Trade Deficit Deepens

A slight 0.1 percent decline in exports and a slight 0.2 percent gain in imports made for a sizable 1.7 percent deepening in the nation's trade deficit in October to $55.5 billion which is just outside Econoday's consensus range.

The deficit with China was very deep, at $43.1 billion in October vs $40.2 billion in September for a year-to-date deficit of $420.8 billion that is 23 percent deeper than this time last year. This is important data for ongoing trade talks between the U.S. and China.

October's deficit with the EU, at $17 billion, also deepened as did the deficit with Japan at $6.2 billion. The deficit with Mexico, at $7.2 billion, eased slightly while the deficit with Canada, at $1.9 billion, widened slightly. Note that country balances, unlike other data in this report, are not adjusted for calendar or seasonal effects.

Exports, in possible tariff effects, show another sizable drop in foods, feeds & beverages, to $10.3 billion vs September's $11.0 billion. Exports of civilian aircraft were also weak, at $4.9 billion vs September's $5.2 billion. Services exports, an area of strength for the U.S., edged higher in the month to $69.6 billion.

Foods, feeds & beverages on the import side rose slightly to $12.3 billion with imports of consumer goods, which are a special sore spot in the U.S. trade picture, rising $2.0 billion to $57.4 billion. Imports of services rose modestly to $47.0 billion.

October's $55.5 billion headline deficit compares with a monthly average in the third-quarter of $52.8 billion and unfortunately marks a very weak opening for fourth-quarter net exports.