The U.S monthly international trade deficit decreased in April 2015 according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau. The deficit decreased from $50.6 billion in March (revised) to $40.9 billion in April, as exports increased and imports decreased. The previously published March deficit was $51.4 billion. The goods deficit decreased $9.3 billion from March to $60.7 billion in April. The services surplus increased $0.4 billion from March to $19.8 billion in April.
Exports
Exports of goods and services increased $1.9 billion, or 1.0 percent, in April to $189.9 billion. Exports of goods increased $1.9 billion and exports of services increased less than $0.1 billion.
- The increase in exports of goods mainly reflected increases in capital goods ($2.1 billion) and in industrial supplies and materials ($0.6 billion). A decrease in other goods ($0.5 billion) was partly offsetting.
- The increase in exports of services mainly reflected an increase in other business services ($0.1 billion) and increases in several categories of services of less than $0.1 billion. A decrease in transport ($0.2 billion), which includes freight and port services and passenger fares, was partly offsetting.
Imports
Imports of goods and services decreased $7.8 billion, or 3.3 percent, in April to $230.8 billion. Imports of goods decreased $7.4 billion and imports of services decreased $0.4 billion.
- The decrease in imports of goods mainly reflected decreases in consumer goods ($4.9 billion) and in other goods ($1.0 billion).
- The decrease in imports of services was more than accounted for by a decrease in transport ($0.5 billion). Am increase in travel (for all purposes including education) ($0.1 billion) was partly offsetting.
Goods by geographic area (seasonally adjusted, Census basis)
- The goods deficit with China decreased from $38.9 billion in March to $27.5 billion in April. Exports increased $0.9 billion to $10.3 billion and imports decreased $10.5 billion to $37.7 billion.
- The goods deficit with Mexico decreased from $5.0 billion in March to $4.2 billion in April. Exports increased $1.0 billion to $20.0 billion and imports increased $0.2 billion to $24.2 billion.
- The goods deficit with the European Union increased from $10.9 billion in March to $11.9 billion in April. Exports increased $0.9 billion to $23.6 billion and imports increased $1.9 billion to $35.6 billion.
For more information, read the full report.