Trade Balance in United States
Revised data shows that GDP grew 1.3% in quarter-on-quarter annualized terms in Q1, slightly above the initial estimate. Underlying momentum was stronger than the headline reading, which was weighed on by a drop in private inventories: Household and government consumption gained speed in the quarter, while fixed investment declined at a softer rate. Turning to Q2, available data is positive: The composite PMI rose through May, while core retail sales and payroll gains both beat market expectations in April. In politics, at end-May, President Biden and Republican Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy reached a deal to raise the debt ceiling. Congressional approval—which is not guaranteed—would avert a damaging default but also cap government spending for the next two years, dampening domestic demand slightly ahead.
United States Trade Balance Chart
United States Trade Balance Data
2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Merchandise Trade Balance (USD bn) | -799.3 | -878.7 | -857.3 | -913.9 | -1,090.3 |