March 7, 2017

U.S. international trade in goods and services

The U.S. monthly international trade deficit increased in January 2017 according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau. The deficit increased from $44.3 billion in December (revised) to $48.5 billion in January, as imports increased more than exports. The previously published December deficit was $44.3 billion. The goods deficit increased $4.0 billion in January to $69.7 billion. The services surplus decreased $0.3 billion in January to $21.2 billion.

Balance on Goods and Services Trade Chart

Exports

Exports of goods and services increased $1.1 billion, or 0.6 percent, in January to $192.1 billion. Exports of goods increased $1.1 billion and exports of services decreased less than $0.1 billion.

  • The increase in exports of goods mostly reflected increases in industrial supplies and materials ($2.1 billion) and in automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($1.3 billion). A decrease in capital goods ($1.9 billion) was partly offsetting.
  • The decrease in exports of services reflected nearly offsetting changes of $0.1 billion or less in all categories.

Imports

Imports of goods and services increased $5.3 billion, or 2.3 percent, in January to $240.6 billion. Imports of goods increased $5.1 billion and imports of services increased $0.2 billion.

  • The increase in imports of goods mostly reflected increases in consumer goods ($2.4 billion), in industrial supplies and materials ($1.0 billion), and in automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.9 billion).
  • The increase in imports of services mostly reflected an increase in transport ($0.2 billion), which includes freight and port services and passenger fares.

For more detailed information on trade by type of good or service and with major trading partners, see U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services: January 2017.