The Briefing Room

General Category => Economy/Business => Topic started by: Elderberry on April 17, 2019, 09:13:04 pm

Title: US trade deficit falls in February as shortfall with China decreases 28%
Post by: Elderberry on April 17, 2019, 09:13:04 pm

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

Title: Re: US trade deficit falls in February as shortfall with China decreases 28%
Post by: IsailedawayfromFR on April 20, 2019, 12:11:47 am

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

I wonder if we are purchasing imports from elsewhere/

Title: Re: US trade deficit falls in February as shortfall with China decreases 28%
Post by: Elderberry on April 20, 2019, 12:35:25 am

Quote from: IsailedawayfromFR on April 20, 2019, 12:11:47 am

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

Title: Re: US trade deficit falls in February as shortfall with China decreases 28%
Post by: InHeavenThereIsNoBeer on April 20, 2019, 01:43:03 am

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.

Title: Re: US trade deficit falls in February as shortfall with China decreases 28%
Post by: Elderberry on April 20, 2019, 02:23:43 am

I agree.