European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 29, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 the stars and stripes tuesday August 29,1989 stronger exports Cut 2nd-Quarter deficit Washington up stronger exports reduced the . Merchandise Trade deficit to $27.7 billion in the Sec Ond Quarter from a revised first Quarter deficit of j28.4 billion the Commerce department reported monday. In May the department reported a $27.7 billion deficit for the first Quarter of the year. The second Quarter merchandise Trade deficit was the lowest quarterly red Ink Reading since the first Quarter of 1985, the department said. While the . Deficit fell with industrialized countries it increased with the less developed nations of Africa latin America and the organization of Petro Leum exporting countries. The department s Bureau of eco nomic analysis said the Trade deficit fell to an annual rate of $112.1 billion in the first half of the year. In 1988, the deficit for the whole year was $127.2 billion. The estimates adjusted for seasonal variations arc calculated on the basis of the balance of payments which excludes . Military Trade and reflects adjustments to the Trade Dala reportedly the Commerce department s census Bureau. Both exports and imports reached re Cord Levels in the second Quarter the Bureau noted. Exports increased $2.9 billion or 3 percent to $90.9 billion. Non agricultural exports grew while agricultural exports were unchanged. Imports advanced $2.3 billion or 2 percent to $118.6 billion. Non Petroleum imports were nearly unchanged and Petroleum imports increased. Decreases in the . Second Quarter deficit with the developed countries and the newly industrialized countries in Asia were partly offset by increased deficits with the developing countries the Bureau said. The american deficit with Japan fell by $ i billion to $ 12.2 billion from the first Quarter and was the smallest since $12,1 billion in the second Quarter of1988. The deficit with Canada virtually halved in the second Quarter falling by $ 1.4 billion to $ 1.5 billion. With the european economic Community the United states had a deficit of $317.6 million up from $32.5 Mil lion in the first Quarter. In All of 1988, the deficit with the dec was $ 11.1 Bil lion. The . Negative balance with the newly industrialized countries in Asia was reduced in the second Quarter by $300 million to $5.5 billion. The . Deficit with latin America increased by $1.2 billion to $3.1 Bil lion mostly with Mexico and Venezuela. The deficit also worsened with the developing countries in Asia and Afri Ca except the newly industrialized countries in Asia by $1.3 billion to $6.6 billion. The . Deficit with members of the organization of Petroleum exporting countries increased in the second Quarter by almost $2 billion to $5 Bil lion. Non agricultural exports increased in the second Quarter by $3 billion or 4 percent to a record $80.1 billion. The largest increases were in non agricultural Industrial supplies and materials $1.5 billion capital goods $1.4 billion and consumer goods $600  exports were virtually unchanged at $ 10.7 billion. Non Petroleum imports fell $300million, or less than i percent to $ 105.2 billion in the second Quarter. The largest decrease in imports came in automotive products $1.7 billion to$21.1 billion the Bureau noted. The number of passenger cars from South Korea dropped 42 percent West Ger Many 37 percent Japan 9 percent and Canada 5  of passenger cars from mexi co increased 31 percent As . Manufacturers stepped up production there. Capital goods imports increased in the second Quarter by $1.1 billion and consumer goods by $700 million. Petroleum imports increased $2.6billion, or 24 percent to $13.4 billion due mainly to higher Oil prices. The average Price per barrel jumped to $18.46 in the second Quarter from $15.54 in the first. The average number of barrels imported daily increased to 7.97 million from 7.65 million. Compel of on sends Gas prices Down across the notion los Angeles a retail gasoline prices plunged 2vi cents nationwide in the past two weeks because of fierce Competition among service stations according to a business analyst. The average Price for All types of gasoline sold at full Anil self service pumps was 110.44 cents per gallon for the period ending Friday said Trilby Lundberg. Who directs the Lundberg Survey of 12.000 stations. It was Uncertain whether the prices would stay Down through the labor Day weekend said Lund Berg. Many station operators have lost Money As retail prices fell More sharply than wholesale prices creating a Tough situation for retailers and making Price predictions difficult she said. The average Price of 110.44 cents is about the same Price As april 7, after the initial 10 percent jump in gasoline prices in the Wake of the alaskan Oil spill. Since then prices have climbed up another 8 cents per gallon and dropped Back Down again. During the recent two week period the average Price of a gallon of gasoline at a self service pump plunged from 102.29 cents to 99.42 cents for regular unleaded from 118.32 cents to 116.03 cents for Premium unleaded and from 102.63 cents to 98.91 cents for regular leaded. At the full service pumps the average Price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline fell from 129.55 cents to 128.19 cents Premium unleaded dropped from 141.74 cents to 140.47. And regular leaded came Down from 129.25 cents to 127.76 cents. Small wonders App Holm it s the age of Little panels in communications such Down to about 2 feet at right a Sony employee inspects As Small satellite dishes and pocket televisions. At left a anew color watchman pocket to in Park Ridge no. Worker removes a 43-foot-Wldc satellite dish from a Mold for inspection at a Goodyear plastics Plant in Jackson Ohio. Goodyear my holds dishes ranging the tvs Battery pack and other components Are detachable and the 2.7-Inch screen shorn Vii uhf channels or images from a video camcorder. Rambo1 game turns real 4 boys with rifles caught Temple Hills my. A four boys ranging in age from 9 to 14 were captured after their game of rambo escalated into a shooting spree in which the boys armed with .22-caliber rifles and dressed in camouflage outfits randomly shot at cars on interstate 95, Maryland state police said. Police had been looking for a sniper for Over a week after one person was Hurt and four cars were damaged by gunfire. The youngsters were captured sat urday evening after residents reported shots coming from a wooded area near the Highway and police sent a helicopter to investigate state police spokes Man Chuck Jackson said. A 14-year-old and an 11-year-old were charged with assault with intent to maim. The 14-year-old also was charged with two counts of assault with intent to murder and one count of destruction of property Jackson said. The 14-year-old was placed in the custody of the Maryland department of juvenile services and the ii year old was released to his parents custody Jackson said. Police Bej ivc the 14-year-old fired his weapon in the direction of the state police As they searched the Woods and As the helicopter circled above Jackson said. Two .22-caliber rifles were recovered in the area he said. Jackson said police believe both guns belonged to the 14-year-old s Uncle a gun collector who kept numerous weapons in his attic. A 9-year-old and his 12-year-old brother were released to their parents without being charged. The shootings apparently began aug. 18 when the youths were playing War games and pretending to be rambo the fictional mercenary played in several movies by Sylvester Stallone said state police detective John Wooters. The boys stalked through the Woods shooting randomly police said. Several shots were fired into the Pool area of the Temple Hills swim club and a Street lights nearby said manager Gina e. Magnani who was in the swim club office. No one was injured. Magnani reported seeing two boys wearing camouflage military uniforms sneaking through the grass  an hour later Magnani said she heard shots farther away in the direction of 1-95. At about that time Motorist James Orchard of Lusby md., was injured when a Bullet pierced his Windshield and hit his shoulder. Guardrail alongside the Highway and fired across eight lanes of traffic. State police also confirmed at least three other incidents of gunfire which resulted in damage to three vehicles travelling on 1-95, Jackson said. Police said there had been numerous  of gunfire and the area had been under surveillance since