

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

CB-99-89      Press Copy 
FT-900 (99-03)

For information on goods contact:
Bureau of the Census:
Haydn R. Mearkle   	(301) 457-2311 
                  	(301) 457-2246


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
                            March 1999
Goods and Services

     The Bureau of the Census and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, through 
the Department of Commerce, announced today that total March exports of 
$77.5 billion and imports of $97.2 billion resulted in a goods and 
services deficit of $19.7 billion, $0.6 billion more than the $19.1 
billion in February, revised.  March exports were $0.7 billion more than 
February exports of $76.8 billion.  March imports were $1.3 billion more 
than February imports of $95.9 billion.  

     In March, the goods deficit increased $0.5 billion from February to 
$26.5 billion, and the services surplus was virtually unchanged at $6.8 
billion. Exports of goods increased to $54.9 billion from $54.4 billion, 
and imports of goods increased to $81.3 billion from $80.3 billion. 
Exports of services increased to $22.6 billion from $22.4 billion, and
imports of services increased to $15.9 billion from $15.7 billion.

Goods
     
     The February to March change in exports of goods reflected increases 
in capital goods  of  $0.4 billion (primarily telecommunications equipment 
and generators); industrial supplies and materials ($0.4 billion); and 
foods, feeds and beverages ($0.1 billion).  Decreases occurred in other 
goods ($0.3 billion); consumer goods ($0.1 billion); and automotive 
vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.1 billion).
 
     The February to March change in imports of goods reflected increases 
in industrial supplies and materials of $0.8 billion (primarily crude 
petroleum and iron and steel mill products); other goods ($0.4 billion); 
and automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.4 billion).  Decreases 
occurred in capital goods ($0.4 billion) and consumer goods ($0.2 billion). 
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 February to March. The 
increase was accounted for about equally by travel and other private 
services; the latter 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 $0.2 billion from February to March, 
reflecting small increase in nearly all categories.                                        
                

Goods and Services Moving Average 

     For the three months ending in March, exports of goods and services 
averaged $77.1 billion, while imports of goods and services averaged $95.7 
billion, resulting in an average trade deficit of $18.6 billion.  For the 
three months ending in January, the average trade deficit was $16.7 
billion, reflecting average exports of $77.3 billion and average imports
of $93.9 billion.

Selected Not Seasonally Adjusted Goods Details

     The March figures showed surpluses, in billions of dollars, with 
Australia $0.6 (for February $0.5), Hong Kong $0.5 ($0.2), Egypt $0.2 
($0.2), Argentina $0.1 ($0.2), and Brazil $0.1 ($0.2).  Deficits were
recorded,  in billions of dollars, with Japan -$6.5 (-$5.3), China -$4.1  
(-$4.6), Western Europe  -$3.2 (-$2.2), Mexico -$2.5 (-$2.0), Canada -$2.4   
(-$2.2), Taiwan -$1.4 (-$1.2), OPEC -$0.6 (-$0.5), Korea -$0.5 ($0.6), and 
Singapore -$0.2 (-$0.1).
     
     Advanced technology products (ATP) exports were $18.0 billion in March 
and imports were $14.5 billion, resulting in a surplus of $3.5 billion. 
March exports were $3.1 billion more than the $14.9 billion in February, 
while imports were $2.0 billion more than the $12.5 billion in February.

Revisions
     
     Goods carry-over in March was $0.6 billion (1.0 percent) for exports 
and $0.7 billion (0.8 percent) for imports. For February, revised export 
carry-over was $0.3 billion (0.6 percent), revised down from $0.8 billion 
(1.5 percent).  For February, revised import carry-over was $0.3 billion 
(0.4 percent), revised down from $1.1 billion (1.5 percent).

     Services exports for February were revised up $0.2 billion to $22.4 
billion. The revision was more than accounted for by transfers under U.S. 
military sales contracts, which now includes updated source data. Services 
imports for February were revised up $0.1 billion to $15.7 billion. The 
revision was primarily attributable to small increases in travel and other
transportation, reflecting updated source data.      
                                                                      
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-99-89), Bureau of the Census, Foreign Trade
        Division, March 1999.  For more information, contact Haydn R. 
        Mearkle (301-457-2246) or (301-457-2311), Foreign Trade Division.
