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FRIDAY, February 5, 2016 DECEMBER 2015 TRADE GAP IS $43.4 BILLION U.S. international trade in goods and services The U.S. monthly international trade deficit increased in December 2015 according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau. The deficit increased from $42.2 billion in November (revised) to $43.4 billion in December, as exports decreased and imports increased. The previously published November deficit was $42.4 billion. The goods deficit increased $1.3 billion from November to $62.5 billion in December. The services surplus increased $0.1 billion from November to $19.2 billion in December. Exports Exports of goods and services decreased $0.5 billion, or 0.3 percent, in December to $181.5 billion. Exports of goods decreased $0.8 billion and exports of services increased $0.3 billion. The decrease in exports of goods mainly reflected decreases in automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.6 billion), in industrial supplies and materials ($0.4 billion), and in foods, feeds, and beverages ($0.4 billion). The increase in exports of services mainly reflected increases in financial services ($0.2 billion) and in other business services ($0.1 billion), which includes research and development services; professional and management services; and technical, trade-related, and other services. Imports Imports of goods and services increased $0.6 billion, or 0.3 percent, in December to $224.9 billion. Imports of goods increased $0.5 billion and imports of services increased $0.1 billion. The increase in imports of goods mainly reflected increases in automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($1.0 billion) and in industrial supplies and materials ($0.5 billion). The increase in imports of services mainly reflected increases in travel (for all purposes including education) ($0.1 billion) and in other business services ($0.1 billion). Goods by geographic area (seasonally adjusted, Census basis) The balance with members of OPEC shifted from a surplus of $1.1 billion in November to a deficit of $0.2 billion in December. Exports decreased $1.2 billion to $5.2 billion and imports increased $0.1 billion to $5.4 billion. The deficit with Germany increased from $5.5 billion in November to $6.4 billion in December. Exports decreased less than $0.1 billion to $4.1 billion and imports increased $0.8 billion to $10.5 billion. The deficit with France decreased from $2.1 billion in November to $1.4 billion in December. Exports increased $0.1 billion to $2.5 billion and imports decreased $0.6 billion to $3.9 billion. BEA statistics—including GDP, personal income, the balance of payments, foreign direct investment, the input-output accounts, and economic statistics for states, local areas, and industries—are available on the BEA Web site: www.bea.gov. E-mail alerts are also available. NOTE: This and more information is provided in the February 5 news release, U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services: December 2015, issued by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau. The next release is March 4, 2016. Contacts: Services: Jeannine Aversa 202-606-2649 Goods: Maria Iseman 301-763-2311 U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce