by Calculated Risk on 2/07/2024 08:30:00 AM

The Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported:

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $62.2 billion in December, up $0.3 billion from $61.9 billion in November, revised.

December exports were $258.2 billion, $3.9 billion more than November exports. December imports were $320.4 billion, $4.2 billion more than November imports.
emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.

Both exports imports increased in December.

Exports are up 3.2% year-over-year; imports are down 0.4$ year-over-year.

Both imports and exports decreased sharply due to COVID-19 and then bounced back - imports and exports are moving sideways recently.

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

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.

Note that net, exports of petroleum products are positive and have been increasing.

The trade deficit with China decreased to $22.1 billion from $23.6 billion a year ago.