The U.S. monthly international trade deficit increased in October 2015 according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau. The deficit increased from $42.5 billion in September (revised) to $43.9 billion in October, as exports decreased more than imports. The previously published September deficit was $40.8 billion. The goods deficit increased $2.1 billion from September to $63.1 billion in October. The services surplus increased $0.6 billion from September to $19.2 billion in October.
Exports
Exports of goods and services decreased $2.7 billion, or 1.4 percent, in October to $184.1 billion. Exports of goods decreased $3.1 billion and exports of services increased $0.4 billion.
- The decrease in exports of goods mainly reflected decreases in industrial supplies and materials ($1.6 billion) and in capital goods ($0.9 billion).
- The increase in exports of services mainly reflected increases in transport ($0.2 billion), which includes freight and port services and passenger fares, and in financial services ($0.2 billion).
Imports
Imports of goods and services decreased $1.3 billion, or 0.6 percent, in October to $228.0 billion. Imports of goods decreased $1.0 billion and imports of services decreased $0.2 billion.
- The decrease in imports of goods mainly reflected a decrease in industrial supplies and materials ($2.0 billion) that was partly offset by an increase in capital goods ($0.5 billion).
- The decrease in imports of services was more than accounted for by decreases in travel (for all purposes including education) ($0.2 billion) and in transport ($0.1 billion).
Goods by geographic area (seasonally adjusted, Census basis)
- The surplus with members of OPEC decreased from $1.7 billion in September to $0.4 billion in October. Exports decreased $1.6 billion to $5.1 billion and imports decreased $0.3 billion to $4.7 billion.
- The deficit with Mexico increased from $5.4 billion in September to $6.3 billion in October. Exports increased $0.1 billion to $19.7 billion and imports increased $1.0 billion to $26.0 billion.
- The balance with the United Kingdom shifted from a deficit of $1.2 billion in September to a surplus of $0.6 billion in October. Exports increased $0.4 billion to $5.2 billion and imports decreased $1.4 billion to $4.5 billion.
For more information, read the full report.