
PART A:    SEASONALLY ADJUSTED

EXHIBIT 2. U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES 
           THREE-MONTH MOVING AVERAGES -- JANUARY 1996 TO DECEMBER 1998

(In millions of dollars. Details may not equal totals due to seasonal
adjustment and rounding. (R) Revised.)
                         

 
       Center                              Balance
      Month of
       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  (R)                  -9,938           -16,918             6,980

1998           

January  (R)                  -10,646           -17,460             6,814
February  (R)                 -11,781           -18,678             6,897
March  (R)                    -13,154           -20,097             6,943
April  (R)                    -14,497           -21,583             7,087
May  (R)                      -14,735           -21,592             6,857
June  (R)                     -15,035           -21,491             6,455
                                       
July  (R)                     -15,380           -21,543             6,163
August  (R)                   -15,432           -21,633             6,202
September  (R)                -14,989           -21,346             6,357
October  (R)                  -14,479           -20,953             6,474
November                      -14,248           -20,758             6,511
December                                                 
__________________________________________________________________________


       Center                              Exports
      Month of
       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  (R)                  79,482            57,876            21,607

1998           

January  (R)                   79,027            57,468            21,559
February  (R)                  78,754            57,064            21,690
March  (R)                     78,100            56,208            21,892
April  (R)                     77,712            55,664            22,048
May  (R)                       76,768            54,848            21,920
June  (R)                      75,864            54,344            21,519
                                       
July  (R)                      75,310            54,059            21,251
August  (R)                    75,724            54,471            21,252
September  (R)                 77,465            55,976            21,489
October  (R)                   78,819            57,089            21,730
November                       79,193            57,303            21,891
December                                                 
__________________________________________________________________________
       Center                               Imports
      Month of
       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  (R)                  89,420            74,794            14,627

1998           

January  (R)                   89,673            74,927            14,745
February  (R)                  90,535            75,741            14,793
March  (R)                     91,254            76,305            14,949
April  (R)                     92,209            77,248            14,961
May  (R)                       91,503            76,440            15,063
June  (R)                      90,899            75,835            15,064
                                                         
July  (R)                      90,689            75,601            15,088
August  (R)                    91,155            76,105            15,051
September  (R)                 92,454            77,322            15,132
October  (R)                   93,299            78,043            15,256
November                       93,441            78,061            15,380
December                                                 

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-99-31), Bureau of the Census, Foreign Trade
        Division, December 1998.  For more information, contact Haydn R. 
        Mearkle (301-457-2246) or Richard M. Preuss (301-457-2311), 
        Foreign Trade Division.