by Calculated Risk on 6/09/2011 09:15:00 AM
Thursday, June 09, 2011
Trade Deficit decreased to $43.7 billion in April
The Department of Commerce reports:
[T]otal April exports of $175.6 billion and imports of $219.2 billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $43.7 billion, down from $46.8 billion in March, revised. April exports were $2.2 billion more than March exports of $173.4 billion. April imports were $1.0 billion less than March imports of $220.2 billion.The first graph shows the monthly U.S. exports and imports in dollars through April 2011.
![U.S. Trade Exports Imports](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Z9_Edr9bzzwC3ESK-TJaNVDFU-nx_cv6lljqR9P24RGRmwfABRHzeuj0zqV1Qs4AaS51Miex5fGH8_BC7EkTjdmDSsEfIbm_irUTeDJtnItrH9QssbvFek6M2wALhFaxMjbFLA/s320/TradeBalanceApril2011.jpg)
Exports increased in April and imports declined (seasonally adjusted). Exports are well above the pre-recession peak and up 19% compared to April 2010; imports are up about 16% compared to April 2010.
The second graph shows the U.S. trade deficit, with and without petroleum, through April.
![U.S. Trade Deficit](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKzCzmLYEY6oO4VVRQ27cdQBnISxJk-MQHL5cE-xH2pJho176ETNOGCxE8rIzj7IhzHkJtaoKCPkLBqBc8K5X5jNsMamduqUem7EemcUlpYMgUSLzqBxdmuiWwt4fcylGn6-woQ/s320/TradeDeficitApril2011.jpg)
The petroleum deficit decreased in April as the quantity imported decreased sharply even as prices increased. Oil averaged $103.18 per barrel in April, up from $77.13 in April 2010. There is a bit of a lag with prices, but it is possible prices will be a little lower in May.
The trade deficit was smaller than the expected $48.9 billion.