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

CB-99-202     Press Copy 
FT-900 (99-08)

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
                           August 1999
Goods and Services

The Bureau of the Census and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the
Department of Commerce, announced today that total August exports of $82.0
billion and imports of $106.1 billion resulted in a goods and services
deficit of $24.1 billion, $0.8 billion less than the deficit of $24.9
billion in July, revised.  August exports were $2.9 billion more than July
exports of $79.1 billion.  August imports were $2.1 billion more than July
imports of $104.0 billion.


In August, the goods deficit decreased $0.8 billion from July to $30.6
billion, and the services surplus was virtually unchanged at $6.5 billion. 
Exports of goods increased to $58.8 billion from $55.9 billion, and imports
of goods increased to $89.4 billion from $87.3 billion. Exports of services
were virtually unchanged at $23.2 billion, and imports of services increased
to $16.8 billion from $16.7 billion.

Goods
     
The July to August change in exports of goods reflected increases in capital
goods of $1.6 billion (primarily civilian aircraft); industrial supplies and
materials ($0.9 billion); automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.6
billion); and foods, feeds, and beverages ($0.1 billion).  Decreases
occurred in other goods ($0.4 billion) and consumer goods ($0.1 billion). 
 
The July to August change in imports of goods reflected increases in
industrial supplies and materials of $1.2 billion (primarily crude
petroleum); other goods ($0.4 billion); automotive vehicles, parts, and
engines ($0.4 billion); and consumer goods ($0.1 billion).  A decrease
occurred in capital goods ($0.4 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 were virtually unchanged from July to August, as small
increases were largely offset by small decreases.

Services imports increased $0.1 billion from July to August, reflecting an
increase in other transportation.  Changes in the other categories of
services imports were small and mostly offsetting.

Goods and Services Moving Average

For the three months ending in August, exports of goods and services
averaged $79.9 billion, while imports of goods and services averaged $104.5
billion, resulting in an average trade deficit of $24.5 billion.  For the
three months ending in July, the average trade deficit was $23.6 billion,
reflecting average exports of $78.6 billion and average imports of $102.2
billion.

Selected Not Seasonally Adjusted Goods Details 

The August figures showed surpluses, in billions of dollars, with Australia
$0.4 (for July $0.5), Argentina $0.2 ($0.1), Egypt $0.1 ($0.2), Singapore
$0.1 (-$0.4).  Deficits were recorded, in  billions of  dollars, with  China
-$6.9  (-$6.3), Japan -$6.4 (-$6.8), Western Europe -$4.4 (-$6.8), Canada
-$3.5 (-$3.1), OPEC -$2.7 (-$1.9), Mexico -$2.2 (-$2.1), Taiwan -$1.4
(-$1.3), and Korea -$0.4 (-$0.8).

Advanced technology products (ATP) exports were $16.6 billion in August and
imports were $15.4 billion, resulting in a surplus of $1.1 billion.  August
exports were $0.9 billion more than the $15.6 billion in July, while imports
were $0.6 billion less than the $16.0 billion in July.  

Revisions
     
Goods carry-over in August was $0.7  billion (1.2 percent) for exports and
$0.8 billion (0.9 percent) for imports.  For July, revised export carry-over
was $0.2 billion (0.4 percent), revised down from $0.8 billion (1.5 percent).
For July, revised import carry-over was $0.1 billion (0.1 percent), revised
down from $1.1 billion (1.3 percent).

Services exports for July were virtually unrevised at $23.2 billion.  Services
imports for July were virtually unrevised at $16.7 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-99-202), Bureau of the Census, Foreign Trade
        Division, August 1999.  For more information, contact Haydn R. 
        Mearkle (301-457-2246) or Nick Orsini (301-457-2311), Foreign 
        Trade Division.           
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