US trade deficit widens to $48.5 billion in January

The US Census Bureau and the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the Department of Commerce, announced today that the goods and services deficit was $48.5 billion in January, up $4.2 billion from $44.3 billion in December, revised. January exports were $192.1 billion, $1.1 billion more than December exports. January imports were $240.6 billion, $5.3 billion more than December imports.
 
Year-over-year, the goods and services deficit increased $5.1 billion, or 11.8 percent, from January 2016. Exports increased $13.3 billion or 7.4 percent. Imports increased $18.4 billion or 8.3 percent.

The January figures show surpluses, in billions of dollars, with Hong Kong ($3.5), South and Central America ($3.1), Singapore ($1.2), and Brazil ($0.7).

Deficits were recorded, in billions of dollars, with China ($30.2), European Union ($13.4), Germany ($5.7), Mexico ($5.5), Japan ($5.5), Italy ($2.4), OPEC ($2.4), South Korea ($2.3), Canada ($2.0), India ($1.9), France ($1.6), United Kingdom ($0.9), Taiwan ($0.9), and Saudi Arabia ($0.9).

The balance with Saudi Arabia shifted from a surplus of $0.4 billion to a deficit of $0.9 billion in January. Exports decreased $0.6 billion to $1.2 billion and imports increased $0.6 billion to $2.0 billion.

The deficit with Mexico increased $1.0 billion to $5.5 billion in January. Exports decreased $0.2 billion to $20.5 billion and imports increased $0.8 billion to $26.0 billion.