by Calculated Risk on 11/07/2023 08:30:00 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 $61.5 billion in September, up $2.9 billion from $58.7 billion in August, revised.

September exports were $261.1 billion, $5.7 billion more than August exports. September imports were $322.7 billion, $8.6 billion more than August imports
emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.

Both exports and imports increased in September.

Exports are up slightly year-over-year; imports are down 3% year-over-year.

Both imports and exports decreased sharply due to COVID-19 and then bounced back - and both had 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.

The trade deficit with China decreased to $28.3 billion from $37.4 billion a year ago.