
PART A:    SEASONALLY ADJUSTED

EXHIBIT 2. U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES 
           THREE-MONTH MOVING AVERAGES -- JANUARY 1996 TO MAY 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 (R)           -13,067       -19,986         6,919
April               -14,409       -21,547         7,138
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 (R)            78,017        56,301        21,716
April                77,533        55,637        21,896
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 (R)            91,084        76,287        14,798
April                91,941        77,183        14,758
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-98-120), Bureau of the Census, Foreign Trade
        Division, MAY 1998.  For more information, contact Haydn R. 
        Mearkle (301-457-2246) or Richard M. Preuss (301-457-2311), 
        Foreign Trade Division.