FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 8:30 A.M. EDT FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2008              CB08-104
                                                                       BEA08-33
                                                                       FT-900 (08-05)


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


            U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES
                              May 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 May exports of $157.5 billion and imports of
$217.3 billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $59.8 billion, down from $60.5
billion in April, revised.  May exports were $1.4 billion more than April exports of
$156.2 billion.  May imports were $0.7 billion more than April imports of $216.7 billion.

In May, the goods deficit decreased $0.5 billion from April to $72.5 billion, and the
services surplus increased $0.2 billion to $12.7 billion.  Exports of goods increased $0.8
billion to $110.8 billion, and imports of goods increased $0.3 billion to $183.3 billion.
Exports of services increased $0.6 billion to $46.7 billion, and imports of services
increased $0.4 billion to $34.0 billion.

In May, the goods and services deficit increased $0.4 billion from May 2007.  Exports were
up $23.9 billion, or 17.8 percent, and imports were up $24.2 billion, or 12.5 percent.

Goods

The April to May change in exports of goods reflected increases in industrial supplies and
materials ($1.2 billion) and automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.2 billion).  Decreases
occurred in capital goods ($0.6 billion); foods, feeds, and beverages ($0.2 billion); and
other goods ($0.1 billion).  Consumer goods were virtually unchanged.

The April to May change in imports of goods reflected increases in consumer goods ($1.5 billion);
capital goods ($0.7 billion); and foods, feeds, and beverages ($0.3 billion).  Decreases
occurred in automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.8 billion); industrial supplies and
materials ($0.3 billion); and other goods ($0.2 billion).

The May 2007 to May 2008 change in exports of goods reflected increases in industrial
supplies and materials ($8.1 billion); foods, feeds, and beverages ($3.2 billion); capital
goods ($2.8 billion); consumer goods ($1.3 billion); other goods ($0.9 billion); and
automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.4 billion).

The May 2007 to May 2008 change in imports of goods reflected increases in industrial supplies
and materials ($15.1 billion); capital goods ($3.2 billion); consumer goods ($2.3 billion);
foods, feeds, and beverages ($0.9 billion); and other goods ($0.4 billion).  A decrease
occurred in automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.1 billion).

Services

Services exports increased $0.6 billion from April to May.  The increase was mostly accounted
for by increases in other private services (which includes items such as business, professional,
and technical services, insurance services, and financial services), travel, and royalties and
license fees.  Changes in other categories of services exports were small.

Services imports increased $0.4 billion from April to May.  The increase was mostly accounted
for by increases in other transportation (which includes freight and port services), other private
services, and travel.  Changes in other categories of services imports were small.

From May 2007 to May 2008, services exports increased $6.4 billion.  The largest increases
were in other private services ($2.5 billion), travel ($1.5 billion), royalties and license
fees ($1.1 billion), and other transportation ($1.0 billion).  Within other private services,
the largest increase was in business, professional, and technical services.

From May 2007 to May 2008, services imports increased $2.8 billion.  The largest increases were
in other private services ($1.2 billion) and travel ($0.5 billion).  Within other private
services, the largest increases were in business, professional, and technical services and in
insurance services.

Goods and Services Moving Average

For the three months ending in May, exports of goods and services averaged $154.8 billion,
while imports of goods and services averaged $213.7 billion, resulting in an average trade
deficit of $58.9 billion.  For the three months ending in April, the average trade deficit
was $59.2 billion, reflecting average exports of $153.4 billion and average imports of
$212.6 billion.

Selected Not Seasonally Adjusted Goods Details

The May figures showed surpluses, in billions of dollars, with Hong Kong $1.4 ($1.4 for April),
Singapore $1.3 ($1.4), Australia $1.1 ($0.8), and Egypt $0.3 ($0.3).  Deficits were recorded,
in billions of dollars, with China $21.0 ($20.2), OPEC $17.9 ($15.6), the European Union $7.9
($8.5), Mexico $6.6 ($6.8), Canada $5.4 ($7.4), Japan $5.0 ($7.6), Venezuela $3.9 ($3.0),
Nigeria $3.2 ($3.4), Korea $1.1 ($1.3), and Taiwan $0.6 ($0.9).

Advanced technology products (ATP) exports were $24.1 billion in May and imports were $27.6
billion, resulting in a deficit of $3.5 billion.  May exports were $0.7 billion more than the
$23.4 billion in April, while imports were $1.1 billion less than the $28.7 billion in April.

Revisions

Goods carry-over in May was $0.7 billion (0.6 percent) for exports and $1.5 billion (0.8 percent)
for imports.  For April, revised export carry-over was $0.2 billion (0.2 percent), revised down
from $0.4 billion (0.3 percent).  For April, revised import carry-over was $0.2 billion
(0.1 percent), revised down from $0.8 billion (0.5 percent).

Services exports for April were revised up $0.1 billion to $46.1 billion.  The revision
was mostly accounted for by upward revisions in other transportation and passenger fares.
Services imports for April were revised down $0.3 billion to $33.6 billion.  The revision
was more than accounted for by downward revisions in travel and passenger fares.