U.S. Census Bureau
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
NEWS
U.S. Department of Commerce ? Washington, DC 20230


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
8:30 A.M. EDT FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2008

For information on goods contact:
For information on services contact:
U.S. Census Bureau:
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis:
Nick Orsini
301-763-6959
Technical:  Christopher Bach
202-606-9545
Maria Iseman
301-763-2311
Media:       Ralph Stewart
202-606-2649



CB08-153, BEA08-47, FT-900 (08-08)

U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES
August 2008




Goods and Services

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of 
Economic Analysis, through the Department of Commerce, 
announced today that total August exports of $164.7 billion 
and imports of $223.9 billion resulted in a goods and 
services deficit of $59.1 billion, down from $61.3 billion in 
July, revised.  August exports were $3.4 billion less than 
July exports of $168.1 billion.  August imports were $5.5 
billion less than July imports of $229.4 billion.

In August, the goods deficit decreased $3.2 billion 
from July to $70.9 billion, and the services surplus 
decreased $1.0 billion to $11.8 billion.  Exports of goods 
decreased $3.2 billion to $117.6 billion, and imports of 
goods decreased $6.4 billion to $188.5 billion.  Exports of 
services decreased $0.2 billion to $47.1 billion, and imports 
of services increased $0.9 billion to $35.3 billion.

In August 2008, the goods and services deficit 
increased $3.8 billion from August 2007.  Exports were up 
$22.6 billion, or 15.9 percent, and imports were up $26.4 
billion, or 13.4 percent.

Goods

The July to August change in exports of goods 
reflected decreases in automotive vehicles, parts, and 
engines ($1.7 billion); industrial supplies and materials 
($1.2 billion); consumer goods ($0.9 billion); and foods, 


feeds, and beverages ($0.2 billion).  Increases occurred in 
capital goods ($0.8 billion) and other goods ($0.2 billion).
 
	The July to August change in imports of goods 
reflected decreases in industrial supplies and materials 
($6.2 billion); automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($1.2 
billion); capital goods ($0.8 billion); and other goods ($0.3 
billion).  Increases occurred in consumer goods ($2.3 
billion) and foods, feeds, and beverages ($0.2 billion).
 
The August 2007 to August 2008 change in exports of 
goods reflected increases in industrial supplies and 
materials ($9.7 billion); capital goods ($4.2 billion); foods, 
feeds, and beverages ($2.6 billion); consumer goods ($1.6 
billion); other goods ($0.8 billion); and automotive 
vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.2 billion).

The August 2007 to August 2008 change in imports of 
goods reflected increases in industrial supplies and 
materials ($20.2 billion); consumer goods ($4.1 billion); 
capital goods ($1.0 billion); foods, feeds, and beverages 
($0.8 billion); and other goods ($0.4 billion).  A decrease 
occurred in automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($2.7 
billion). 

Services

	Services exports decreased $0.2 billion from July to 
August.  The decrease was more than accounted for by 
decreases in other private services (which includes items 
such as business, professional, and technical services, 
insurance services, and financial services) and other 
transportation (which includes freight and port services).  
Increases in royalties and license fees and transfers under 
U.S. military sales contracts were partly offsetting.  
Changes in other categories of services exports were small.    
					
	Services imports increased $0.9 billion from July to 
August.  Royalties and license fees increased $0.9 billion; it 
includes payments for the rights to broadcast the 2008 
Summer Olympic Games.  Decreases in other 
transportation and passenger fares were partly offsetting.  
Changes in other categories of services imports were small.
			
	From August 2007 to August 2008, services exports 
increased $3.5 billion.  The largest increases were in 
travel ($1.4 billion), other transportation ($0.9 billion), and 
passenger fares ($0.7 billion).  
						
	From August 2007 to August 2008, services imports 
increased $3.1 billion.  The largest increases were in 
royalties and license fees ($1.2 billion) and other 
transportation ($0.6 billion).  

Goods and Services Moving Average

 
For the three months ending in August, exports of 
goods and services averaged $165.2 billion, while imports 
of goods and services averaged $225.0 billion, resulting in 
an average trade deficit of $59.8 billion.  For the three 
months ending in July, the average trade deficit was $60.1 
billion, reflecting average exports of $162.6 billion and 
average imports of $222.7 billion.



Selected Not Seasonally Adjusted Goods Details

	The August figures showed surpluses, in billions of 
dollars, with Hong Kong $1.2 ($1.1 for July), Singapore 
$1.2 ($0.9), Australia $1.0 ($1.2), and Egypt $0.4 ($0.5).  
Deficits were recorded, in billions of dollars, with China 
$25.3 ($24.9), OPEC $19.2 ($24.2), Canada $7.4 ($8.2), the 
European Union $6.8 ($11.0), Mexico $5.9 ($5.5), Japan 
$4.8 ($6.3), Venezuela $4.6 ($5.4), Nigeria $3.4 ($3.8), 
Taiwan $1.1 ($0.5), and Korea $0.7 ($1.3).

	Advanced technology products (ATP) exports were 
$25.1 billion in August and imports were $28.3 billion, 
resulting in a deficit of $3.2 billion.  August exports were 
$1.8 billion more than the $23.3 billion in July, while 
imports were $2.1 billion less than the $30.4 billion in July.

Revisions

	Goods carry-over in August was $0.3 billion (0.2 
percent) for exports and $2.5 billion (1.3 percent) for 
imports.  For July, revised export carry-over was $0.1 
billion (0.1 percent), revised down from $0.4 billion (0.3 
percent).  For July, revised import carry-over was $0.2 
billion (0.1 percent), revised down from $2.2 billion (1.1 
percent).

	Services exports for July were revised down $0.1 
billion to $47.3 billion.  The revision was mostly accounted 
for by a downward revision in other transportation.  
Services imports for July were revised down $0.3 billion to 
$34.4 billion.  The revision was mostly accounted for by 
downward revisions in travel and passenger fares.



	TABLE OF CONTENTS
 

Seasonally Adjusted

Exhibit 1
U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  

1
Exhibit 2
U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services Three-month Moving Averages. . . . . . .

2
Exhibit 3
U.S. Services by Major Category  Exports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3
Exhibit 4
U.S. Services by Major Category  Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4
Exhibit 5
U.S. Trade in Goods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5
Exhibit 6
Exports and Imports of Goods by Principal End-Use Category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6
Exhibit 7
Exports of Goods by End-Use Category and Commodity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7
Exhibit 8
Imports of Goods by End-Use Category and Commodity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9
Exhibit 9
Exports, Imports, and Balance of Goods, Petroleum and Non-Petroleum End-Use 
Category Totals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


11
Exhibit 10
Real Exports and Imports of Goods by Principal End-Use Category (2000 Chain-
weighted dollars) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


12
Exhibit 11
Real Exports, Imports, and Balance of Goods, Petroleum and Non-Petroleum End-Use 
Commodity Category Totals (2000 Chain-weighted dollars) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 


13

Not Seasonally Adjusted

Exhibit 12
U.S. Trade in Goods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

14
Exhibit 13
Exports and Imports of Goods by Principal End-Use Category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

15
Exhibit 14
Exports, Imports, and Balance of Goods by Selected Countries and Areas. . . . . . . . . . . .

16
Exhibit 15
Exports and Imports of Goods by Principal SITC Commodities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

18
Exhibit 16
Exports, Imports, and Balance of Advanced Technology Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

20
Exhibit 16a
Exports, Imports, and Balance of Advanced Technology Products by Technology
Group and Selected Countries and Areas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


21
Exhibit 17
Imports of Energy-Related Petroleum Products, Including Crude Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

22
Exhibit 18
Exports and Imports of Motor Vehicles and Parts by Selected Countries. . . . . . . . . . . . .

23
Information on Goods and Services.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
A-1

 
 
 
 


ii
NOTE:  Total goods data are reported on a Balance of Payments basis; commodity and country detail data for goods are on a Census basis.  For information on 
data sources and definitions, see the information section on page 27 of this release, or at www.census.gov/ft900 or www.bea.gov/bea/di/home/trade.htm.  
The next FT-900 release is April 11, 2008.
NOTE:  Total goods data are reported on a Balance of Payments basis; commodity and country detail data for goods are on a Census basis.  For information on 
data sources and definitions, see the information section on page A-1 of this release, or at www.census.gov/ft900 or 
www.bea.gov/newsreleases/international/trade/tradnewsrelease.htm.  The next FT-900 release is November 13, 2008.

Scheduled release dates through February 2009 are located on page A-5







