
PART A:    SEASONALLY ADJUSTED

EXHIBIT 2. U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES 
           THREE-MONTH MOVING AVERAGES -- JANUARY 1996 TO APRIL 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               -7,701        -14,204          6,503
March                  -8,035        -14,589          6,554
April                  -9,175        -16,056          6,881
May                    -9,402        -16,278          6,876
June                  -10,108        -16,709          6,601

July                  -10,233        -16,594          6,361
August                -11,027        -17,185          6,158
September              -9,528        -16,466          6,937
October                -8,393        -15,994          7,602
November               -8,064        -16,112          8,048
December               -9,164        -16,913          7,749

1997           

January                -9,918        -17,250          7,332
February               -9,377        -16,574          7,198
March                  -8,917        -16,245          7,328
April                  -8,914        -16,415          7,501
May                    -8,839        -16,366          7,527
June                   -8,720        -16,152          7,432

July                   -8,675        -16,128          7,452
August                 -9,036        -16,432          7,396
September              -9,054        -16,568          7,514
October                -9,162        -16,467          7,305
November               -9,485        -16,613          7,127
December               -9,914        -16,881          6,967

1998           

January               -10,620        -17,386          6,766
February              -11,621        -18,566          6,945
March                 -13,129        -20,033          6,905
April                                         
May                                           
June                                          
                               
July                                          
August                                        
September                                     
October                                       
November                                      
December                                      
_____________________________________________________

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

1996           

January        
February               69,463         50,285         19,178
March                  69,955         50,625         19,330
April                  70,278         50,549         19,728
May                    70,444         50,710         19,734
June                   69,992         50,339         19,654

July                   69,931         50,455         19,476
August                 69,790         50,418         19,373
September              71,647         51,530         20,117
October                73,028         52,237         20,791
November               73,893         52,582         21,311
December               73,678         52,562         21,116

1997           

January                73,789         52,933         20,856
February               75,395         54,500         20,895
March                  76,840         55,723         21,117
April                  77,725         56,312         21,413
May                    78,005         56,413         21,592
June                   78,450         56,789         21,661

July                   78,907         57,122         21,786
August                 79,310         57,434         21,876
September              79,807         57,771         22,035
October                79,794         57,899         21,895
November               79,820         58,095         21,725
December               79,481         57,906         21,574

1998           

January                79,013         57,529         21,484
February               78,801         57,156         21,645
March                  77,981         56,282         21,699
April                                         
May                                           
June                                          
                               
July                                          
August                                        
September                                     
October                                       
November                                      
December                                      
_____________________________________________________

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

1996           

January        
February               77,164         64,489         12,675
March                  77,990         65,214         12,776
April                  79,452         66,605         12,848
May                    79,846         66,988         12,858
June                   80,100         67,047         13,053

July                   80,164         67,049         13,115
August                 80,817         67,602         13,215
September              81,175         67,996         13,179
October                81,421         68,232         13,189
November               81,957         68,694         13,263
December               82,842         69,475         13,367

1997           

January                83,707         70,183         13,524
February               84,771         71,074         13,697
March                  85,757         71,968         13,789
April                  86,640         72,727         13,912
May                    86,843         72,779         14,065
June                   87,171         72,941         14,229

July                   87,583         73,249         14,333
August                 88,346         73,866         14,480
September              88,860         74,339         14,521
October                88,956         74,365         14,591
November               89,306         74,708         14,598
December               89,394         74,787         14,607

1998           

January                89,633         74,915         14,718
February               90,422         75,722         14,700
March                  91,110         76,316         14,794
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-98-101), Bureau of the Census, Foreign Trade
        Division, APRIL 1998.  For more information, contact Haydn R. 
        Mearkle (301-457-2246) or Richard M. Preuss (301-457-2311), 
        Foreign Trade Division.