U.S. international trade in goods and services - March 2016

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the Department of Commerce, announced today that the goods and services deficit was $40.4 billion in March, down $6.5 billion from $47.0 billion in February, revised.  March exports were $176.6 billion, $1.5 billion less than February exports. March imports were $217.1 billion, $8.1 billion less than February imports.

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the Department of Commerce, announced today that the goods and services deficit was $40.4 billion in March, down $6.5 billion from $47.0 billion in February, revised.  March exports were $176.6 billion, $1.5 billion less than February exports. March imports were $217.1 billion, $8.1 billion less than February imports.

The March decrease in the goods and services deficit reflected a decrease in the goods deficit of $6.0 billion to $58.5 billion and an increase in the services surplus of $0.5 billion to $18.1 billion.

Year-to-date, the goods and services deficit decreased $1.0 billion, or 0.8 percent, from the same period in 2015. Exports decreased $30.5 billion or 5.4 percent. Imports decreased $31.6 billion or 4.5 percent.

Goods and Services Three-Month Moving Averages

The average goods and services deficit decreased $1.4 billion to $44.4 billion for the three months ending in March.

• Average exports of goods and services decreased $1.2 billion to $177.0 billion in March.
• Average imports of goods and services decreased $2.6 billion to $221.5 billion in March.

Year-over-year, the average goods and services deficit decreased $0.3 billion from the three months ending in March 2015.

• Average exports of goods and services decreased $10.2 billion from March 2015.
• Average imports of goods and services decreased $10.5 billion from March 2015.

Exports

Exports of goods decreased $1.8 billion to $116.8 billion in March.

Exports of goods on a Census basis decreased $1.7 billion.

• Consumer goods decreased $1.6 billion.
  • o Pharmaceutical preparations decreased $0.8 billion.
  • o Gem diamonds decreased $0.7 billion.
• Industrial supplies and materials decreased $0.8 billion.
  • o Other petroleum products decreased $0.5 billion.
• Capital goods increased $1.0 billion.
  • o Civilian aircraft increased $1.3 billion.

Net balance of payments adjustments decreased $0.1 billion.

Exports of services increased $0.3 billion to $59.8 billion in March.

• Travel (for all purposes including education) increased $0.2 billion.

Imports

Imports of goods decreased $7.9 billion to $175.3 billion in March.

Imports of goods on a Census basis decreased $7.8 billion.

• Consumer goods decreased $5.1 billion.
  • o Toys, games, and sporting goods decreased $1.1 billion.
  • o Other textile apparel and household goods decreased $0.6 billion. o Cotton apparel and household goods decreased $0.6 billion.
• Capital goods decreased $1.6 billion.
  • o Computer accessories decreased $0.8 billion.

Net balance of payments adjustments decreased less than $0.1 billion.

Imports of services decreased $0.2 billion to $41.7 billion in March.

• Transport, which includes freight and port services and passenger fares, decreased $0.4 billion.

Real Goods in 2009 Dollars – Census Basis

The real goods deficit decreased $5.8 billion to $57.4 billion in March.

• Real exports of goods decreased $1.7 billion to $117.0 billion.
• Real imports of goods decreased $7.4 billion to $174.4 billion.

Goods by Selected Countries and Areas: Monthly – Census Basis

The March figures show surpluses, in billions of dollars, with South and Central America ($3.2), OPEC ($0.7), United Kingdom ($0.5), and Saudi Arabia ($0.1). Deficits were recorded, in billions of dollars, with China ($26.0), European Union ($11.1), Germany ($5.9), Japan ($5.9), Mexico ($5.2), South Korea ($3.0), Italy ($2.4), India ($1.7), France ($0.9), Brazil ($0.2), and Canada ($0.1).

• The deficit with China decreased $6.2 billion to $26.0 billion in March. Exports increased $0.1 billion to $8.5 billion and imports decreased $6.1 billion to $34.4 billion.
• The balance with the United Kingdom shifted from a deficit of $0.5 billion to a surplus of $0.5 billion in March. Exports increased $0.6 billion to $4.8 billion and imports decreased $0.3 billion to $4.4 billion.
• The surplus with Saudi Arabia decreased $1.2 billion to $0.1 billion in March. Exports decreased $0.9 billion to $1.4 billion and imports increased $0.3 billion to $1.3 billion.

NOTES:

All statistics referenced are seasonally adjusted; statistics are on a balance of payments basis unless otherwise specified. Additional statistics, including not seasonally adjusted statistics and details for goods on a Census basis, are available in Exhibits 1-20b of this release. For information on data sources, definitions, revision procedures, and scheduled release dates through December 2016, see the information section on page A-1 of this release. The next release is June 3, 2016.

For definitions of goods on a balance of payments basis, goods on a Census basis, and net balance of payments adjustments, see the information section on page A-1 of this release.

Tags: Banking & Finance, Government/Politics & Law