The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced that the goods and services deficit was $53.2 billion in August, up $3.2 billion from $50.0 billion in July, revised.
Exports, Imports, and Balance (exhibit 1)
August exports were $209.4 billion, $1.7 billion less than July exports. August imports were $262.7 billion, $1.5 billion more than July imports.
The August increase in the goods and services deficit reflected an increase in the goods deficit of $3.6 billion to $76.7 billion and an increase in the services surplus of $0.4 billion to $23.5 billion.
Year-to-date, the goods and services deficit increased $31.0 billion, or 8.6 percent, from the same period in 2017. Exports increased $129.6 billion or 8.4 percent. Imports increased $160.6 billion or 8.4 percent.
Three-Month Moving Averages (exhibit 2)
The average goods and services deficit increased $3.6 billion to $49.7 billion for the three months ending in August.
- Average exports decreased $1.7 billion to $211.2 billion in August.
- Average imports increased $1.8 billion to $260.9 billion in August.
Year-over-year, the average goods and services deficit increased $5.3 billion from the three months ending in August 2017.
- Average exports increased $16.1 billion from August 2017.
- Average imports increased $21.3 billion from August 2017.
Exports (exhibits 3, 6, and 7)
Exports of goods decreased $1.9 billion to $138.9 billion in August.
Exports of goods on a Census basis decreased $1.8 billion.
- Industrial supplies and materials decreased $2.4 billion.
- Crude oil decreased $0.9 billion.
- Other petroleum products decreased $0.7 billion.
- Foods, feeds, and beverages decreased $1.2 billion.
- Soybeans decreased $1.0 billion.
- Consumer goods increased $1.6 billion.
- Artwork, antiques, stamps, and other collectibles increased $0.6 billion.
- Pharmaceutical preparations increased $0.4 billion.
Net balance of payments adjustments decreased $0.1 billion.
Exports of services increased $0.2 billion to $70.5 billion in August.
- Financial services increased $0.1 billion.
- Maintenance and repair services increased $0.1 billion.
Imports (exhibits 4, 6, and 8)
Imports of goods increased $1.7 billion to $215.6 billion in August.
Imports of goods on a Census basis increased $1.6 billion.
- Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines increased $1.0 billion.
- Passenger cars increased $0.6 billion.
- Trucks, buses, and special purpose vehicles increased $0.4 billion.
- Consumer goods increased $0.9 billion.
- Cell phones and other household goods increased $0.9 billion.
Net balance of payments adjustments increased less than $0.1 billion.
Imports of services decreased $0.1 billion to $47.0 billion in August.
- Charges for the use of intellectual property decreased $0.2 billion. Charges for July included payments for the rights to broadcast the 2018 soccer World Cup.
- Other business services, which includes research and development services; professional and management services; and technical, trade-related, and other services, increased $0.1 billion.
Real Goods in 2012 Dollars – Census Basis (exhibit 11)
The real goods deficit increased $3.8 billion to $86.3 billion in August.
- Real exports of goods decreased $1.8 billion to $147.8 billion.
- Real imports of goods increased $2.1 billion to $234.1 billion.
Revisions
Revisions to July exports
- Exports of goods were revised up less than $0.1 billion.
- Exports of services were revised up less than $0.1 billion.
Revisions to July imports
- Imports of goods were revised up less than $0.1 billion.
- Imports of services were revised down less than $0.1 billion.
Goods by Selected Countries and Areas: Monthly – Census Basis (exhibit 19)
The August figures show surpluses, in billions of dollars, with South and Central America ($3.4), Hong Kong ($2.3), Singapore ($0.6), and Brazil ($0.5). Deficits were recorded, in billions of dollars, with China ($34.4), European Union ($14.9), Mexico ($8.7), Japan ($5.8), Germany ($5.3), Canada ($3.0), Italy ($2.7), India ($1.9), South Korea ($1.8), France ($1.3), Saudi Arabia ($1.1), OPEC ($1.0), Taiwan ($0.7), and United Kingdom ($0.1).
- The deficit with Mexico increased $2.3 billion to $8.7 billion in August. Exports decreased $1.3 billion to $21.5 billion and imports increased $1.0 billion to $30.2 billion.
- The deficit with Japan increased $0.9 billion to $5.8 billion in August. Exports decreased $0.5 billion to $6.1 billion and imports increased $0.4 billion to $11.9 billion.
- The deficit with members of OPEC decreased $2.0 billion to $1.0 billion in August. Exports increased $0.9 billion to $5.2 billion and imports decreased $1.1 billion to $6.2 billion.
All statistics referenced are seasonally adjusted; statistics are on a balance of payments basis unless otherwise specified. Additional statistics, including not seasonally adjusted statistics and details for goods on a Census basis, are available in Exhibits 1-20b of this release. For information on data sources, definitions, and revision procedures, see the explanatory notes in this release. The full release can be found at www.census.gov/foreign-trade/Press-Release/current_press_release/index.html or www.bea.gov/data/intl-trade-investment/international-trade-goods-and-services. The full schedule is available in the Census Bureau’s Economic Briefing Room at www.census.gov/economic-indicators/ or on BEA’s Web site at www.bea.gov/news/schedule.
