Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Total
2009	-37.0	-26.6	-28.9	-28.5	-25.8	-26.9	-31.4	-30.3	-35.7	-33.2	-36.4		-340.6
2008	-61.5	-61.7	-59.4	-62.1	-60.5	-60.2	-64.9	-60.9	-60.1	-59.4	-43.2	-41.9	-695.9
2007	-58.6	-57.8	-61.6	-59.7	-59.2	-58.7	-57.9	-56.3	-57.3	-57.0	-59.5	-57.8	-701.4
2006	-67.0	-62.5	-62.2	-62.6	-64.9	-63.6	-66.8	-67.8	-64.7	-58.8	-58.4	-61.0	-760.4

Trade Deficit in U.S. Increased
Published: 1/12/2010 11:24:15 AM By: TradingEconomics.com, Bloomberg

The trade deficit in the U.S. widened in November more than anticipated as imports climbed faster than exports, pointing to a rebound in global demand that is fueling growth.

The gap expanded 9.7 percent to $36.4 billion from a revised $33.2 billion in October, Commerce Department data showed today in Washington. Imports increased 2.6 percent, reflecting a jump in oil prices, while exports rose to the highest level in a year.

Increases in spending by American businesses and consumers indicate purchases of foreign goods will keep rising in coming months. At the same time, a 12 percent drop in the dollar and growing economies overseas mean U.S. sales abroad by companies such as United Parcel Service Inc. and United Technologies Corp. may also improve, giving factories and the economy a lift.

Excluding the influence of prices, which are the figures used to calculate gross domestic product, the trade gap increased to $40.7 billion in November from $38.3 billion the prior month. The average gap for the quarter so far, at $39.5 billion, is little changed from the third-quarter average of $39.4 billion, indicating trade will not have much influence on economic growth in the last three months of the year.

Exports increased 0.9 percent, the seventh consecutive gain, to $138.2 billion in November, reflecting increasing demand overseas for food and American-made automobiles and semiconductors. The dollar is down 12 percent since reaching a five-year high in early March against a basket of currencies from the nation’s biggest trading partners.

Imports advanced 2.6 percent to $174.6 billion. Today’s report estimated petroleum prices rose to $72.54 a barrel in November, the highest level since October 2008. The increase in costs more than offset a drop in volumes as the U.S. imported 245 million barrels in November, the fewest since February 1999.

Americans also bought more consumer goods, computers and telecommunications equipment from overseas, signaling a revival in overall demand and business investment.

United States Economic News

US Payrolls Fall in January, Unemployment at 9.7%
Published: 2/5/2010 8:38:28 AM By: TradingEconomics.com, Reuters

Employers unexpectedly cut 20,000 in January, but the unemployment rate surprisingly fell to a five-month low of 9.7 percent, according to a government report on Friday that hinted at some labor market improvement starting to take root.

ADP Says U.S. Companies Cut Estimated 22,000 Jobs
Published: 2/3/2010 9:32:30 AM By: TradingEconomics.com, Bloomberg

Companies in the U.S. cut an estimated 22,000 jobs in January, in line with forecasts, according to data from a private report based on payrolls.

Despite Recent Growth, US Recovery is Still Weak
Published: 2/2/2010 12:59:10 PM By: Anna Fedec, contact@tradingeconomics.com

In the fourth quarter of 2009, the United States economy expanded at an annualized rate of 5.7% giving the impression that the recovery in world’s largest economy has been stronger than expected. Yet, growth was mainly due to inventory rebuilding and the recent economic expansion maybe short lived.

Economy in U.S. Grew at 5.7%
Published: 1/29/2010 9:26:28 AM By: TradingEconomics.com, Bloomberg

The economy in the U.S. expanded in the fourth quarter at the fastest pace in six years as factories cranked up assembly lines and companies increased investment in equipment and software.

US Federal Reserve Holds Rate Steady
Published: 1/27/2010 2:22:22 PM By: TradingEconomics.com, Federal Reserve

The Federal Reserve kept interest rates near zero and restated its intention to cease buying mortgage-backed securities in March.

Consumer Prices in U.S. Rose 0.1% in December
Published: 1/16/2010 2:42:20 PM By: TradingEconomics.com, Bloomberg

The cost of living in the U.S. slowed in December from a month earlier, indicating the economic recovery is showing few signs of stoking inflation.

US Economy Sheds 85,000 Jobs in December
Published: 1/8/2010 8:42:00 AM By: TradingEconomics.com, Reuters

U.S. employers unexpectedly cut 85,000 jobs in December, government data showed on Friday, cooling optimism on the labor market's recovery and keeping pressure on President Barack Obama.

ADP Says U.S. Companies Cut Estimated 84,000 Jobs
Published: 1/6/2010 9:21:50 AM By: TradingEconomics.com, Bloomberg

Companies in the U.S. cut an estimated 84,000 jobs in December, according to a private report based on payroll data.

US Economy Grows 2.2% in Q3
Published: 12/22/2009 9:57:49 AM By: TradingEconomics.com, Reuters

The U.S. economy grew at a much slower pace than previously thought in the third quarter, restrained by weak business investment and a slightly more aggressive liquidation of inventories, data showed on Tuesday.

More news

Balance of Trade Definition

The balance of trade is the difference between the monetary value of exports and imports in an economy over a certain period of time. A positive balance of trade is known as a trade surplus and consists of exporting more than is imported; a negative balance of trade is known as a trade deficit or, informally, a trade gap.

The balance of trade forms part of the current account, which also includes other transactions such as income from the international investment position as well as international aid. If the current account is in surplus, the country's net international asset position increases correspondingly. Equally, a deficit decreases the net international asset position.

The Balance of Trade is identical to the difference between a country's output and its domestic demand - the difference between what goods a country produces and how many goods it buys from abroad; this does not include money respent on foreign stocks, nor does it factor the concept of importing goods to produce for the domestic market (source: wikipedia).