June 19, 2020

The U.S. current account deficit, which reflects the combined balances on trade in goods and services and income flows between U.S. residents and residents of other countries, narrowed by $0.1 billion, or 0.1 percent, to $104.2 billion in the first quarter of 2020. The narrowing mainly reflected a reduced deficit on goods that was largely offset by a reduced surplus on primary income and an expanded deficit on secondary income. The first quarter deficit was 1.9 percent of current dollar gross domestic product, up less than 0.1 percentage point from the fourth quarter.

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  • Exports of goods decreased $8.4 billion, to $403.0 billion, while imports of goods decreased $18.6 billion, to $595.3 billion.
  • Exports of services decreased $11.7 billion, to $209.4 billion, while imports of services decreased $12.2 billion, to $136.1 billion.
  • Receipts of primary income decreased $27.8 billion, to $255.1 billion, while payments of primary income decreased $18.3 billion, to $202.7 billion.
  • Receipts of secondary income increased $0.3 billion, to $34.8 billion, while payments of secondary income increased $1.5 billion, to $72.4 billion.
  • Net financial account transactions were −$201.1 billion, reflecting net U.S. borrowing from foreign residents.

For more information, read the full report.