Deficit Shrinks as Exports Surge

DEFICIT SHRINKS AS EXPORTS SURGE
August 25, 2008 Shippers Digest

The U.S. trade deficit dropped 4.1 percent in June despite soaring prices for imported oil. Goods exports increased 5.1 percent to $118.6 billion, compared to $114.3 billion in May and $99.1 billion in June 2007.

Exports of manufactured goods were 17 percent higher than in June 2007, according to the National Association of Manufacturers.

“Manufactured goods exports are growing more than twice as fast as imports of manufactured goods, and as a result the manufactured goods trade deficit is falling,” said Frank Vargo, NAM’s vice president for international economic affairs. “June’s manufactured goods trade deficit in fact was 9 percent lower than it was a year ago.”

Exports of automobiles, parts and engines grew by $576 million, while imports grew by $60 million. U.S. exports of food, feeds and beverages rose by $853 million, while U.S. imports of the same products fell by $144 million. Exports of capital goods excluding autos rose by $1.2 billion in June, while imports fell $1.4 billion.

Goods imports were up 2 percent because of the increase in oil prices, which averaged $117.3 billion. Non-oil imports fell.

Including services, the deficit shrank to $56.8 billion, according to the Commerce Department. However, when adjusted for inflation, including oil prices, the real trade deficit fell by 10.3 percent in June to $39.1 billion, the lowest level since December 2001.The trade deficit with OPEC countries grew to a record $18.1 billion, while the politically sensitive U.S. trade gap with China rose to $21.4 billion, up from $21 billion in May, but not up much from the $21.2 billion deficit in June 2007.

The total U.S. deficit with all countries in the first half of the year was $394 billion, up from $376.2 billion in the first six months of 2007.