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

This release contains sensitive economic data not to be released before 
8:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 20, 1998	

  CB-98-85 Press Copy 
  FT-900 (98-03)

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 March 1998

Goods and Services

     The Bureau of the Census and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, through 
the Department of Commerce, announced today that total March exports of 
$79.4 billion and imports of $92.4 billion resulted in a goods and services 
deficit of $13.0 billion, $0.8 billion more than the $12.2 billion in 
February, revised.  March exports were $2.5 billion more than February 
exports of $76.9 billion.  March imports were $3.4 billion more than 
February imports of $89.1 billion.  

     In March, the goods deficit increased $1.7 billion from February to 
$20.2 billion, and the services surplus increased $0.8 billion to $7.2 
billion.  Exports of goods increased to $57.5 billion from $55.5 billion, 
and imports of goods increased to $77.7 billion from $74.1 billion.  
Exports of services increased to $21.9 billion from $21.3 billion, and 
imports of services decreased to $14.7 billion from $15.0 billion.

Goods
	
     The February to March change in exports of goods reflected increases 
in capital goods of $1.0 billion (primarily  civilian aircraft); automotive 
vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.5 billion); industrial supplies and 
materials ($0.4 billion); other goods ($0.2 billion); and consumer goods 
($0.2 billion ). A decrease occurred in foods, feeds, and beverages of 
($0.2 billion).
 
     The February to March change in imports of goods reflected increases 
in capital goods of $1.4 billion (primarily engines for civilian aircraft 
and civialian aircraft); consumer goods ($1.0 billion); automotive vehicles, 
parts, and engines ($0.7 billion); industrial supplies and materials 
($0.2 billion); and  foods, feeds and beverages ($0.1 billion).  Other 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.

Services
	
     Services exports increased $0.6 billion from  February to March.  
Increases in transfers under U.S. military sales contracts of $0.5 billion 
and other private services of $0.2 billion were partly offset by a decrease 
in travel of $0.2 billion.  Changes in all other categories of services 
exports were small.

     Services imports decreased $0.3 billion from February to March. 
Royalties and license fees decreased  $0.4 billion, after having been 
boosted in February by a large one-time payment for broadcast rights for 
the Winter Olympics. Changes in the other major categories of services 
imports, of which the largest was a $0.1 billion increase in other private 
services, were relatively small and largely offsetting.

Goods and Services Moving Average 

     For the three months ending in March, exports of goods and services 
averaged $78.0 billion, while imports of goods and services averaged $90.2 
billion, resulting in an average trade deficit of $12.3 billion.  For the 
three months ending in February, the average trade deficit was $11.6 
billion, reflecting average exports of $78.0 billion and average imports of 
$89.5 billion.

Selected Not Seasonally Adjusted Goods Details 

     The March figures showed surpluses, in billions of dollars, with 
Australia $0.6 (for February $0.7), Brazil $0.5 ($0.4), Hong Kong $0.4 
($0.4), Argentina $0.3 ($0.2), and Egypt $0.2 ($0.1).  Deficits were 
recorded, in  billions  of  dollars, with  Japan -$5.8 (-$5.3), 
China -$3.8 (-$3.5),  Western  Europe -$1.6 (-$0.3), Mexico -$1.4 (-$0.6), 
Canada -$1.1 (-$1.4), Taiwan -$1.1 (-$0.7), Korea -$0.7 (-$0.6),  
OPEC -$0.5  (-$0.6), and Singapore -$0.3 (virtually zero).

     Advanced technology products (ATP) exports were $17.0 billion in 
March and imports were $13.9 billion, resulting in a surplus of $3.1 
billion, virtually the same as in February.  March exports were $2.8 
billion more than the $14.2 billion in February, while imports were $2.8 
billion more than the $11.1 billion in February.

Revisions
	
     Carry-over in March was $0.6 billion (1.0 percent) for exports and 
$0.9 billion (1.1 percent) for imports.  For February, revised export 
carry-over was $0.2 billion (0.4 percent), revised down from $0.9 billion 
(1.6 percent).  For February, 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-98-85), 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.