
This release contains sensitive economic
data not to be released before 8:30 a.m. Tuesday,
April 20, 1999	

CB-99-73      Press Copy 
FT-900 (99-02)

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
                	February 1999

Goods and Services

	The Bureau of the Census and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, 
through the Department of Commerce, announced today that total February 
exports of $76.6 billion and imports of $96.0 billion resulted in a goods and 
services deficit of $19.4 billion, $2.6 billion more than the $16.8 billion 
in January, revised.  February exports were $0.5 billion less than January 
exports of $77.1 billion.  February imports were $2.1 billion more than 
January imports of $93.9 billion.  

	In February, the goods deficit increased $2.9 billion from January to 
$26.2 billion, and the services surplus increased $0.3 billion to $6.7 
billion.  Exports of goods decreased to $54.3 billion from $55.2 billion, and 
imports of goods increased to $80.5 billion from $78.4 billion. Exports of 
services increased to $22.3 billion from $21.9 billion and imports of 
services of $15.5 billion were up slightly.

Goods
	
	The January to February change in exports of goods reflected 
decreases in capital goods of $1.1 billion (primarily civilian aircraft); 
foods, feeds, and beverages ($0.1 billion); and other goods ($0.1 billion).  
Increases occurred in automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.3 billion); 
consumer goods ($0.2 billion); and industrial supplies and materials 
($0.1 billion). 
 
	The January to February change in imports of goods reflected 
increases in consumer goods of $1.0 billion (primarily apparel products; 
toys, games, and sporting goods; and televisions and other video equipment); 
automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.7 billion); and capital goods 
($0.7 billion).  Decreases occurred in industrial supplies and materials 
($0.2 billion); foods, feeds, and beverages ($0.1 billion); and other goods 
($0.1 billion).

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 $0.3 billion from January to February, 
mostly reflecting an increase in other private services; this category 
includes services such as business, professional, and technical services, 
financial services, and education.  Changes to the other categories of 
services exports were small.

	Services imports increased $0.1 billion from January to February, 
reflecting small changes in all categories.

Goods and Services Moving Average 

	For the three months ending in February, exports of goods and 
services averaged $77.2 billion, while imports of goods and services averaged 
$94.0 billion, resulting in an average trade deficit of $16.8 billion.  For 
the three months ending in January, the average trade deficit was $15.3 
billion, reflecting average exports of $78.0 billion and average imports of 
$93.3 billion.


Selected Not Seasonally Adjusted Goods Details 

	The February figures showed surpluses, in billions of dollars, with 
Australia $0.5 (for January $0.4), Argentina $0.2 ($0.2), Hong Kong $0.2 
($0.1), Brazil $0.2 ($0.3), and Egypt $0.2 ($0.2).  Deficits were recorded, 
in billions of dollars, with Japan  -$5.3  (-$4.7), China -$4.6 (-$4.9), 
Canada  -$2.4 (-$2.5), Western Europe -$2.2 (-$1.4), Mexico -$1.8 (-$1.4), 
Taiwan -$1.2 (-$1.2), Korea -$0.6 (-$0.5), OPEC  -$0.5 (-$0.9), and 
Singapore -$0.1 ($0.1).

	Advanced technology products (ATP) exports were $14.9 billion in 
February and imports were $12.5 billion, resulting in a surplus of $2.4 
billion.  February exports were $0.6 billion less than the $15.5 billion in 
January, while imports were $0.5 billion more than the $12.1 billion in 
January.

Revisions
	
	Goods carry-over in February was $0.8 billion (1.5 percent) for 
exports and $1.1 billion (1.5 percent) for imports.  For January, revised 
export carry-over was $0.1 billion (0.2 percent), revised down from $0.5 
billion (1.0 percent).  For January, revised import carry-over was $0.2 
billion (0.3 percent), revised down from $0.8 billion (1.1 percent).

	Services exports for January were virtually unrevised at $21.9 
billion.  Services imports for January were virtually unrevised at $15.5 
billion.

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-99-73), Bureau of the Census, Foreign Trade
        Division, February 1999.  For more information, contact Haydn R. 
        Mearkle (301-457-2246) or Richard M. Preuss (301-457-2311), 
        Foreign Trade Division.