This release contains sensitive economic
data not to be released before 8:30 a.m. Thursday,
November 18, 1999     

  CB-99-220     Press Copy 
  FT-900 (99-09)

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
                          September 1999

Goods and Services

The Bureau of the Census and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the
Department of Commerce, announced today that total September exports of
$81.7 billion and imports of $106.1 billion resulted in a goods and services
deficit of $24.4 billion, $0.9 billion more than the deficit of $23.5 billion in
August, revised.  September exports were $0.7 billion less than August
exports of $82.4 billion.  September imports were $0.1 billion more than
August imports of $106.0 billion.  

In September, the goods deficit increased $0.5 billion from August to $30.6
billion, and the services surplus decreased $0.4 billion to $6.2 billion. 
Exports of goods decreased to $58.5 billion from $59.1 billion, and imports
of goods decreased to $89.1 billion from $89.3 billion. Exports of services
decreased to $23.2 billion from $23.3 billion and imports of services
increased to $17.0 billion from $16.7 billion.

Goods
     
The August to September change in exports of goods reflected decreases in
capital goods of $0.9 billion (primarily civilian aircraft) and automotive
vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.5 billion). Increases occurred in industrial
supplies and materials ($0.5 billion); consumer goods ($0.3 billion); foods,
feeds, and beverages ($0.1 billion); and other goods ($0.1 billion).
 
The August to September change in imports of goods reflected decreases in
automotive vehicles, parts, and engines of $0.4 billion); other goods ($0.3
billion); and capital goods ($0.2 billion).  An increase occurred in
industrial supplies and materials ($0.4 billion).  Consumer goods and food,
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 decreased $0.1 billion from August to September, mainly
reflecting decreases in transfers under U.S. military sales contracts and
travel.

Services imports increased  $0.3  billion  from August to  September,
reflecting  increases in direct defense expenditures, travel, and other
transportation.

Goods and Services Moving Average 

For the three months ending in September, exports of goods and services
averaged $81.1 billion, while imports of goods and services averaged $105.4
billion, resulting in an average trade deficit of $24.3 billion.  For the
three months ending in August, the average trade deficit was $24.3 billion,
reflecting average exports of $80.1 billion and average imports of $104.4
billion.

Selected Not Seasonally Adjusted Goods Details 

The September figures showed surpluses, in billions of dollars, with
Australia $0.6 (for August $0.4), Argentina $0.3 ($0.2), Egypt $0.2 ($0.1),
Hong Kong $0.1 ($0.0), and Brazil $0.1 ($0.0).  Deficits were recorded, in
billions of dollars, with China -$6.9  (-$6.9), Japan -$6.6  (-$6.4),
Western Europe -$3.5 (-$4.4), OPEC   -$3.0 (-$2.7),  Canada -$2.9 (-$3.3),
Mexico -$2.2 (-$2.2), Taiwan -$1.5 (-$1.4), and Korea -$0.9 (-$0.4).

Advanced technology products (ATP) exports were $17.0 billion in September
and imports were $16.1 billion, resulting in a surplus of $0.9 billion. 
September exports were $0.4 billion more than the $16.6 billion in August,
while imports were $0.7 billion more than the $15.4 billion in August.

Revisions
     
Goods carry-over in September was $0.7  billion (1.2 percent) for exports
and $1.1 billion (1.2 percent) for imports.  For August, revised export
carry-over was $0.1 billion (0.2 percent), revised down from $0.7 billion
(1.2 percent).  For August, revised import carry-over was $0.1 billion
(0.1 percent), revised down from $0.8 billion (0.9 percent).  Services
exports for August were revised up $0.1 billion to $23.3 billion, reflecting
the incorporation of newly available source data.  Services imports for
August were virtually unrevised at $16.7 billion.






              NOTICE  Scheduled Release Dates
                           for 2000 
                     are Located on Page 29
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
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-99-220), Bureau of the Census, Foreign Trade
        Division, September 1999.  For more information, contact Haydn R. 
        Mearkle (301-457-2246) or Nick Orsini (301-457-2311), Foreign 
        Trade Division.