The US Census Bureau and the US Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that the US goods and services trade deficit rose to $77.6 billion in May 2026, increasing $23.0 billion (42.2%) from April. Exports fell to $317.7 billion, while imports increased to $395.3 billion, causing the deficit to widen.
| Deficit: | $77.6 Billion | +42.2%° |
| Exports: | $317.7 Billion | –3.2%° |
| Imports: | $395.3 Billion | +3.3%° |
| Next release: Tuesday, August 4, 2026
(°) Statistical significance is not applicable or not measurable. Data adjusted for seasonality but not price changes Source: US Census Bureau, US Bureau of Economic Analysis; US International Trade in Goods and Services, July 7, 2026 |
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The increase was mainly due to a larger goods deficit, which reached $106.5 billion, while the services surplus grew slightly to $28.9 billion. Despite the monthly increase, the year-to-date trade deficit was $203.9 billion lower than in 2025, with exports up 11.7% and imports down 2.1%.
The decline in exports was driven by lower shipments of industrial supplies, precious metals, computers, and consumer goods, though crude oil exports increased. Overall, the May data shows a short-term rise in the trade gap but continued improvement compared with last year.
