Notice

Due to a lapse in appropriations, this website is not being updated.

  1. Home
  2. News
  3. The BEA Wire | BEA's Official Blog
  4. May 2015 Trade Gap is $41.9 Billion

May 2015 Trade Gap is $41.9 Billion

July 7, 2015

The U.S. monthly international trade deficit increased in May 2015 according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau. The deficit increased from $40.7 billion in April (revised) to $41.9 billion in May, as exports decreased more than imports. The previously published April deficit was $40.9 billion. The goods deficit increased $1.2 billion from April to $61.5 billion in May. The services surplus increased less than $0.1 billion from April to $19.6 billion in May.

Exports
Exports of goods and services decreased $1.5 billion, or 0.8 percent, in May to $188.6 billion. Exports of goods decreased $1.6 billion and exports of services increased $0.1 billion.

  • The decrease in exports of goods mainly reflected a decreased in capital goods ($2.4 billion). An increase in industrial supplies and materials ($0.8 billion) was partly offsetting.
  • The increase in exports of services mainly reflected an increase in other business services ($0.1 billion), which includes research and development services; professional and management services; and technical, trade-related and other services.

Imports
Imports of goods and services decreased $0.3 billion, or 0.1 percent, in May to $230.5 billion. Imports of goods decreased $0.4 billion and imports of services increased $0.1 billion.

  • The decrease in imports of goods mainly reflected decreases in capital goods ($0.8 billion) and in industrial supplies and materials ($0.6 billion). An increase in automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.8 billion) was partly offsetting.
  • The increase in imports of services mainly reflected an increase in transport ($0.1 billion), which includes freight and port services and passenger fares.

Goods by geographic area (seasonally adjusted, Census basis)

  • The goods deficit with China increased from $27.5 billion in April to $30.6 billion in May. Exports decreased $0.7 billion to $9.6 billion and imports increased $2.4 billion to $40.2 billion.
  • The goods deficit with the European Union increased from $11.9 billion in April to $13.4 billion in May. Exports decreased $0.1 billion to $22.6 billion and imports increased $0.4 billion to $36.0 billion.
  • The goods surplus with South and Central America increased from $3.0 billion in April to $4.2 billion in May. Exports increased $0.8 billion to $13.7 billion and imports decreased $0.4 billion to $9.5 billion.

For more information, read the full report.