Bermuda residents are taking more trips abroad and spending more money overseas so far this year, according to Government's latest statistics.

Third quarter figures in the Bermuda Quarterly Bulletin of Statistics indicate that the number of resident trips abroad was 39,113 -- up almost 10 percent from the number this time last year of 35,634.

The increase was primarily the result of residents taking more vacations, rather than business trips.

Local business trips were up slightly from 1,217 last year this time compared to 1,337 in the third quarter of this year.

And trips taken for international business also increased marginally from 1,404 in the third quarter of 1998 to 1,448.

But in the third quarter of this year, residents took 35,289 vacation trips abroad -- up more than 11 percent from last year's third quarter numbers of 31,722.

And the increased numbers for country of destination were spread relatively evenly across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and other countries.

While abroad, Bermuda residents spent $8,890,000 this quarter -- up almost 11 percent from last year's third quarter figures of $8,030,000.

More money was spent abroad on electronic and photographic equipment, clothing and footwear this quarter for the third year in a row.

During the third quarter, residents spent $3,843,000 abroad on clothing and footwear this year versus $3,790,000 last year and $3,154,000 in 1997.

But there was a marginal drop in the amount of money spent abroad on computer equipment, toys and sporting goods.

More than $1,000,000 was spent on household items such as furniture and appliances during the third quarter this year, which showed a 29 percent jump over the $820,000 that was spent this time in 1998.

BUSINESS BUC