The U.S. trade deficit in goods and services declined 3.5 percent in February after a 14.7 percent drop in January, according to trade statistics released April 17 by the Department of Commerce. The monthly deficit of $49.4 billion reflected a 1.1 percent increase in exports to $209.7 billion and a 0.2 percent rise in imports to $259.1 billion. For the year to date the deficit was down 7.6 percent from the same period in 2018 as a 2.7 percent increase in exports outpaced a 0.5 percent increase in imports.
The deficit in goods trade dropped 1.6 percent to $72.0 billion in February. Imports of goods edged up 0.4 percent to $211.6 billion, including a $2.1 billion increase in cell phones and other household goods along with a $1.2 billion decrease in industrial supplies and materials. Exports of goods were up 1.5 percent to $139.5 billion, including increases of $2.2 billion in civilian aircraft and $600 million in automotive vehicles, parts, and engines along with a $400 million decline in industrial supplies and materials.
The services surplus rose 2.3 percent for the second straight month, to $22.6 billion. Imports slipped 0.6 percent to $47.5 billion while exports edged up 0.3 percent to $70.1 billion.
Country/region
|
Deficit
|
% Change
|
Surplus
|
% Change
|
China
|
$30.1 billion
|
-9.3
|
|
|
European Union
|
$12.4 billion
|
-5.3
|
|
|
Mexico
|
$7.7 billion
|
+6.9
|
|
|
Japan
|
$6.7 billion
|
+26.4
|
|
|
Germany
|
$5.5 billion
|
-8.3
|
|
|
Italy
|
$2.8 billion
|
-3.4
|
|
|
South Korea
|
$2.4 billion
|
0
|
|
|
India
|
$2.2 billion
|
+15.8
|
|
|
France
|
$2.2 billion
|
+83.3
|
|
|
Taiwan
|
$1.5 billion
|
-22.7
|
|
|
Saudi Arabia
|
$0.3 billion
|
+200
|
|
|
South/Central America
|
|
|
$3.7 billion
|
-17.8
|
Hong Kong
|
|
|
$2.8 billion
|
+55.5
|
United Kingdom
|
|
|
$0.9 billion
|
-55.0
|
Brazil
|
|
|
$0.6 billion
|
-45.5
|
Canada
|
|
|
$0.4 billion
|
-71.4
|
Singapore
|
|
|
$0.4 billion
|
Shift from deficit of <$0.1 billion
|
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