News Release
U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, September 2018
The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $54.0 billion in September, up $0.7 billion from $53.3 billion in August, revised.
Deficit: | $54.0 Billion | +1.3%° |
Exports: | $212.6 Billion | +1.5%° |
Imports: | $266.6 Billion | +1.5%° |
Next release: December 6, 2018 (°) Statistical significance is not applicable or not measurable. Data adjusted for seasonality but not price changes Source: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis; U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, November 2, 2018. |
Exports, Imports, and Balance (exhibit 1)
September exports were $212.6 billion, $3.1 billion more than August exports. September imports were $266.6 billion, $3.8 billion more than August imports.
The September increase in the goods and services deficit reflected an increase in the goods deficit of $0.6 billion to $77.2 billion and a decrease in the services surplus of $0.1 billion to $23.2 billion.
Year-to-date, the goods and services deficit increased $40.7 billion, or 10.1 percent, from the same period in 2017. Exports increased $143.8 billion or 8.2 percent. Imports increased $184.5 billion or 8.6 percent.
Three-Month Moving Averages (exhibit 2)
The average goods and services deficit increased $2.8 billion to $52.5 billion for the three months ending in September.
- Average exports decreased $0.2 billion to $211.0 billion in September.
- Average imports increased $2.5 billion to $263.5 billion in September.
Year-over-year, the average goods and services deficit increased $8.2 billion from the three months ending in September 2017.
- Average exports increased $14.7 billion from September 2017.
- Average imports increased $22.9 billion from September 2017.
Exports (exhibits 3, 6, and 7)
Exports of goods increased $2.9 billion to $141.9 billion in September.
Exports of goods on a Census basis increased $2.8 billion.
- Industrial supplies and materials increased $2.8 billion.
- Other petroleum products increased $1.1 billion.
- Nonmonetary gold increased $1.0 billion.
- Capital goods increased $1.1 billion.
- Civilian aircraft increased $1.2 billion.
- Foods, feeds, and beverages decreased $1.0 billion.
- Soybeans decreased $0.7 billion.
Net balance of payments adjustments increased $0.1 billion.
Exports of services increased $0.3 billion to $70.7 billion in September.
- Transport increased $0.2 billion.
Imports (exhibits 4, 6, and 8)
Imports of goods increased $3.5 billion to $219.1 billion in September.
Imports of goods on a Census basis increased $3.7 billion.
- Capital goods increased $2.4 billion.
- Telecommunications equipment increased $0.5 billion.
- Civilian aircraft engines increased $0.5 billion.
- Computer accessories increased $0.4 billion.
- Computers increased $0.4 billion.
- Consumer goods increased $2.0 billion.
- Other textile apparel and household goods increased $0.5 billion.
- Toys, games, and sporting goods increased $0.4 billion.
- Cell phones and other household goods increased $0.3 billion.
- Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines decreased $0.6 billion.
- Trucks, buses, and special purpose vehicles decreased $0.6 billion.
Net balance of payments adjustments decreased $0.2 billion.
Imports of services increased $0.4 billion to $47.5 billion in September.
- Transport increased $0.4 billion.
Real Goods in 2012 Dollars – Census Basis (exhibit 11)
The real goods deficit increased $0.8 billion to $87.0 billion in September.
- Real exports of goods increased $3.1 billion to $151.0 billion.
- Real imports of goods increased $3.9 billion to $238.1 billion.
Revisions
Revisions to August exports
- Exports of goods were revised up $0.1 billion.
- Exports of services were revised down $0.1 billion.
Revisions to August imports
- Imports of goods were revised down less than $0.1 billion.
- Imports of services were revised up $0.1 billion.
Goods by Selected Countries and Areas: Monthly – Census Basis (exhibit 19)
The September figures show surpluses, in billions of dollars, with South and Central America ($3.2), Hong Kong ($2.4), Brazil ($0.6), and Singapore ($0.1). Deficits were recorded, in billions of dollars, with China ($37.4), European Union ($14.2), Mexico ($7.6), Germany ($5.2), Japan ($4.9), Italy ($2.3), OPEC ($2.3), Canada ($2.2), South Korea ($2.0), India ($1.7), Saudi Arabia ($1.5), France ($1.5), Taiwan ($0.9), and United Kingdom ($0.2).
- The deficit with China increased $3.0 billion to $37.4 billion in September. Exports increased $0.4 billion to $10.2 billion and imports increased $3.5 billion to $47.7 billion.
- The deficit with members of OPEC increased $1.3 billion to $2.3 billion in September. Exports decreased $0.6 billion to $4.6 billion and imports increased $0.8 billion to $6.9 billion.
- The deficit with Mexico decreased $1.1 billion to $7.6 billion in September. Exports increased $1.1 billion to $22.5 billion and imports decreased less than $0.1 billion to $30.1 billion.
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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.
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Next release: December 6, 2018, at 8:30 A.M. EST
U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services: October 2018
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