The U.S. monthly international trade deficit increased in February 2014 according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau. The deficit increased from $39.3 billion in January (revised) to $42.3 billion in February as exports decreased and imports increased. The previously published January deficit was $39.1 billion. The goods deficit increased $2.2 billion from January to $61.7 billion in February; the services surplus decreased $0.8 billion from January to $19.4 billion in February.
Exports
Exports of goods and services decreased $2.0 billion in February to $190.4 billion, reflecting a decrease in exports of goods. Exports of services were nearly unchanged.
- The decrease in exports of goods mostly reflected decreases in industrial supplies and materials and in capital goods that were partly offset by increases in consumer goods and in other goods.
- Exports of services were nearly unchanged. Increases in other private services, which includes items such as business, professional, and technical services, insurance services, and financial services, and in royalties and license fees were mostly offset by a decrease in passenger fares.
Imports
Imports of goods and services increased $1.0 billion in February to $232.7 billion, mostly reflecting an increase in imports of services. Imports of goods also increased.*
- The increase in imports of services was mainly accounted for by an increase in royalties and license fees, which included payments for the rights to broadcast the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
- The increase in imports of goods mostly reflected an increase in automotive vehicles, parts, and engines. Capital goods decreased.
Goods by geographic area (not seasonally adjusted)
- The goods deficit with Canada decreased from $4.0 billion in January to $1.9 billion in February. Exports increased $0.8 billion to $23.5 billion, and imports decreased $1.3 billion to $25.4 billion.
- The goods deficit with China decreased from $27.8 billion in January to $20.9 billion in February. Exports decreased $0.5 billion to $9.9 billion, and imports decreased $7.5 billion to $30.7 billion.
- The goods deficit with Mexico increased from $2.8 billion in January to $4.0 billion in February. Exports decreased $0.8 billion to $18.3 billion, and imports increased $0.4 billion to $22.3 billion.
* In February, imports of goods on a balance of payments basis increased, but imports of goods on a Census basis decreased. Total goods data are reported on a balance of payments basis. Commodity and country data for goods are on a Census basis. Monthly statistics are seasonally adjusted unless otherwise specified.
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