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Wednesday, May 04, 2022

Trade Deficit increased to $109.8 Billion in March

by Calculated Risk on 5/04/2022 08:40:00 AM

From the Department of Commerce reported:

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $109.8 billion in March, up $20.0 billion from $89.8 billion in February, revised.

March exports were $241.7 billion, $12.9 billion more than February exports. March imports were $351.5 billion, $32.9 billion more than February imports.
emphasis added
U.S. Trade Exports Imports Click on graph for larger image.

Both exports and imports increased in March.

Exports are up 18% year-over-year; imports are up 27% year-over-year.

Both imports and exports decreased sharply due to COVID-19, and have now bounced back (imports more than exports),

The second graph shows the U.S. trade deficit, with and without petroleum.

U.S. Trade Deficit 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, imports and exports of petroleum products are close to zero.

The trade deficit with China increased to $34.0 billion in March, from $27.7 billion a year ago.

This is a record trade deficit and was close to expectations.