The U.S. monthly international trade deficit decreased in March 2016 according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau. The deficit decreased from $47.0 billion in February (revised) to $40.4 billion in March, as imports decreased more than exports. The previously published February deficit was $47.1 billion. The goods deficit decreased $6.0 billion from February to $58.5 billion in March. The services surplus increased $0.5 billion from February to $18.1 billion in March.
Exports
Exports of goods and services decreased $1.5 billion, or 0.9 percent, in March to $176.6 billion. Exports of goods decreased $1.8 billion and exports of services increased $0.3 billion.
- The decrease in exports of goods mainly reflected decreases in consumer goods ($1.6 billion) and in industrial supplies and materials ($0.8 billion). An increase in capital goods ($1.0 billion) was partly offsetting.
- The increase in exports of services mainly reflected increases in travel (for all purposes including education) ($0.2 billion) and in transport ($0.1 billion), which includes freight and port services and passenger fares.
Imports
Imports of goods and services decreased $8.1 billion, or 3.6 percent, in March to $217.1 billion. Imports of goods decreased $7.9 billion and imports of services decreased $0.2 billion.
- The decrease in imports of goods mainly reflected decreases in consumer goods ($5.1 billion) and in capital goods ($1.6 billion).
- The decrease in imports of services was more than accounted for by a decrease in transport ($0.4 billion).
Goods by geographic area (seasonally adjusted, Census basis)
- The deficit with China decreased $6.2 billion to $26.0 billion in March. Exports increased $0.1 billion to $8.5 billion and imports decreased $6.1 billion to $34.4 billion.
- The balance with the United Kingdom shifted from a deficit of $0.5 billion in February to a surplus of $0.5 billion in March. Exports increased $0.6 billion to $4.8 billion and imports decreased $0.3 billion to $4.4 billion.
- The surplus with Saudi Arabia decreased $1.2 billion to $0.1 billion in March. Exports decreased $0.9 billion to $1.4 billion and imports increased $0.3 billion to $1.3 billion.
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