Author Topic: US trade deficit falls in February as shortfall with China decreases 28%  (Read 1217 times)

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Offline Elderberry

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CNBC 4/17/2019 by Jeff Cox

Key Points

    The U.S. trade deficit fell to $49.4 billion in February, the lowest level since June 2018 and well below what economists had expected.

    A 28.2 percent in the goods deficit with China led the decline, along with a surge in aircraft exports.


The U.S. goods and services deficit with its global trading partners fell to $49.4 billion in February, its lowest level since June 2018 and well below estimates, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.

Economists surveyed by Dow Jones expected the U.S. trade deficit in February to increase to $53.8 billion from $51.1 billion in January.

The decline was due in large part to a 28.2 percent decrease in its goods deficit with China as exports to the nation surged. Exports to China rose $1.6 billion to $9.2 billion while imports fell $1.5 billion to $39.3 billion. That brought the total deficit with China to $30.1 billion.

The report helped boost the view of Wall Street economists on first-quarter GDP growht, which now likely will come in above 2 percent.

More: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/17/us-trade-deficit-in-february-49point4b-vs-53point8b-est.html

Offline IsailedawayfromFR

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Since this says it is still high, http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,357568.0.html

I wonder if we are purchasing imports from elsewhere/
No punishment, in my opinion, is too great, for the man who can build his greatness upon his country's ruin~  George Washington

Offline Elderberry

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Since this says it is still high, http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,357568.0.html

I wonder if we are purchasing imports from elsewhere/

One source was monthly figures. The other was annual.

Offline InHeavenThereIsNoBeer

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The decline was due in large part to a 28.2 percent decrease in its goods deficit with China as exports to the nation surged. Exports to China rose $1.6 billion to $9.2 billion while imports fell $1.5 billion to $39.3 billion. That brought the total deficit with China to $30.1 billion.

Hmm.  That sounds like a 9% decrease to me.

My avatar shows the national debt in stacks of $100 bills.  If you look very closely under the crane you can see the Statue of Liberty.

Offline Elderberry

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I agree.