
PART A:    SEASONALLY ADJUSTED

EXHIBIT 2. U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES 
           THREE-MONTH MOVING AVERAGES -- JANUARY 1996 TO MARCH 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              -10,473        -17,257          6,784

1998           

January (R)           -11,564        -18,191          6,626
February              -12,274        -19,022          6,748
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               78,552         57,541         21,010

1998           

January (R)            77,956         56,881         21,075
February               77,974         56,585         21,389
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               89,025         74,799         14,226

1998           

January (R)            89,520         75,072         14,448
February               90,248         75,607         14,641
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-98-85), Bureau of the Census, Foreign Trade
        Division, MARCH 1998.  For more information, contact Haydn R. 
        Mearkle (301-457-2246) or Richard M. Preuss (301-457-2311), 
        Foreign Trade Division.