Advance goods trade deficit narrows in April as exports increase, imports fall

Advance International Trade in Goods 

The international trade deficit was $85.2 billion in April, down $6.8 billion from $92.0 billion in March. Exports of goods for April were $144.7 billion, $1.7 billion more than March exports. Imports of goods for April were $229.9 billion, $5.1 billion less than March imports. 

Advance Wholesale Inventories 

Wholesale inventories for April, adjusted for seasonal variations and trading day differences, but not for price changes, were estimated at an end-of -month level of $698.3 billion, up 0.8 percent (±0.4 percent) from March 2021, and were up 5.2 percent (±1.4 percent) from April 2020. The February 2021 to March 2021 percentage change was revised from up 1.3 percent (±0.4 percent) to up 1.1 percent (±0.4 percent).

 Advance Retail Inventories 

Retail inventories for April, adjusted for seasonal variations and trading day differences, but not for price changes, were estimated at an end-of -month level of $602.9 billion, down 1.6 percent (±0.2 percent) from March 2021, and were down 5.1 percent (±0.7 percent) from April 2020. The February 2021 to March 2021 percentage change was unrevised from the preliminary estimate of down 1.4 percent (±0.2 percent).