Surging Exports Drive Down Trade Deficit

The trade gap narrowed by 5.9% from May to June. Rapidly rising demand for American goods around the world, and lower demand for imports worked together to shrink the trade deficit last month. Josh Mitchell and Eric Morath write:

The report offered encouraging news for the U.S. economy, which has grown sluggishly this year but is starting to reap more benefits from strengthening economies overseas and a weakened dollar. Steady growth in Asia, Europe and South America is pushing up demand for American goods like soybeans and petroleum.

Exports of goods reached the highest level on record in June, after inflation. Petroleum exports also hit an all-time high.

Imports fell in June due largely to declines in consumer goods like cellphones, jewelry and apparel, as well as a drop in imported crude oil. Imports of capital goods rose, a possible sign of higher business investment spending.

The U.S. still imports more goods and services than it exports, and the broader trend shows a widening deficit. Through the first half of this year, the trade gap widened 10.7% compared with the same period a year earlier. Exports have risen 6% this year while imports have grown 6.9%.