Monthly Trade Highlights

August 2008 Highlights

This page shows the Balance, Exports and Imports for the current month and prior month, along with the percent change and dollar change between the two. The last column of the table shows the last time the percent change (or dollar change) was larger. Some interesting facts about this month's International Trade in Goods and Services report can be found at the bottom of the page.

Goods and Services on a Balance of Payments (BOP) Basis, seasonally adjusted - series began with January 1992 statistics.

All Values in billions of dollars

Percent Change from Prior Month

Dollar Change From Prior Month

• August exports of goods and services ($164.7 billion) was the second highest on record. The record occurred in July 2008 ($168.1 billion).
• August imports of goods and services ($223.9 billion) was the second highest on record. The record occurred in July 2008 ($229.4 billion).
• August imports of services ($35.3 billion) were a record.

Goods on a Census Basis (seasonally adjusted)

Exports

• August exports of capital goods ($42.3 billion) were a record.
• August exports of petroleum ($8.1 billion) were a record.

Imports

• August imports of non-petroleum ($144.2 billion) were a record.
• August imports of foods, feeds, and beverages ($7.8 billion) and consumer goods ($43.4 billion) were records.
• August imports of automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($19.2 billion) were the lowest since March 2005 ($18.8 billion).

Country and other highlights (Census Basis, not seasonally adjusted)

• The August deficit with China ($25.3 billion) was the highest since October 2007 ($25.9 billion).
• August imports from China ($31.8 billion) were a record.
• The August deficit with Japan ($4.8 billion) was the lowest since May 2003 ($4.5 billion).
• August exports to Japan ($6.37 billion) were the highest since March 1996 ($6.41 billion)
• August exports to South/Central America ($14.2 billion) were a record.
• August exports to OPEC ($7.0 billion) were a record.
• August imports of crude oil ($37.0 billion) declined after 5-consecutive months of increases.