Merchandise Trade Balance - April 2008

U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services
APRIL 2008 Goods and Services

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the Department
of Commerce, announced today that total April exports of $155.5 billion and imports of
$216.4 billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $60.9 billion, up from $56.5
billion in March, revised. April exports were $5.0 billion more than March exports of
$150.6 billion. April imports were $9.4 billion more than March imports of $207.1 billion.

In April, the goods deficit increased $4.5 billion from March to $72.9 billion, and the
services surplus increased $0.1 billion to $12.0 billion. Exports of goods increased
$4.5 billion to $109.6 billion, and imports of goods increased $9.1 billion to $182.5
billion. Exports of services increased $0.4 billion to $46.0 billion, and imports of
services increased $0.3 billion to $34.0 billion.

In April, the goods and services deficit increased $0.6 billion from April 2007. Exports
were up $25.0 billion, or 19.2 percent, and imports were up $25.7 billion, or 13.5 percent.
Goods
The March to April change in exports of goods reflected increases in capital goods
($2.2 billion); industrial supplies and materials ($1.1 billion); consumer goods
($0.8 billion); automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.6 billion); and foods, feeds,
and beverages ($0.1 billion). A decrease occurred in other goods ($0.1 billion).
The March to April change in imports of goods reflected increases in industrial supplies
and materials ($5.6 billion); capital goods ($1.2 billion); automotive vehicles, parts,
and engines ($1.0 billion); consumer goods ($0.7 billion); foods, feeds, and beverages
($0.3 billion); and other goods ($0.2 billion).
The April 2007 to April 2008 change in exports of goods reflected increases in industrial
supplies and materials ($7.3 billion); capital goods ($5.1 billion); foods, feeds, and
beverages ($3.2 billion); consumer goods ($1.5 billion); other goods ($0.5 billion); and
automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.2 billion).
The April 2007 to April 2008 change in imports of goods reflected increases in industrial
supplies and materials ($16.6 billion); capital goods ($3.1 billion); consumer goods
($1.0 billion); other goods ($0.8 billion); and foods, feeds, and beverages ($0.8 billion).
Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines were virtually unchanged.
Services
Services exports increased $0.4 billion from March to April. The increase was mostly
accounted for by increases in other transportation (which includes freight and port services),
transfers under U.S. military sales contracts, royalties and license fees, and travel.

Changes in other categories of services exports were small.
Services imports increased $0.3 billion from March to April. The increase was mostly
accounted for by increases in other private services (which includes items such as business,
professional, and technical services, insurance services, and financial services), other
transportation, and travel. Changes in other categories of services imports were small.
From April 2007 to April 2008, services exports increased $6.7 billion. The largest
increases were in other private services ($2.7 billion), travel ($1.5 billion), and royalties
and license fees ($1.1 billion). Within other private services, increases were largest in
business, professional, and technical services and in financial services.
From April 2007 to April 2008, services imports increased $3.1 billion. The largest
increases were in other private services ($1.3 billion) and travel ($0.7 billion). Within
other private services, increases were largest in business, professional, and technical
services and in insurance services.