by Calculated Risk on 5/04/2023 08:48:00 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 $64.2 billion in March, down $6.4 billion from $70.6 billion in February, revised.

March exports were $256.2 billion, $5.3 billion more than February exports. March imports were $320.4 billion, $1.1 billion less than February imports.
emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.

Exports increased and imports decreased in March.

Exports are up 5% year-over-year; imports are down 9% year-over-year.

Both imports and exports decreased sharply due to COVID-19 and then bounced back - but imports have been decreasing 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 picked up.

The trade deficit with China decreased to $16.6 billion in March, from $34.0 billion a year ago.

The trade deficit was close to the consensus forecast.