US Goods Trade Deficit Widens Sharply in August
Imports jumped 5.5% as industrial supplies and capital goods rose, and economists said the wider deficit could weigh on third-quarter growth.
- On Wednesday, the Commerce Department's Census Bureau reported the goods trade deficit widened to $132.6 billion in August, an 11.5% increase from the prior month.
- Imports soared $17.4 billion, or 5.5%, to $336.1 billion, driven by a 16.6% jump in industrial supplies, which include petroleum.
- Exports of goods advanced $3.7 billion, or 1.9%, to $203.4 billion; food exports declined 5.6% while capital goods imports rose 4.0% amid an AI infrastructure buildout.
- Trade could remain a drag on GDP, having subtracted from growth for three straight quarters. Wholesale inventories increased 0.7% in August, while retail stocks climbed 0.3%.
- Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the goods deficit at $115.0 billion, making the actual $132.6 billion shortfall substantially higher than expectations.
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12 Articles
The United States trade balance of goods registered a deficit of US$ 132.6 billion in August, representing an increase of 11.5% compared to the revised value of the previous month, which stood at US$ 118.9 billion, according to data from the Department of Commerce released on Wednesday (30). In August, exports of goods rose US$ 3.7 billion compared to July, totaling US$ 203.4 billion in August. Already imports advanced US$ 17.4 billion, adding U…
The sharp upturn in imports brings the merchandise imbalance to its highest level since March 2025 and threatens to slow back growth in US GDP.
The U.S. goods trade deficit rose 11.5 percent month-on-month in August to $132.6 billion. This marks the highest level since March 2025 and exceeded market expectations.
According to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the goods trade deficit rose 11.5 percent month-on-month in August to $132.6 billion. This is the highest deficit since March 2025, exceeding market expectations of $116.3 billion.
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