The U.S. monthly international trade deficit increased in December 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau. The deficit increased from $50.3 billion in November (revised) to $59.8 billion in December, as imports increased and exports decreased. The previously published November deficit was $49.3 billion. The goods deficit increased $9.0 billion in December to $81.5 billion. The services surplus decreased $0.5 billion in December to $21.8 billion.

Exports

Exports of goods and services decreased $3.9 billion, or 1.9 percent, in December to $205.1 billion. Exports of goods decreased $3.9 billion and exports of services decreased less than $0.1 billion.

• The decrease in exports of goods mostly reflected decreases in industrial supplies and materials ($2.1 billion) and in capital goods ($1.7 billion).
• The decrease in exports of services mostly reflected a decrease in transport ($0.2 billion). An increase in financial services ($0.1 billion) partly offset the decrease.

Imports

Imports of goods and services increased $5.5 billion, or 2.1 percent, in December to $264.9 billion. Imports of goods increased $5.1 billion and imports of services increased $0.5 billion.

• The increase in imports of goods mostly reflected increases in capital goods ($2.7 billion) and in consumer goods ($2.4 billion).
• The increase in imports of services mostly reflected an increase in transport ($0.4 billion).

For more detailed information on trade by type of good or service and with major trading partners, see U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, December 2018.