY ADJUSTED

EXHIBIT 8. IMPORTS OF GOODS BY END-USE CATEGORY AND COMMODITY

(In millions of dollars. Details may not equal totals due to seasonal
adjustment and rounding. The commodities in this exhibit are ranked on 
the month-to-month change within each major commodity grouping. 
(-) Represents zero or less than one half unit of measurement shown.
(R) Revised.)


                                                                    
                                       February      January (R)   Monthly
              Item(1)                    1998          1998        Change

Total, Balance of Payments Basis         74,174       75,014         -840
Net Adjustments                             217          567         -350
Total, Census Basis                      73,957       74,447         -490

Foods, feeds, and beverages               3,474        3,355          119

Green coffee                                374          328           46
Cocoa beans                                 108           84           24
Other foods                                 202          178           24
Cane and beet sugar                          60           37           23
Fruits, frozen juices                       318          296           21
Alcoholic bevs, exc. wine                   182          162           21
Bakery products                             205          190           15
Nuts                                         62           52           10
Wine and related products                   295          289            6
Feedstuff and foodgrains                    133          131            1
Dairy products and eggs                      61           64           -3
Fish and shellfish                          685          689           -4
Nonagricultural foods, etc.                  38           42           -4
Meat products                               343          349           -6
Tea, spices, etc.                            47           53           -6
Food oils, oilseeds                         115          126          -11
Vegetables                                  247          285          -38

Industrial supplies and materials        16,716       17,306         -590

Crude oil                                 3,333        3,807         -474
Chemicals-organic                           868          973         -105
Gas-natural                                 489          575          -85
Fuel oil                                    356          428          -72
Tobacco, waxes, etc                         294          335          -42
Nuclear fuel materials                       50           91          -41
Nickel                                       65          105          -40
Nonferrous metals, other                    133          173          -39
Natural rubber                               68           98          -30
Pulpwood and woodpulp                       204          234          -30
Bauxite and aluminum                        538          566          -29
Farming materials, livestock                 51           76          -25
Liquified petroleum gases                   273          297          -24
Copper                                      170          192          -22
Iron and steel mill products                878          895          -17
Coal and related fuels                       51           64          -14
Paper and paper products                    426          435           -9
Wool, silk, etc.                             70           79           -8
Cotton, natural fibers                       15           22           -7
Blank tapes, audio & visual                 156          162           -6
Tin                                          14           18           -3
Sulfur, nonmetallic minerals                 48           51           -3
Glass-plate, sheet, etc.                     41           44           -2
Plywood and veneers                          94           96           -2
Hair, waste materials                        25           26           -1
Electric energy                              62           64           -1
Hides and skins                              17           17          (-)
Leather and furs                             92           92            1
Zinc                                         79           78            1
Synthetic rubber--primary                   107          104            3
Synthetic cloth                             363          360            3
Nontextile floor tiles                      131          127            3
Iron and steel, advanced                    323          319            4
Chemicals-fertilizers                       275          268            7
Stone, sand, cement, etc.                   203          196            7
Steelmaking materials                       312          302           11
Chemicals-inorganic                         356          344           12
Materials, exc. chemicals                   141          127           13
Finished textile supplies                   146          132           14
Finished metal shapes                       441          427           14
Chemicals-other, n.e.c.                     450          436           14
Cotton cloth, fabrics                       187          167           20
Plastic materials                           519          497           22
Iron and steel products, n.e.c.             342          315           27
Shingles, wallboard                         406          379           27
Other precious metals                       279          246           33
Lumber                                      612          579           34
Industrial supplies, other                  921          887           34
Newsprint                                   335          298           37
Nonmonetary gold                            326          274           52
Petroleum products, other                   579          429          151

Capital goods, except automotive         21,791       21,769           22

Semiconductors                            3,030        2,923          107
Parts-civilian aircraft                     406          338           68
Computers                                   585          523           62
Railway transpor. equipment                 171          119           52
Excavating machinery                        414          381           33
Pulp and paper machinery                    327          298           29
Materials handling equipment                433          409           24
Textile, sewing machines                    214          192           22
Medicinal equipment                         610          590           20
Photo, service industry                     588          572           15
Industrial engines                          626          616            9
Generators, accessories                     691          682            9
Measuring, testing, control instru          614          609            5
Nonfarm tractors and parts                   66           63            2
Commercial vessels, other                     4            2            2
Industrial machines, other                1,210        1,208            1
Marine engines, parts                        55           54            1
Spacecraft, exc. military                     1          (-)          (-)
Electric apparatus                        1,778        1,778          (-)
Vessels, except scrap                       (-)          (-)          (-)
Food, tobacco machinery                     111          113           -2
Drilling & oilfield equipment               125          128           -2
Specialized mining                           31           34           -4
Agricultural machinery, equipment           378          383           -5
Laboratory testing instruments              114          122           -9
Business machines and equipment             637          649          -12
Metalworking machine tools                  676          689          -14
Telecommunications equipment              1,431        1,445          -14
Wood, glass, plastic                        357          381          -23
Civilian aircraft                           334          359          -25
Engines-civilian aircraft                   586          613          -27
Computer accessories                      5,190        5,494         -304

Auto. vehicles, parts and engines        12,434       11,895          540

Consumer goods                           16,918       17,312         -394

Pharmaceutical prep                       1,104        1,278         -174
Toys/games/sporting goods                 1,473        1,632         -159
Artwork, antiques, stamps, etc.             300          449         -149
Apparel, textiles, nonwool or cotto       1,689        1,751          -62
Stereo equipment, etc                       677          734          -57
Gem stones, other                            87          130          -43
Other household goods                     1,242        1,275          -33
Camping apparel and gear                    454          479          -25
Gem diamonds                                687          712          -24
Apparel,household goods-nontextile          457          481          -23
Nursery stock, etc.                          91          106          -15
Records, tapes, and disks                    90          105          -15
Household appliances                        522          536          -14
Photo equipment                             162          175          -13
Cookware, cutlery, tools                    286          292           -6
Jewelry                                     623          622          (-)
Musical instruments                          98           98            1
Writing and art supplies                    631          630            1
Footwear                                    920          919            1
Glassware, chinaware                        168          166            2
Rugs                                         87           85            2
Numismatic coins                             23           20            3
Books, printed matter                       231          223            8
Pleasure boats and motors                   109           98           11
Toiletries and cosmetics                    213          194           18
Furniture, household goods, etc.            790          763           27
Apparel, household goods - wool             283          256           28
Motorcycles and parts                       135          104           30
Apparel, household goods - cotton         2,271        2,130          141
TV's, VCR's, etc                          1,015          869          146

Other Goods                               2,623        2,810         -187
_____________________________________________________________

                                        Year to      Year to      Year to
                                        Date         Date         Date
              Item(1)                   1998         1997         Change

Total, Balance of Payments Basis        149,188      140,196        8,992
Net Adjustments                             785          676          109
Total, Census Basis                     148,403      139,520        8,883

Foods, feeds, and beverages               6,829        6,185          644

Green coffee                                702          484          218
Cocoa beans                                 192           88          104
Other foods                                 380          347           33
Cane and beet sugar                          97          206         -109
Fruits, frozen juices                       614          670          -56
Alcoholic bevs, exc. wine                   344          353           -9
Bakery products                             395          337           58
Nuts                                        114          109            5
Wine and related products                   584          512           73
Feedstuff and foodgrains                    264          279          -16
Dairy products and eggs                     125          116           10
Fish and shellfish                        1,374        1,203          171
Nonagricultural foods, etc.                  79           82           -3
Meat products                               692          622           70
Tea, spices, etc.                            99           91            8
Food oils, oilseeds                         241          261          -20
Vegetables                                  532          424          107

Industrial supplies and materials        34,022       35,570       -1,549

Crude oil                                 7,140        9,350       -2,209
Chemicals-organic                         1,842        1,780           61
Gas-natural                               1,064          930          134
Fuel oil                                    784        1,191         -407
Tobacco, waxes, etc                         629          654          -25
Nuclear fuel materials                      141          240          -99
Nickel                                      171          172           -2
Nonferrous metals, other                    306          287           19
Natural rubber                              166          236          -70
Pulpwood and woodpulp                       438          450          -13
Bauxite and aluminum                      1,104          785          319
Farming materials, livestock                127           98           29
Liquified petroleum gases                   570          991         -422
Copper                                      363          377          -15
Iron and steel mill products              1,772        1,826          -54
Coal and related fuels                      115           95           20
Paper and paper products                    860          673          188
Wool, silk, etc.                            149          143            6
Cotton, natural fibers                       38           43           -6
Blank tapes, audio & visual                 318          350          -32
Tin                                          32           50          -17
Sulfur, nonmetallic minerals                100           78           22
Glass-plate, sheet, etc.                     85           71           13
Plywood and veneers                         190          164           27
Hair, waste materials                        51           53           -2
Electric energy                             126          133           -7
Hides and skins                              33           41           -7
Leather and furs                            184          161           23
Zinc                                        156          176          -19
Synthetic rubber--primary                   212          190           22
Synthetic cloth                             723          689           34
Nontextile floor tiles                      258          222           36
Iron and steel, advanced                    641          613           28
Chemicals-fertilizers                       543          542            1
Stone, sand, cement, etc.                   400          315           84
Steelmaking materials                       614          451          163
Chemicals-inorganic                         700          622           79
Materials, exc. chemicals                   268          258           10
Finished textile supplies                   278          252           26
Finished metal shapes                       869          783           86
Chemicals-other, n.e.c.                     887          805           81
Cotton cloth, fabrics                       354          340           13
Plastic materials                         1,016          891          126
Iron and steel products, n.e.c.             656          540          116
Shingles, wallboard                         785          647          138
Other precious metals                       526          343          183
Lumber                                    1,191        1,233          -42
Industrial supplies, other                1,808        1,693          114
Newsprint                                   633          587           45
Nonmonetary gold                            600          430          170
Petroleum products, other                 1,008        1,526         -518

Capital goods, except automotive         43,561       38,917        4,644

Semiconductors                            5,953        5,609          344
Parts-civilian aircraft                     744          637          107
Computers                                 1,109        1,281         -172
Railway transpor. equipment                 289          175          114
Excavating machinery                        795          584          211
Pulp and paper machinery                    626          570           56
Materials handling equipment                841          618          223
Textile, sewing machines                    407          313           93
Medicinal equipment                       1,200        1,074          126
Photo, service industry                   1,160        1,036          124
Industrial engines                        1,242        1,028          214
Generators, accessories                   1,373        1,310           64
Measuring, testing, control instru        1,223        1,033          190
Nonfarm tractors and parts                  129          107           22
Commercial vessels, other                     6            6          (-)
Industrial machines, other                2,418        2,124          294
Marine engines, parts                       108           91           18
Spacecraft, exc. military                     1            2           -1
Electric apparatus                        3,556        3,114          442
Vessels, except scrap                       (-)          (-)          (-)
Food, tobacco machinery                     224          203           21
Drilling & oilfield equipment               253          145          108
Specialized mining                           65          123          -58
Agricultural machinery, equipment           761          629          132
Laboratory testing instruments              236          168           69
Business machines and equipment           1,286        1,144          142
Metalworking machine tools                1,365        1,401          -36
Telecommunications equipment              2,876        2,450          427
Wood, glass, plastic                        738          710           28
Civilian aircraft                           693          530          163
Engines-civilian aircraft                 1,199        1,126           73
Computer accessories                     10,683        9,578        1,106

Auto. vehicles, parts and engines        24,329       23,773          556

Consumer goods                           34,229       30,387        3,843

Pharmaceutical prep                       2,382        1,853          530
Toys/games/sporting goods                 3,105        2,761          344
Artwork, antiques, stamps, etc.             749          677           72
Apparel, textiles, nonwool or cotto       3,440        3,046          394
Stereo equipment, etc                     1,410        1,170          240
Gem stones, other                           217          218           -1
Other household goods                     2,517        2,369          148
Camping apparel and gear                    933          910           23
Gem diamonds                              1,399        1,163          236
Apparel,household goods-nontextile          938          912           26
Nursery stock, etc.                         198          162           36
Records, tapes, and disks                   196          163           32
Household appliances                      1,057          941          116
Photo equipment                             336          346          -10
Cookware, cutlery, tools                    577          524           53
Jewelry                                   1,245        1,094          151
Musical instruments                         196          188            8
Writing and art supplies                  1,261        1,122          140
Footwear                                  1,839        1,786           53
Glassware, chinaware                        335          329            6
Rugs                                        172          152           20
Numismatic coins                             43           53          -10
Books, printed matter                       454          420           34
Pleasure boats and motors                   207          274          -67
Toiletries and cosmetics                    407          376           31
Furniture, household goods, etc.          1,552        1,294          259
Apparel, household goods - wool             539          452           88
Motorcycles and parts                       239          219           19
Apparel, household goods - cotton         4,400        3,727          673
TV's, VCR's, etc                          1,884        1,686          198

Other Goods                               5,434        4,688          745

(1) Detailed data are presented on a Census basis.  The information 
    needed to convert to a BOP basis is not available.

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.