The U.S. monthly international trade deficit increased in January 2016 according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau. The deficit increased from $44.7 billion in December (revised) to $45.7 billion in January, as exports decreased more than imports. The previously published December deficit was $43.4 billion. The goods deficit increased $1.1 billion from December to $63.7 billion in January. The services surplus increased $0.1 billion from December to $18.0 billion in January.
Exports
Exports of goods and services decreased $3.8 billion, or 2.1 percent, in January to $176.5 billion. Exports of goods decreased $4.0 billion and exports of services increased $0.2 billion.
- The decrease in exports of goods mainly reflected decreases in capital goods ($1.2 billion), in industrial supplies and materials ($0.9 billion), and in consumer goods ($0.8 billion).
- The increase in exports 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.
Imports
Imports of goods and services decreased $2.8 billion, or 1.3 percent, in January to $222.1 billion. Imports of goods decreased $2.9 billion and imports of services increased less than $0.1 billion.
- The decrease in imports of goods mainly reflected decreases in industrial supplies and materials ($2.1 billion) and in capital goods ($1.2 billion).
- The increase in imports of services mainly reflected increases in other business services ($0.1 billion), which includes research and development services; professional and management services; and technical, trade-related, and other services, and in travel (for all purposes including education)($0.1 billion).
Goods by geographic area (seasonally adjusted, Census basis)
- The deficit with China increased $1.4 billion to $31.1 billion in January. Exports increased less than $0.1 billion to $8.6 billion and imports increased $1.5 billion to $39.8 billion.
- The deficit with Mexico increased $0.8 billion to $5.6 billion in January. Exports decreased less than $0.1 billion to $19.5 billion and imports increased $0.8 billion to $25.1 billion.
- The balance with the United Kingdom shifted from a surplus of $0.6 billion in December to a deficit of $0.1 billion in January. Exports decreased $0.4 billion to $4.1 billion and imports increased $0.3 billion to $4.3 billion.
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