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Thursday, June 06, 2024

Trade Deficit Increased to $74.6 Billion in April

by Calculated Risk on 6/06/2024 08:46:00 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 $74.6 billion in April, up $6.0 billion from $68.6 billion in March, revised.

April exports were $263.7 billion, $2.1 billion more than March exports. April imports were $338.2 billion, $8.0 billion more than March imports.
emphasis added
U.S. Trade Exports Imports Click on graph for larger image.

Both exports imports increased in April.

Exports are up 5.1% year-over-year; imports are up 4.5% year-over-year.

Both imports and exports decreased sharply due to COVID-19 and then bounced back - imports and exports have generally increased recently.

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

U.S. Trade Deficit 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 increased to $20.1 billion from $20.0 billion a year ago.