International Trade

Here we are just on the other side of the holiday season.  It’s that cold part of the year without the festive decorations.  A new calendar offers an excuse to consider just what lies ahead, but we’re too far from Valentine’s Day to run out and buy cards and candy.  That doesn’t mean we can write about the heart. 

America’s trade deficit shrank in October 2019 according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.  The shortfall improved to $47.2 billion from the revised $51.1 billion (originally $52.5 billion) chasm in September.  While on the surface this indicator looked better, the cause of the improvement is not constructive as both sides of the trade ledger declined in the period. 

November 2018 International Trade

America’s trade deficit continued growing in October 2018 according to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.  The most recent deficit grew to $55.5 billion from the upwardly revised count of $54.6 (originally $54.0 billion).  In the period, exports declined $300 million while imports increased $600 million, causing the shortfall to reach a 10-year high.

America’s trade deficit widened in June according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.  Increasing to $46.3 billion, this shortfall jumped 7.3 percent in the period.  Year-to-date, our nation’s trading gap has widened $19.6 billion or 7.2 percent versus the same period in 2017.  Both sides of the ledger worsened for the U.S.

America’s fiscal shortfall improved in June 2018 according to the Treasury Department.  America’s budget deficit improved to $74.9 billion from $146.8 billion in May.  Details within the report make the improvement look even better as there were substantial outlays that are not paid every month in this iteration. 

America’s trading shortfall improved in May 2018 according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.  Our nation’s goods and services deficit dropped $3.0 billion to $43.1 billion from April’s downwardly revised tally (originally $46.2 billion).  This improvement put the monthly trade gap at its narrowest reading since October 2016.

Atlas is a peaceful bunch.  We don’t like wars, including those revolving around trade.  But everywhere one looks it seems like nations are turning their backs to one another.  Instead of finding new ways to work together and prosper, countries are looking for new barriers.  This is not just a recent phenomenon.  Brexit started off two years ago as the U.K.