
PART A:    SEASONALLY ADJUSTED

EXHIBIT 8. IMPORTS OF GOODS BY END-USE CATEGORY AND COMMODITY

(In millions of dollars. Details may not equal totals due to seasonal
adjustment and rounding. The commodities in this exhibit are ranked on 
the month-to-month change within each major commodity grouping. 
(-) Represents zero or less than one half unit of measurement shown.
(R) Revised.)

                                                                      
                                          May          April (R)    Monthly
               Item(1)                    1998         1998         Change

Total, Balance of Payments Basis           77,160       76,670          490
Net Adjustments                               286          322          -36
Total, Census Basis                        76,874       76,348          527

Foods, feeds, and beverages                 3,445        3,398           48

Fish and shellfish                            746          705           41
Bakery products                               208          189           19
Alcoholic bevs, exc. wine                     200          184           16
Fruits, frozen juices                         319          305           14
Meat products                                 342          330           12
Food oils, oilseeds                           127          118            9
Tea, spices, etc.                              72           62            9
Nonagricultural foods, etc.                    45           39            6
Cane and beet sugar                            70           65            5
Dairy products and eggs                        67           65            2
Feedstuff and foodgrains                      127          129           -2
Nuts                                           53           57           -4
Other foods                                   203          209           -6
Vegetables                                    284          294          -10
Green coffee                                  268          289          -21
Cocoa beans                                    35           57          -22
Wine and related products                     279          301          -22

Industrial supplies and materials          17,386       17,294           92

Iron and steel mill products                1,184        1,033          150
Petroleum products, other                     607          519           88
Nonmonetary gold                              409          333           76
Gas-natural                                   415          350           65
Nuclear fuel materials                        138           77           61
Chemicals-inorganic                           368          319           49
Copper                                        221          194           28
Industrial supplies, other                    935          909           25
Plastic materials                             495          474           21
Liquified petroleum gases                     265          245           20
Sulfur, nonmetallic minerals                   50           33           18
Stone, sand, cement, etc.                     212          197           15
Nonferrous metals, other                      163          148           15
Steelmaking materials                         327          314           13
Iron and steel products, n.e.c.               356          343           12
Zinc                                           89           77           12
Iron and steel, advanced                      350          340           10
Tin                                            26           16            9
Paper and paper products                      432          422            9
Natural rubber                                 89           81            8
Blank tapes, audio & visual                   167          160            7
Materials, exc. chemicals                     121          116            6
Synthetic rubber--primary                     111          105            6
Chemicals-organic                             982          976            5
Nontextile floor tiles                        138          133            5
Leather and furs                               96           92            4
Newsprint                                     316          313            4
Finished textile supplies                     143          140            3
Nickel                                         82           80            2
Cotton cloth, fabrics                         186          185            2
Shingles, wallboard                           411          410            1
Chemicals-other, n.e.c.                       419          418            1
Synthetic cloth                               372          371            1
Hair, waste materials                          29           28          (-)
Hides and skins                                13           14          (-)
Electric energy                                96           97           -1
Glass-plate, sheet, etc.                       44           45           -1
Chemicals-fertilizers                         264          266           -2
Cotton, natural fibers                         17           20           -3
Fuel oil                                      379          384           -5
Plywood and veneers                           100          107           -7
Coal and related fuels                         57           65           -8
Bauxite and aluminum                          489          498           -9
Wool, silk, etc.                               66           77          -10
Finished metal shapes                         445          466          -21
Pulpwood and woodpulp                         179          209          -30
Farming materials, livestock                   57           90          -34
Lumber                                        534          585          -51
Tobacco, waxes, etc                           329          384          -55
Other precious metals                         294          462         -168
Crude oil                                   3,321        3,573         -252
 
Capital goods, except automotive           23,071       22,307          765

Computer accessories                        5,597        5,308          289
Civilian aircraft                             641          497          143
Parts-civilian aircraft                       502          407           96
Telecommunications equipment                1,579        1,500           79
Metalworking machine tools                    719          655           64
Engines-civilian aircraft                     795          738           57
Measuring, testing, control instru            653          608           45
Pulp and paper machinery                      368          324           44
Electric apparatus                          1,732        1,690           42
Business machines and equipment               674          638           36
Medicinal equipment                           675          644           31
Computers                                     625          594           31
Generators, accessories                       703          684           20
Specialized mining                             37           22           15
Materials handling equipment                  455          440           14
Industrial engines                            579          569           10
Drilling & oilfield equipment                 110          106            5
Railway transpor. equipment                   174          170            4
Nonfarm tractors and parts                     66           63            2
Commercial vessels, other                       4            3          (-)
Vessels, except scrap                           1            1          (-)
Spacecraft, exc. military                       1            1          (-)
Food, tobacco machinery                       104          106           -2
Laboratory testing instruments                131          140           -9
Excavating machinery                          462          473          -11
Agricultural machinery, equipment             394          407          -14
Marine engines, parts                          54           70          -16
Industrial machines, other                  1,241        1,257          -16
Textile, sewing machines                      197          217          -19
Photo, service industry                       608          651          -43
Wood, glass, plastic                          389          433          -43
Semiconductors                              2,801        2,891          -89

Automotive vehicles, parts, and engin      12,536       12,183          353

Consumer goods                             17,892       18,274         -382

Pharmaceutical prep                         1,226        1,421         -195
Artwork, antiques, stamps, etc.               335          486         -151
Toys/games/sporting goods                   1,555        1,679         -124
Gem diamonds                                  695          803         -108
Jewelry                                       647          677          -30
Apparel, textiles, nonwool or cotton        1,812        1,834          -21
Nursery stock, etc.                            91          112          -21
Motorcycles and parts                          96          111          -15
Pleasure boats and motors                      95          109          -14
Cookware, cutlery, tools                      292          305          -13
Household appliances                          540          553          -13
Books, printed matter                         224          233           -9
Toiletries and cosmetics                      205          209           -5
Apparel, household goods - cotton           2,245        2,249           -3
Apparel, household goods - wool               289          291           -2
Writing and art supplies                      687          689           -2
Apparel,household goods-nontextile            465          466           -1
Footwear                                      925          926           -1
Records, tapes, and disks                      97           98          (-)
Glassware, chinaware                          172          170            2
Musical instruments                           107          105            2
Furniture, household goods, etc.              830          826            4
Rugs                                           98           91            8
Numismatic coins                               38           26           12
Camping apparel and gear                      456          444           12
Photo equipment                               185          168           16
Gem stones, other                             121          102           19
Other household goods                       1,352        1,333           19
TV's, VCR's, etc                            1,166        1,060          106
Stereo equipment, etc                         844          699          145

Other Goods                                 2,544        2,892         -349
_______________________________________________________________________

                                          Year to      Year to      Year to
                                          Date         Date         Date
               Item(1)                    1998         1997         Change

Total, Balance of Payments Basis          380,997      359,138       21,859
Net Adjustments                             1,919        4,059       -2,139
Total, Census Basis                       379,078      355,080       23,998

Foods, feeds, and beverages                17,275       16,220        1,055

Fish and shellfish                          3,481        3,022          459
Bakery products                               993          841          152
Alcoholic bevs, exc. wine                     918          928           -9
Fruits, frozen juices                       1,612        1,710          -98
Meat products                               1,743        1,696           47
Food oils, oilseeds                           623          671          -48
Tea, spices, etc.                             297          255           42
Nonagricultural foods, etc.                   208          210           -2
Cane and beet sugar                           263          446         -182
Dairy products and eggs                       323          305           17
Feedstuff and foodgrains                      665          739          -74
Nuts                                          277          284           -7
Other foods                                 1,001          904           97
Vegetables                                  1,412        1,152          261
Green coffee                                1,601        1,504           96
Cocoa beans                                   369          238          131
Wine and related products                   1,488        1,315          173

Industrial supplies and materials          85,518       89,347       -3,829

Iron and steel mill products                4,967        4,611          355
Petroleum products, other                   2,642        3,697       -1,055
Nonmonetary gold                            1,730        1,367          363
Gas-natural                                 2,133        2,168          -35
Nuclear fuel materials                        489          485            4
Chemicals-inorganic                         1,774        1,656          118
Copper                                        966        1,001          -34
Industrial supplies, other                  4,621        4,307          313
Plastic materials                           2,508        2,305          203
Liquified petroleum gases                   1,307        2,070         -763
Sulfur, nonmetallic minerals                  228          252          -23
Stone, sand, cement, etc.                   1,026          822          204
Nonferrous metals, other                      784          767           17
Steelmaking materials                       1,569        1,174          395
Iron and steel products, n.e.c.             1,691        1,389          302
Zinc                                          398          485          -87
Iron and steel, advanced                    1,668        1,539          129
Tin                                            95          107          -12
Paper and paper products                    2,126        1,738          388
Natural rubber                                429          588         -158
Blank tapes, audio & visual                   814          891          -77
Materials, exc. chemicals                     628          639          -11
Synthetic rubber--primary                     547          497           50
Chemicals-organic                           4,739        4,593          145
Nontextile floor tiles                        658          572           86
Leather and furs                              466          427           39
Newsprint                                   1,564        1,466           98
Finished textile supplies                     705          653           52
Nickel                                        441          538          -97
Cotton cloth, fabrics                         925          842           83
Shingles, wallboard                         2,027        1,663          364
Chemicals-other, n.e.c.                     2,150        2,039          111
Synthetic cloth                             1,839        1,719          120
Hair, waste materials                         137          139           -2
Hides and skins                                76           91          -14
Electric energy                               420          395           25
Glass-plate, sheet, etc.                      220          196           23
Chemicals-fertilizers                       1,330        1,324            6
Cotton, natural fibers                         93           99           -6
Fuel oil                                    1,918        2,600         -682
Plywood and veneers                           495          454           40
Coal and related fuels                        300          267           33
Bauxite and aluminum                        2,633        2,296          337
Wool, silk, etc.                              363          361            2
Finished metal shapes                       2,228        2,002          226
Pulpwood and woodpulp                       1,045        1,079          -34
Farming materials, livestock                  328          255           73
Lumber                                      2,901        3,140         -239
Tobacco, waxes, etc                         1,679        1,699          -20
Other precious metals                       1,545          860          685
Crude oil                                  17,152       23,019       -5,867
 
Capital goods, except automotive          112,602      101,742       10,860

Computer accessories                       27,076       25,098        1,978
Civilian aircraft                           2,349        1,409          940
Parts-civilian aircraft                     2,108        1,758          351
Telecommunications equipment                7,492        6,278        1,214
Metalworking machine tools                  3,453        3,450            2
Engines-civilian aircraft                   3,591        2,817          774
Measuring, testing, control instru          3,159        2,646          513
Pulp and paper machinery                    1,711        1,611          101
Electric apparatus                          8,728        7,909          820
Business machines and equipment             3,245        2,999          246
Medicinal equipment                         3,148        2,761          387
Computers                                   3,136        3,368         -232
Generators, accessories                     3,474        3,313          161
Specialized mining                            151          377         -226
Materials handling equipment                2,168        1,658          510
Industrial engines                          2,965        2,668          296
Drilling & oilfield equipment                 621          379          242
Railway transpor. equipment                   828          494          333
Nonfarm tractors and parts                    330          278           52
Commercial vessels, other                      15           13            3
Vessels, except scrap                           2                         2
Spacecraft, exc. military                       5            3            2
Food, tobacco machinery                       536          529            7
Laboratory testing instruments                645          427          218
Excavating machinery                        2,247        1,644          603
Agricultural machinery, equipment           1,967        1,596          371
Marine engines, parts                         302          268           34
Industrial machines, other                  6,139        5,606          533
Textile, sewing machines                    1,060          848          213
Photo, service industry                     3,043        2,657          386
Wood, glass, plastic                        1,994        1,983           11
Semiconductors                             14,910       14,896           14

Automotive vehicles, parts, and engin      61,716       58,457        3,259

Consumer goods                             88,449       77,562       10,888

Pharmaceutical prep                         6,503        4,927        1,576
Artwork, antiques, stamps, etc.             2,090        1,937          153
Toys/games/sporting goods                   8,118        7,252          866
Gem diamonds                                3,581        2,971          610
Jewelry                                     3,162        2,764          398
Apparel, textiles, nonwool or cotton        8,930        7,856        1,074
Nursery stock, etc.                           476          403           73
Motorcycles and parts                         573          497           76
Pleasure boats and motors                     544          623          -80
Cookware, cutlery, tools                    1,449        1,288          161
Household appliances                        2,701        2,380          321
Books, printed matter                       1,145        1,045          101
Toiletries and cosmetics                    1,045          944          101
Apparel, household goods - cotton          11,129        9,571        1,558
Apparel, household goods - wool             1,393        1,205          189
Writing and art supplies                    3,318        2,889          429
Apparel,household goods-nontextile          2,313        2,149          164
Footwear                                    4,587        4,517           70
Records, tapes, and disks                     477          385           93
Glassware, chinaware                          858          814           44
Musical instruments                           511          459           51
Furniture, household goods, etc.            3,989        3,257          732
Rugs                                          442          385           57
Numismatic coins                              126          129           -3
Camping apparel and gear                    2,233        2,319          -86
Photo equipment                               859          893          -34
Gem stones, other                             553          529           25
Other household goods                       6,514        5,859          655
TV's, VCR's, etc                            5,165        4,299          866
Stereo equipment, etc                       3,665        3,015          650

Other Goods                                13,517       11,753        1,764

(1) Detailed data are presented on a Census basis.  The information needed 
    to convert to a BOP basis is not available.

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.