The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the Department of Commerce, announced today that the goods and services deficit was $47.6 billion in April, up $2.3 billion from $45.3 billion in March, revised. April exports were $191.0 billion, $0.5 billion less than March exports. April imports were $238.6 billion, $1.9 billion more than March imports.

The April increase in the goods and services deficit reflected an increase in the goods deficit of $2.3 billion to $68.4 billion and a decrease in the services surplus of less than $0.1 billion to $20.8 billion.

Exports (Exhibits 3, 6, and 7 in the FT-900)

Exports of goods decreased $0.5 billion to $126.9 billion in April.

Exports of goods on a Census basis decreased $0.4 billion.

• Consumer goods decreased $0.7 billion.
  • Artwork, antiques, stamps, and other collectibles decreased $0.4 billion.
  • Pharmaceutical preparations decreased $0.2 billion.
• Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines decreased $0.5 billion.
  • Passenger cars decreased $0.3 billion.
• Foods, feeds, and beverages increased $0.6 billion.

Exports of services increased $0.1 billion to $64.0 billion in April.

• Travel (for all purposes including education) increased $0.1 billion.
• Transport, which includes freight and port services and passenger fares, decreased $0.1 billion.

Imports (Exhibits 4, 6, and 8 in the FT-900)

Imports of goods increased $1.8 billion to $195.3 billion in April.

Imports of goods on a Census basis increased $1.8 billion.

• Consumer goods increased $1.9 billion.
  • Cell phones increased $1.8 billion.
  • Artwork, antiques, stamps, and other collectibles increased $0.5 billion.
• Capital goods increased $0.9 billion.
• Industrial supplies and materials decreased $1.5 billion.
  • Crude oil decreased $1.9 billion.

Imports of services increased $0.1 billion to $43.3 billion in April.

• Travel (for all purposes including education) increased $0.1 billion.
•  Transport decreased $0.1 billion.

Goods by Selected Countries and Areas: Census Basis (Exhibit 19)

The April figures show surpluses, in billions of dollars, with South and Central America ($2.7), Hong Kong ($2.0), Singapore ($0.9), Brazil ($0.3), and United Kingdom ($0.2). Deficits were recorded, in billions of dollars, with China ($32.1), European Union ($13.2), Mexico ($6.4), Germany ($5.5), Japan ($5.0), Italy ($3.0), Canada ($2.6), India ($1.6), South Korea ($1.5), Taiwan ($1.3), France ($1.2), OPEC ($1.1), and Saudi Arabia ($0.2).

• The deficit with Italy increased $1.0 billion to $3.0 billion in April. Exports decreased $0.2 billion to $1.4 billion and imports increased $0.8 billion to $4.4 billion.
• The deficit with France increased $1.0 billion to $1.2 billion in April. Exports decreased $0.7 billion to $2.6 billion and imports increased $0.2 billion to $3.7 billion.

Updates to Goods and Services

In this release and in the accompanying “U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services: Annual Revision for 2016” release (FT-900 Annual Revision), the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) are publishing revised statistics on trade in goods and services for January 2014 to March 2017. The revised statistics will also be included in the “U.S. International Transactions: First Quarter 2017 and Annual Update” report and in the international transactions interactive database, both to be released by BEA on June 20, 2017.

This annual revision has not changed the overall trend in the goods and services balance. On an annual basis, the goods and services deficit was revised upward less than 0.1 percent for 2014 and 2015 and revised upward 0.8 percent for 2016. The goods deficit was revised downward for 2014 and 2015 and was revised upward for 2016; the services surplus was revised downward for all three years.

NOTE: All statistics referenced are seasonally adjusted; statistics are on a balance of payments basis unless otherwise specified.