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 $41.1 billion in May, up $3.8 billion from $37.4 billion in April, revised. May exports were $182.4 billion, $0.3 billion less than April exports. May imports were $223.5 billion, $3.4 billion more than April imports. The May increase in the goods and services deficit reflected an increase in the goods deficit of $3.7 billion to $62.2 billion and a decrease in the services surplus of $0.1 billion to $21.1 billion. Year-to-date, the goods and services deficit decreased $7.2 billion, or 3.5 percent, from the same period in 2015. Exports decreased $47.2 billion or 4.9 percent. Imports decreased $54.3 billion or 4.7 percent. Goods and Services Three-Month Moving Averages (Exhibit 2) The average goods andservices deficit decreased $1.0 billion to $38.0 billion for the three months ending in May.
  • Average exports of goods and services increased $0.1 billion to $181.7 billion in May.
  • Average imports of goods and services decreased $0.9 billion to $219.8 billion in May.
Year-over-year,the average goods and services deficit decreased $5.1 billion from the three months ending in May 2015.
  • Average exports of goods and services decreased $9.1 billion from May 2015.
  • Average imports of goods and services decreased $14.2 billion from May 2015.
Exports (Exhibits 3, 6, and 7) Exports of goods decreased $0.2 billion to $119.8 billion in May. Exports of goods on a Census basis decreased $0.4 billion. Capital goods decreased $0.8 billion.
  • Civilian aircraft decreased $0.4 billion.
  • Computer accessories decreased $0.3 billion.
Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines decreased $0.3 billion.
  • Other parts and accessories decreased $0.3 billion.
Foods, feeds, and beverages increased $0.5 billion. Net balance of payments adjustments increased $0.1 billion. Exports of services decreased $0.1 billion to $62.5 billion in May.
  • Travel (for all purposes including education) decreased $0.2 billion.
  • Financial services increased $0.1 billion.
Imports (Exhibits 4, 6, and 8) Imports of goods increased $3.4 billion to $182.1 billion in May. Imports of goods on a Census basis increased $3.3 billion. Industrial supplies and materials increased $2.3 billion.
  • Nonmonetary gold increased $1.0 billion.
  • Crude oil increased $0.7 billion.
Consumer goods increased $1.3 billion. Capital goods decreased $0.9 billion.
  • Civilian aircraft decreased $0.9 billion.
Net balance of payments adjustments increased $0.1 billion. Imports of services were nearly unchanged at $41.4 billion in May. The changes in all categories were small and nearly offsetting. Real Goods in 2009 Dollars – Census Basis (Exhibit 11) The real goods deficit increased $3.6 billion to $61.1 billion in May.
  • Real exports of goods decreased $1.8 billion to $117.6 billion.
  • Real imports of goods increased $1.8 billion to $178.7 billion.
Revisions Revisions to April exports
  • Exports of goods were revised downward less than $0.1 billion.
  • Exports of services were revised downward $0.1 billion.
Revisions to April imports
  • Imports of goods were revised downward $0.3 billion.
  • Imports of services were revised upward $0.1 billion.
Goods by Selected Countries and Areas: Monthly – Census Basis (Exhibit 19) The May figures show surpluses, in billions of dollars, with South and Central America ($2.9), Hong Kong ($1.9), Singapore ($0.5), and Brazil ($0.5). Deficits were recorded, in billions of dollars,with China ($28.3), European Union ($11.9), Germany ($5.5), Mexico ($5.5), Japan ($5.0), Italy ($2.6), India ($2.1), South Korea ($2.0), Taiwan ($1.2), France ($1.1), Canada ($0.9), OPEC ($0.4), United Kingdom ($0.3), and Saudi Arabia ($0.2).
  • The deficit with Chinaincreased $1.7 billion to $28.3 billion in May. Exports decreased $0.1 billion to $9.3 billion and imports increased $1.6 billion to $37.6 billion.
  • The balance with the United Kingdom shifted from a surplus of $0.7 billion to a deficit of $0.3 billion in May. Exports decreased $1.2 billion to $4.0 billion and imports decreased $0.2 billion to $4.3 billion.
  • The deficit with Japan decreased $0.9 billion to $5.0 billion in May. Exports increased $0.6 billion to $5.4 billion and imports decreased $0.3 billion to $10.4 billion.