Friday, August 10, 2012

The U.S. trade balance in June shrank to $42.9B

The U.S. trade balance in June shrank, again thanks in part to lower oil prices but also from a general import dip. The trade deficit decreased to $42.9 billion from $48.0 billion in May. Exports advanced 0.9 percent, following a 0.3 percent rise in May. Imports shrank 1.5 percent after a 0.8 percent decrease in May.


The narrowing in the trade gap was led by the non-petroleum goods gap which narrowed to $34.4 billion from $37.5 billion in May. With help from lower prices, the petroleum deficit decreased to $22.5 billion in June from $24.8 billion the prior month. The services surplus slipped to $14.6 billion from $14.9 billion.

On a not seasonally adjusted basis, the June figures showed surpluses, in billions of dollars, with Hong Kong $2.6 ($2.9 for May), Australia $1.9 ($1.7), Singapore $1.2 ($1.0), among others. Deficits were seen, in billions of dollars, with China $27.4 ($26.0), OPEC $8.5 ($11.2), European Union $8.4 ($10.5), Japan $6.0 ($6.4), Mexico $5.9 ($6.3), Germany $4.1 ($4.9), Ireland $2.6 ($2.7), Canada $1.5 ($2.0), among others.

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