U.S. Exports Shrink Trade Gap in September

Nov. 10, 2011
Monthly deficit drops to lowest level of the year.

The U.S. trade gap narrowed for the third straight month in September helped by a jump in exports and stagnating imports, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.

The monthly deficit fell to $43.1 billion, the lowest level so far this year, down from a peak of $51.6 billion in June.

The goods deficit decreased $2 billion from August to $58.9 billion, while the services surplus declined $0.2 billion to $15.8 billion.

Exports, meanwhile, jumped to their highest level this year, $180.4 billion, compared to $223.5 billion in imports.

Exports of goods increased $2.6 billion to $129.3 billion from August to September, spurred by increases in industrial supplies and materials; consumer goods; automotive vehicles, parts and engines; and capital goods.

The huge bilateral trade deficit with China, a constant political problem between the two countries, fell to $28.1 billion from $29 billion, almost entirely due to a decline in imports of Chinese goods.


Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2011 IW contributed to this report.

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