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  4. August 2015 Trade Gap is $48.3 Billion

August 2015 Trade Gap is $48.3 Billion

October 6, 2015

The U.S. monthly international trade deficit increased in August 2015 according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau. The deficit increased from $41.8 billion in July (revised) to $48.3 billion in August, as exports decreased and imports increased. The previously published July deficit was $41.9 billion. The goods deficit increased $6.6 billion from July to $67.9 billion in August. The services surplus increased $0.1 billion from July to $19.6 billion in August.

Exports
Exports of goods and services decreased $3.7 billion, or 2.0 percent, in August to $185.1 billion. Exports of goods decreased $4.1 billion and exports of services increased $0.4 billion.

  • The decrease in exports of goods mainly reflected a decrease in industrial supplies and materials ($2.2 billion).
  • The increase in exports of services mainly reflected increases in financial services ($0.1 billion) and in travel (for all purposes including education) ($0.1 billion).

Imports
Imports of goods and services increased $2.8 billion, or 1.2 percent, in August to $233.4 billion. Imports of goods increased $2.5 billion and imports of services increased $0.3 billion.

  • The increase in imports of goods mainly reflected an increase in consumer goods ($4.0 billion).
  • The increase in imports of services mainly reflected increases in travel (for all purposes including education) ($0.2 billion) and in transport ($0.1 billion), which includes freight and port services and passenger fares.

Goods by geographic area (seasonally adjusted, Census basis)

  • The deficit with China increased from $28.8 billion in July to $32.9 billion in August. Exports decreased $0.6 billion to $9.8 billion and imports increased $3.6 billion to $42.8 billion.
  • The deficit with the European Union increased from $12.4 billion in July to $14.5 billion in August. Exports decreased $0.7 billion to $21.7 billion and imports increased $1.4 billion to $36.2 billion.
  • The deficit with Saudi Arabia decreased from $0.5 billion in July to less than $0.1 billion in August. Exports increased less than $0.1 billion to $1.8 billion and imports decreased $0.4 billion to $1.8 billion.

For more information, read the full report.