by Calculated Risk on 1/13/2011 09:13:00 AM

The Department of Commerce reports:

[T]otal November exports of $159.6 billion and imports of $198.0 billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $38.3 billion, down from $38.4 billion in October, revised. November exports were $1.2 billion more than October exports of $158.4 billion. November imports were $1.1 billion more than October imports of $196.8 billion.

Click on graph for larger image.

The first graph shows the monthly U.S. exports and imports in dollars through November 2010.

Imports have been mostly flat since May, and exports have started increasing again after the mid-year slowdown.

The second graph shows the U.S. trade deficit, with and without petroleum, through November.

The blue line is the total deficit, and the black line is the petroleum deficit, and the red line is the trade deficit ex-petroleum products.

The petroleum deficit increased in November as import prices continued to rise - averaging $76.81 in November. Prices will be even higher in December. The deficit with China increased to $25.634 billion from $25,517 in October. Once again oil and China deficits are essentially the entire trade deficit (or even more).