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US Trade Deficit Worse Than Expected As Auto Exports Tumble

Tyler Durden's picture




 

As Chinese exports crashed in January (and imports were extremely weak), one could be forgiven for expecting the US trade deficit to be more extreme than the tumble it experienced in December... but no. The US Trade Deficit printed $41.8bn, slightly worse than the $41.1bn expectation but 'better' than the adjusted $45.6 billion. Imports dropped 3.9% in January and Exports fell 2.9% but YoY imports fell 0.17% and exports fell 1.75% - the last time both fell YoY was November 2008. This is the 2nd month in a row of worse than expected deficits (and 4th of last 5). The shift is led by big drops in Food & Beverage (-9.1%) and Auto (-7.0%) exports and an 11.3% plunge in Industrial Supplies imports.

 

4th of last 5 month bigger than expected trade deficit...

 

As BEA notes:

Exports
Exports of goods and services decreased $1.5 billion in December to $194.9 billion, reflecting a decrease in exports of goods. Exports of services increased.

  • The decrease in exports of goods was more than accounted for by a decrease in industrial supplies and materials. An increase in capital goods was partly offsetting.
  • The increase in exports of services reflected increases in transport, which includes freight and port services and passenger fares, in financial services, and in travel (for all purposes including education).

Imports
Imports of goods and services increased $5.3 billion in December to $241.4 billion, mostly reflecting an increase in imports of goods. Imports of services also increased.

  • The increase in imports of goods mostly reflected increases in industrial supplies and materials and in automotive vehicles, parts, and engines.
  • The increase in imports of services mostly reflected increases in transport and in travel (for all purposes including education).

Goods by geographic area (seasonally adjusted, Census basis)

  • The goods deficit with Canada increased from $1.6 billion in November (revised) to $3.3 billion in December. Exports decreased $0.8 billion to $25.8 billion and imports increased $0.9 billion to $29.0 billion.
  • The goods surplus with South and Central America decreased from $4.3 billion in November to $2.6 billion in December. Exports decreased $0.7 billion to $14.8 billion and imports increased $1.0 billion to $12.2 billion.
  • The goods deficit with Germany decreased from $6.3 billion in November to $5.6 billion in December. Exports increased $0.1 billion to $3.9 billion and imports decreased $0.6 billion to $9.6 billion

*  *  *

And finally, given the epic collapse in Chinese data, it seems odd that The BEA reports, the deficit with China increased $2.7 billion to $83.4 billion in the fourth quarter. Exports increased $3.5 billion to $43.8 billion and imports increased $6.2 billion to $127.2 billion.

Oddly it appears the US data is adjusting back to Chinese data...

 

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Fri, 03/06/2015 - 09:50 | 5860880 Tinky
Tinky's picture

Yes, but from a glass half-full perspective...

I got nothin'.

Fri, 03/06/2015 - 09:55 | 5860908 DeadFred
DeadFred's picture

Go figure. You raise your price over 20% by having the dollar go up (plus another 1% today) and people stop buying your products. Who would have thought it?

Fri, 03/06/2015 - 10:06 | 5860966 new game
new game's picture

intended or unintended. or out of control. swissy tyme?!

Fri, 03/06/2015 - 10:21 | 5861043 negative rates
negative rates's picture

Yeah I would have stopped buying them after they didn't pass the test of time, like 3 decades ago.

Fri, 03/06/2015 - 11:10 | 5861238 venturen
venturen's picture

so this is a positive for stock...NO????

Fri, 03/06/2015 - 09:53 | 5860895 Philo Beddoe
Philo Beddoe's picture

The USDis the new Highlander. 

Fri, 03/06/2015 - 09:55 | 5860909 sudzee
Fri, 03/06/2015 - 09:55 | 5860911 Whoa Dammit
Whoa Dammit's picture

Who wants to buy those ugly over-priced things on wheels that look like they were designed by a 13 year old boy who plays Walmart brand sci-fi video games, and that get recalled every month?

Fri, 03/06/2015 - 10:07 | 5860974 GMadScientist
GMadScientist's picture

The Middle East and Asia (you know, places where they make or mine the dumb shit Americans buy and put in their over-priced things on wheels).

Fri, 03/06/2015 - 09:57 | 5860920 youngman
youngman's picture

The world is starting to clam up...so to speak....the strong dollar is not going to help at all either...

Fri, 03/06/2015 - 10:05 | 5860955 buzzsaw99
buzzsaw99's picture

oil down, trade deficit up, that's healthy.

maybe it is just an after xmas shelf restocking party and next month won't be so bad but who cares, not the gubbermint or fed, that's for sure.

Fri, 03/06/2015 - 10:04 | 5860957 Spungo
Spungo's picture

Maybe we should sell an aircraft carrier to Russia or China. That would boost GDP.

Fri, 03/06/2015 - 10:05 | 5860961 GMadScientist
GMadScientist's picture

We need subprime loans for Mr Panos!

What would Panos drive? I'll go with a Ford Mustang...light blue with a white racing stripe!

Fri, 03/06/2015 - 10:24 | 5861058 negative rates
negative rates's picture

Found On Road       Dead

Fixed  Or  Repaired Daily. 

Fri, 03/06/2015 - 11:08 | 5861230 Arnold
Arnold's picture

First On Race Day

Fri, 03/06/2015 - 11:18 | 5861276 TrumpXVI
TrumpXVI's picture

Clearly the answer is to offer subprime auto loans to foreign car buyers.....well, that was simple.

Fri, 03/06/2015 - 10:16 | 5861015 Sandmann
Sandmann's picture

Exports to Ukraine and Poland will be increasing together with IOUs deposited at the Fed

Fri, 03/06/2015 - 10:59 | 5861194 youngman
youngman's picture

They just had the Presidents man on labor on CNBC..he said exports were up....where is he getting his info????

Fri, 03/06/2015 - 11:16 | 5861265 venturen
venturen's picture

We should start a trade war....that always solved things....like printing lots of money for gamblers. We are on course to do EVERY FUCKING THING WRONG....according to every history of geo-politics, economic and finance!!! We are a triple threat..... Get ready to write the history books of the obvious failures!!! Like no one saw repcussions of the Crusades, the 1929 crash followed by the trade war depression, WWII, DOTCOM CRASH, HOUSING BUBBLE BURST, Debt Bubble. We are going to wrap all of these into the mother  of one giant cluster fuck!

Fri, 03/06/2015 - 13:28 | 5861815 Spungo
Spungo's picture

The US exports things??

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