U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services Highlights

April 9, 2009

Goods and Services Deficit Decreases in February 2009

The Nation's international deficit in goods and services decreased to $26.0 billion in February from $36.2 billion (revised) in January, as exports increased and imports decreased.

Goods and Services

• Exports increased to $126.8 billion in February from $124.7 billion in January. Goods were $84.7 billion in February, up from $82.2 billion in January, and services were $42.1 billion in February, down from $42.5 billion in January.
  
  
• Imports decreased to $152.7 billion in February from $160.9 billion in January. Goods were $121.5 billion in February, down from $129.2 billion in January, and services were $31.2 billion in February, down from $31.8 billion in January.
  
  
• For goods, the deficit was $36.9 billion in February, down from $46.9 billion in January. For services, the surplus was $10.9 billion in February, up from $10.7 billion in January.
  
  

Goods by Category

• The January to February change in exports of goods reflected increases in consumer goods ($1.3 billion); automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.5 billion); foods, feeds, and beverages ($0.3 billion); other goods ($0.2 billion); capital goods ($0.2 billion); and industrial supplies and materials ($0.1 billion).
  
  
• The January to February change in imports of goods reflected decreases in industrial supplies and materials ($3.6 billion); capital goods ($1.9 billion); consumer goods ($1.4 billion); automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.9 billion); and foods, feeds, and beverages ($0.1 billion). An increase occurred in other goods ($0.4 billion).

Services by Category

• The January to February change in exports of services reflected decreases in travel ($0.2 billion); passenger fares ($0.2 billion); and other private services ($0.1 billion), which includes items such as business, professional, and technical services, insurance services, and financial services. An increase in transfers under U.S. military sales contracts ($0.1 billion) was partly offsetting. Changes in other categories of services exports were small.
  
  
• The January to February change in imports of services reflected decreases in other transportation ($0.3 billion), which includes freight and port services; passenger fares ($0.2 billion); and travel ($0.1 billion). Changes in other categories of services imports were small.

Goods by Geographic Area (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

• The goods deficit with Canada decreased from $2.5 billion in January to $1.8 billion in February. Exports increased $0.9 billion (primarily automobiles, parts, and accessories) to $15.6 billion, while imports increased $0.1 billion (primarily automobiles, parts, and accessories) to $17.4 billion.
  
  
• The goods deficit with China decreased from $20.6 billion in January to $14.2 billion in February. Exports increased $0.5 billion (primarily soybeans) to $4.7 billion, while imports decreased $5.9 billion (primarily toys, games, and sporting goods; furniture; and apparel) to $18.9 billion.
  
  
• The goods deficit with Japan decreased from $4.3 billion in January to $2.2 billion in February. Exports increased $0.2 billion (primarily military aircraft) to $4.2 billion, while imports decreased $1.9 billion (primarily passenger cars) to $6.4 billion.

This and more information is provided in the Bureau of the Census and Bureau of Economic Analysis press release:

U.S.International Trade in Goods and Services: February 2009 .

This and more information is provided in the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis press release, U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services: February 2009. For further information on goods, contact Maria Iseman, Foreign Trade Division, U.S. Census Bureau, on (301) 763-2311; on services, contact Christopher Bach, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, on (202) 606-9545.

NOTE: Total goods data are reported on a Balance of Payments basis; commodity and country detail data for goods are on a Census basis. For information on data sources and definitions, see the information section on page A-1 of the FT-900 release, or at www.census.gov/ft900 or http://www.bea.gov/bea/di/home/trade.htm.

The next release is May 12, 2009

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Note: Total goods data are reported on a Balance of Payments basis; commodity and country detail data for goods are on a Census basis. For information on data sources and definitions, see the Information Section (PDF, 53k) (TXT, 23k)

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Related sites:

• U.S. Department of Commerce
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division
  • Bureau of Economic Analysis