U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES:  MARCH 1995 


IMPORTANT:  This release contains sensitive economic data not to be 
            released before 8:30 a.m. Thursday, May 18, 1995.
            CB-95-96Press Copy
            FT-900 (95-03)

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:
Media: Larry Moran (202) 606-2649 
Technical: Christopher Bach (202) 606-9545

U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES  March 1995

The Bureau of the Census and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the 
Department of Commerce, announced today that total March exports of $65.3 
billion and imports of $74.5 billion resulted in a goods and services 
deficit of $9.1 billion, virtually the same as the revised February 
deficit. March exports were $3.1 billion more than February exports of 
$62.3 billion.  March imports were $3.1 billion more than February imports 
of $71.4 billion.  
 
In March, the goods deficit decreased to $14.2 billion from $14.3 billion 
in February, and the services surplus of $5.1 billion was virtually the 
same as in February.  Exports of goods increased to $48.2 billion from 
$45.4 billion, and imports of goods increased to $62.5 billion from $59.7 
billion.  Exports of services increased to $17.1 billion from $16.8 
billion, and imports of services increased to $12.0 billion from $11.7 
billion.

The February to March change in exports of goods reflected increases 
in capital goods of $1.5 billion (primarily semiconductors, civilian 
aircraft, and telecommunications equipment); industrial supplies and 
materials ($0.9 billion); other goods ($0.3 billion); foods, feeds, 
and beverages ($0.2 billion); and consumer goods ($0.1 billion); and a
decrease in 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 $1.1 billion (primarily crude 
petroleum and metal products); capital goods ($0.6 billion); other goods 
($0.1 billion); consumer goods ($0.1 billion); foods, feeds, and beverages 
($0.1 billion); and automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.1 billion). 

For the three months ending in March, exports of goods and services, using 
a centered three month moving average, were $62.9 billion, while imports 
of goods and services averaged $72.9 billion, resulting in an average 
trade deficit of $10.1 billion.  For the three months ending in February, 
the average trade deficit was $9.5 billion, reflecting average exports of 
$62.3 billion and average imports of $71.7 billion.

The February to March change in services exports largely reflected 
increases in the categories of other transportation, other private 
services, and travel.  Other categories of services exports changed 
little.

The February to March change in services imports largely reflected 
increases in the categories of travel and other transportation.  Other 
categories of services imports changed little.

Selected Not Seasonally Adjusted Goods Details 

Advanced technology products (ATP) exports were $12.4 billion for March 
and imports were $10.2 billion, resulting in a surplus of $2.2 billion, 
$0.3 billion more than the February surplus of $1.9 billion.  March 
exports were $2.3 billion more than the $10.1 billion of February, while 
imports were $2.0 billion more than the $8.3 billion of February.

The March figures showed surpluses in billions of dollars with Australia 
$0.7 (for February, $0.6), Korea $0.7 ($0.5), Hong Kong $0.6 ($0.4), 
Brazil $0.4 ($0.3), Argentina $0.2 ($0.2), Egypt $0.2 ($0.2), and Western 
Europe virtually zero (-$0.3).  Deficits were recorded in billions of 
dollars with Japan -$6.1 ($-4.7), China -$1.8 (-$1.9), Mexico -$1.7 
(-$1.3), Canada -$1.1 (-$1.4), Taiwan -$0.5 ($0.4), and Singapore -$0.1
($0.1).
      
Carry-over in March was $0.4 billion (0.8 percent) for exports and $0.3 
billion (0.5 percent) for imports.  For February, revised exports 
carry-over was virtually zero, revised down from $0.6 billion 
(1.3 percent).  For February, revised imports carry-over was $0.1 billion 
(0.2 percent), revised down from $0.3 billion (0.5 percent).


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 25 of this release and
       in the explain.900 file.

NOTICE:  Revised Release Date for "U.S. International Transactions"
As announced in the February Release, the bureau of economic analysis has 
changed the release date for the first quarter 1995 "U.S. International
Transactions" from June 13 to June 21.  This new date conforms with the 
release date for the April 1995 "U.S. Intermational Trade in Goods and 
Services" (FT-900) and the "Annual Revisions for 1994".  This rescheduling
will assure that the historical revisions -- monthly, quarterly, and 
annual -- will appear at the same time.


SOURCE: Report FT900 (CB-95-96), Bureau of the Census, Foreign Trade
        Division, MARCH 1995.  For more information, contact Haydn R. 
        Mearkle (301-457-2246) or Richard M. Preuss (301-457-2311), 
        Foreign Trade Division.