
U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES:  FEBRUARY 1998 


This release contains sensitive economic data not to be 
released before 8:30 a.m. Friday, April 17, 1998

  CB-98-60      Press Copy 
  FT-900 (98-02)

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


	U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES February 1998

     The Bureau of the Census and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, through 
the Department of Commerce, announced today that total February exports of 
$77.1 billion and imports of $89.1 billion resulted in a goods and services 
deficit of $12.1 billion, $0.5 billion more than the $11.6 billion in 
January, revised.  February exports were $0.6 billion less than January 
exports of $77.6 billion.  February imports were $0.1 billion less than 
January imports of $89.3 billion.  

     In February, the goods deficit increased $0.2 billion from January to 
$18.6 billion, and the services surplus decreased from $0.3 billion to 
$6.5 billion.  Exports of goods decreased to $55.6 billion from $56.7 
billion, and imports of goods decreased to $74.2 billion from $75.0 billion.  
Exports of services increased to $21.4 billion from $21.0 billion, and 
imports of services increased to $14.9 billion from $14.2 billion.

     The January to February change in exports of goods reflected decreases 
in industrial supplies and materials of $0.5 billion (primarily nonmonetary 
gold and organic chemicals); automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.3 
billion);  and  consumer goods  ($0.2 billion).  An increase occurred in 
capital goods of $0.2 billion.   Foods, feeds, and beverages and other goods 
were virtually unchanged.
 
     The January to February change in imports of goods reflected decreases 
in industrial supplies and materials of $0.6 billion (primarily crude oil); 
consumer goods ($0.4 billion); and other goods  ($0.2 billion). Increases 
occurred in automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.5 billion) and  
foods, feeds, and beverages ($0.1 billion).  Capital goods were virtually 
unchanged.

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 26 of this release.


     For the three months ending in February, exports of goods and services 
averaged $78.0 billion, while imports of goods and services averaged $89.5 
billion, resulting in an average trade deficit of $11.5 billion.  For the 
three months ending in January, the average trade deficit was $10.5 
billion, reflecting average exports of $78.6 billion and average imports of 
$89.0 billion.

     Services exports increased $0.4 billion from  January to February, 
reflecting increases of $0.3 billion in travel and $0.1 billion in other 
private services.  Changes in all other categories of services exports were 
small.                                        

     Services imports increased $0.7 billion from January to February, 
mainly reflecting a $0.4 billion increase in royalties and license fees, 
that resulted from payments for the acquisition of broadcast rights for 
the 1998 Winter Olympic Games.  Travel and other private services each 
increased $0.1 billion.  Changes in all other categories of services 
imports were small.

Selected Not Seasonally Adjusted Goods Details 

     The February figures showed surpluses, in billions of dollars, with 
Australia $0.7 (for January $0.5), Hong Kong $0.4 ($0.1), Brazil $0.4 
($0.3), Argentina $0.2 ($0.2), and Egypt $0.1 ($0.3).  Deficits were 
recorded, in  billions  of  dollars, with  Japan -$5.3 (-$4.4), 
China -$3.5 (-$4.2), Canada -$1.5 (-$1.5), Taiwan -$0.7 (-$1.1), 
OPEC -$0.6 (-$0.8), Korea -$0.6 (-$0.9),  Mexico - $0.6  (-$0.8), 
and Western Europe -$0.3  (-$0.4).

     Advanced technology products (ATP) exports were $14.2 billion in 
February and imports were $11.1 billion, resulting in a surplus of $3.1 
billion, $0.5 billion more than the January surplus of $2.6  billion.  
February exports were $0.1 billion more than the $14.1 billion in January, 
while imports were $0.4 billion less than the $11.5 billion in January.

     Carry-over in February was $0.9 billion (1.6 percent) for exports 
and $1.1 billion (1.6 percent) for imports.  For January, revised export 
carry-over was $0.1 billion (0.2 percent), revised down from $0.6 billion 
(1.1 percent).  For January, revised import carry-over was $0.2 billion 
(0.3 percent), revised down from $1.1 billion (1.6 percent).

Seasonally Adjusted

Exhibit 1  International Trade in Goods and Services	                 4

Exhibit 2  Goods and Services Centered Three - Month Moving Averages	 5

Exhibit 3  U.S. Services by Major Category--Exports	                 6

Exhibit 4  U.S. Services by Major Category--Imports	                 7

Exhibit 5  U.S. Trade in Goods	                                         8

Exhibit 6  Exports and Imports of Goods by Principal End-Use Category	 9

Exhibit 7  Exports of Goods by End-Use Category and Commodity 	        10

Exhibit 8  Imports of Goods by End-Use Category and Commodity	        12

Exhibit 9  Petroleum and Non-Petroleum End-Use Category Totals	        14

Exhibit 10  Exports and Imports of Goods by Principal End-Use
            Category (Constant Dollars)                                 15

Exhibit 11  Exports, Imports, and Balance of Goods, Petroleum and Non-
            Petroleum End-Use Commodity Category Totals 
            (Constant Dollars)                                          16

Not Seasonally Adjusted

Exhibit 12  U.S. Trade in Goods	                                        17

Exhibit 13  Exports and Imports of Goods by Principal End-Use Category	18


Exhibit 14  Exports, Imports, and Balance of Goods by Selected  
            Countries and Areas                                         19

Exhibit 15  Exports and Imports of Goods by Principal 
            SITC Commodity Groupings                                    21

Exhibit 16  Exports, Imports, and Balance of Advanced 
            Technology Products                                         23

Exhibit 17  Imports of Energy - Related Petroleum Products, 
            Including Crude Petroleum                                   24

Exhibit 18  Exports and Imports of Motor Vehicles and Parts By 
            Selected Countries                                          25

Information on Goods and Services	                                26

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.