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

  CB-99-137     Press Copy 
  FT-900 (99-05)

For information on goods contact:
Bureau of the Census:
Haydn R. Mearkle  (301) 457-2246 
Nick Orsini      (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
                             May 1999
Goods and Services

     The Bureau of the Census and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, through
     the Department of Commerce, announced today that total May exports of
     $77.6 billion and imports of $98.9 billion resulted in a goods and
     services deficit of $21.3 billion, $2.7 billion more than the
     $18.6 billion in April, revised.  May exports were $0.6 billion
     less than April exports of $78.2 billion.  May imports were $2.1 billion
     more than April imports of $96.8 billion.  

     In May, the goods deficit increased $2.9 billion from April to $28.2
     billion, and the services surplus increased $0.1 billion to $6.9 billion.
     Exports of goods decreased to $54.6 billion from $55.3 billion, and
     imports of goods increased to $82.8 billion from $80.6 billion.  Exports
     of services were virtually unchanged at $23.0 billion, and imports of
     services decreased to $16.1 billion from $16.2 billion.

Goods

     The April to May change in exports of goods reflected decreases in
     consumer goods ($0.3 billion); capital goods ($0.2  billion); and
     automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.1 billion).  An increase
     occurred in other goods ($0.1 billion). Foods, feeds, and beverages
     and industrial supplies and materials were virtually unchanged.                 
        
     The April to May change in imports of goods reflected increases in
     capital goods ($0.9 billion ); automotive vehicles, parts, and engines
     ($0.8 billion); industrial supplies and materials ($0.8 billion); and
     foods, feeds, and beverages ($0.1 billion).  A decrease occurred in
     consumer goods ($0.4 billion).  Other goods 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 were virtually unchanged from April to May, reflecting
     small and mostly offsetting changes to all categories of services exports.
  
     Services imports decreased $0.1 billion from April to May, reflecting a
     decrease in travel.  Changes to the other categories of services imports
     were small and mostly offsetting.

Goods and Services Moving Average 

     For the three months ending in May, exports of goods and services
     averaged $77.6 billion, while imports of goods and services averaged
     $97.3 billion, resulting in an average trade deficit of $19.6 billion.
     For the three months ending in April, the average trade deficit was $18.7
     billion, reflecting average exports of $77.5 billion and average imports
     of $96.2 billion.



Selected Not Seasonally Adjusted Goods Details 

     The May figures showed surpluses, in billions of dollars, with Australia
     $0.5 (for April $0.4), Egypt $0.3 ($0.2), Hong Kong $0.2 ($0.3), Argentina
     $0.2 ($0.2), and Brazil $0.2 ($0.2).  Deficits were recorded, in billions
     of  dollars, with Japan  -$5.3 (-$5.6),  China  -$5.3 (-$4.8), Western
     Europe -$3.6 (-$2.9), Canada -$2.3 (-$2.0), Mexico -$2.2  (-$1.7), OPEC
     -$1.6  (-$1.8),  Taiwan -$1.2  (-$1.3), Korea -$0.7 (-$0.2), and Singapore
     -$0.3 (-$ 0.2).

     Advanced technology products (ATP) exports were $15.7 billion in May and
     imports were $14.0 billion, resulting in a surplus of $1.7 billion.  May
     exports were $0.4 billion less than the $16.1 billion in April, while
     imports were $0.3 billion more than the $13.7 billion in April.

Revisions
     
     Goods carry-over in May was $0.6 billion (1.1 percent) for exports and
     $0.9 billion (1.1 percent) for imports.  For April, revised export
     carry-over was $0.1 billion (0.2 percent), revised down from $0.6
     billion (1.1 percent).  For April, revised import carry-over was $0.1
     billion (0.1 percent), revised down from $0.9 billion (1.1 percent).

     Services exports for April were revised up $0.1 billion to $23.0 billion.
     The revision was primarily attributable to small increases in other
     private services, travel, and passenger fares, reflecting updated source
     data.  Services imports for April were revised down $0.1 billion to $16.2
     billion.  The revision was primarily attributable to a decrease in 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-99-137), Bureau of the Census, Foreign Trade
        Division, May 1999.  For more information, contact Haydn R. 
        Mearkle (301-457-2246) or Nick Orsini (301-457-2311), 
        Foreign Trade Division.
