U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services Highlights

January 12, 2010

Goods and Services Deficit Increases in November 2009

The Nation’s international trade deficit increased to $36.4 billion in November from $33.2 billion (revised) in October, as imports increased more than exports.

Goods and Services

• Exports increased to $138.2 billion in November from $137.0 billion in October. Goods were $94.6 billion in November, up from $93.5 billion in October, and services were $43.6 billion in November, up from $43.5 billion in October.
  
  
• Imports increased to $174.6 billion in November from $170.2 billion in October. Goods were $143.0 billion in November, up from $138.6 billion in October, and services were $31.6 billion in November, virtually unchanged from October.
  
  
• For goods, the deficit was $48.4 billion in November, up from $45.2 billion in October. For services, the surplus was $12.0 billion in November, virtually unchanged from October.
  
  

Goods by Category (Census basis)

• The October to November increase in exports of goods reflected increases in foods, feeds, and beverages ($1.3 billion); automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.7 billion); and capital goods ($0.4 billion). Decreases occurred in consumer goods ($0.7 billion), industrial supplies and materials ($0.5 billion), and other goods ($0.4 billion).
  
  
• The October to November increase in imports of goods reflected increases in industrial supplies and materials ($2.1 billion), consumer goods ($1.4 billion), and capital goods ($1.2 billion). Decreases occurred in foods, feeds, and beverages ($0.2 billion) and automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.1 billion). Other goods were virtually unchanged.

Services by Category

• The October to November increase in exports of services was more than accounted for by an increase in other transportation ($0.2 billion), which includes freight and port services. A decrease in travel ($0.2 billion) was partly offsetting.
  
  
• The October to November increase in imports of services was more than accounted for by an increase in other transportation ($0.1 billion). A decrease in travel ($0.1 billion) was partly offsetting.

Goods by Geographic Area (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

• The goods deficit with Canada decreased from $2.1 billion in October to $1.4 billion in November. Exports decreased $0.4 billion (primarily nonmonetary gold and pharmaceutical preparations) to $18.6 billion, while imports decreased $1.1 billion (primarily passenger cars and petroleum products) to $20.1 billion.
  
  
• The goods deficit with China decreased from $22.7 billion in October to $20.2 billion in November. Exports increased $0.5 billion (primarily soybeans) to $7.3 billion, while imports decreased $2.0 billion (primarily apparel; toys, games, and sporting goods; and household goods) to $27.6 billion.
  
  
• The goods deficit with the European Union increased from $4.9 billion in October to $6.4 billion in November. Exports decreased $1.9 billion (primarily military aircraft; pharmaceutical preparations; and artwork, antiques, and stamps) to $18.7 billion, while imports decreased $0.4 billion (primarily passenger cars) to $25.1 billion.

This and more information is provided in the Bureau of the Census and Bureau of Economic Analysis press release:

U.S.International Trade in Goods and Services: November 2009 .

This and more information is provided in the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis press release, U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services: November 2009. For further information on goods, contact Maria Iseman, Foreign Trade Division, U.S. Census Bureau, on (301) 763-2311; on services, contact Christopher Bach, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, on (202) 606-9545.

NOTE: Total goods data are reported on a Balance of Payments basis; commodity and country detail data for goods are on a Census basis. For information on data sources and definitions, see the information section on page A-1 of the FT-900 release, or at www.census.gov/ft900 or http://www.bea.gov/bea/di/home/trade.htm.

The next release is February 10, 2009

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Note: Total goods data are reported on a Balance of Payments basis; commodity and country detail data for goods are on a Census basis. For information on data sources and definitions, see the Information Section (PDF, 53k) (TXT, 23k)

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Related sites:

• U.S. Department of Commerce
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division
  • Bureau of Economic Analysis