
This release contains sensitive economic
data not to be released before 8:30 a.m. Thursday,
December 17, 1998	

CB-98-235      Press Copy 
FT-900 (98-10)

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
	                          October 1998

Goods and Services

The Bureau of the Census and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the 
Department of Commerce, announced today that total October exports of $79.6 
billion and imports of $93.8 billion resulted in a goods and services deficit 
of $14.2 billion, $0.2 billion less than the $14.4 billion in September, 
revised.  October exports were $2.2 billion more than September exports of 
$77.5 billion.  October imports were $2.0 billion more than September imports 
of $91.8 billion.  

	In October, the goods deficit decreased $0.2 billion from September 
to $20.6 billion, and the services surplus remained virtually unchanged at 
$6.4 billion.  Exports of goods increased to $57.9 billion from $56.0 billion, 
and imports of goods increased to $78.6 billion from $76.8 billion. Exports 
of services increased to $21.7 billion from $21.5 billion and imports of 
services increased to $15.3 billion from $15.0 billion.

Goods
	
	The September to October change in exports of goods reflected 
increases in foods, feeds, and beverages of $0.7 billion (primarily soybeans 
and wheat), capital goods ($0.6 billion), industrial supplies and materials 
($0.6 billion), other goods ($0.1 billion), and consumer goods ($0.1 billion).  
Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines were virtually unchanged.
 
	The September to October change in imports of goods reflected 
increases in capital goods of $0.7 billion (primarily civilian aircraft and 
engines), industrial supplies and materials ($0.4 billion), automotive 
vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.3 billion), and consumer goods ($0.1 
billion).  Other goods and  foods, feeds, and beverages  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 $0.2 billion from September to October, 
mostly reflecting an increase in travel. Changes to the other categories of 
services exports were small.

	Services imports increased $0.2 billion from September to October, 
reflecting small increases in nearly all categories.

Goods and Services Moving Average 

	For the three months ending in October, exports of goods and services 
averaged $77.4 billion, while imports of goods and services averaged $92.4 
billion, resulting in an average trade deficit of $15.1 billion.  For the 
three months ending in September, the average trade deficit was $15.3 billion, 
reflecting average exports of $75.8 billion and average imports of $91.1 
billion.



Selected Not Seasonally Adjusted Goods Details 

	The October figures showed surpluses, in billions of dollars, with 
Australia $0.6 (for September $0.5), Brazil $0.6 ($0.4), Argentina $0.4 ($0.3), 
Egypt $0.2 ($0.2), and Hong Kong $0.1 ($0.1). Deficits were recorded, in  
billions  of  dollars,  with Japan -$6.0 (-$5.1), China -$5.5 (-$5.9), 
Western Europe -$3.2   (-$1.8), Canada -$2.2 (-$2.2), Mexico -$1.7 (-$1.4),  
Taiwan  -$1.3  (-$1.6),   OPEC -$1.0 (-$0.9),  Korea  -$0.6 (-$0.8), and  
Singapore -$0.3 (-$0.3).

	Advanced technology products (ATP) exports were $17.2 billion in 
October and imports were $14.3 billion, resulting in a surplus of $2.9
billion. October exports were $1.3 billion more than the $15.9 billion in
September, while imports were $0.3 billion more than the $14.0 billion in
September.

Revisions
	
	Goods carry-over in October was $0.7 billion (1.1 percent) for exports 
and $1.2 billion (1.4 percent) for imports.  For September, revised export 
carry-over was $0.1 billion (0.2 percent), revised down from $0.7 billion (1.3 
percent).  For September, revised import carry-over was $0.2 billion (0.3 
percent), revised down from $0.7 billion (0.9 percent). Services exports for
September were revised up $0.2 billion to $21.5 billion.  Services exports
for August were revised down -$0.4 billion to $21.1 billion. These revisions
were primarily attributable to travel and passenger fare  exports, reflecting
updated source data on foreign visitors to the United States.

Services imports for both September and August were revised up $0.3 billion to 
$15.0 billion and $15.1 billion, respectively.  These revisions, primarily to 
other private services, reflected updated survey data.



                     NOTICE

	Scheduled Release Dates
	for 1999
	are Located on Page 29

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-98-235), Bureau of the Census, Foreign Trade
        Division, October 1998.  For more information, contact Haydn R. 
        Mearkle (301-457-2246) or Richard M. Preuss (301-457-2311), 
        Foreign Trade Division.
