US April trade deficit down 6.2 pct to 58.5 bln usd

BY

The US trade deficit dropped 6.2 pct in April to 58.5 bln usd as Americans cut their imports of consumer goods.

Economists were looking for a 63.4 bln usd deficit, roughly the
same as the revised 62.4 bln usd March trade deficit.

The Commerce Department said imports fell 3.6 bln usd with 1 bln
usd of the drop in autos and 1.2 bln usd in drugs. There was also a 0.6 bln usd reduction in capital equipment imports.

April exports were basically unchanged, up 0.2 bln usd, lacking the usual boost from Boeing. Civilian aircraft exports were up 0.63 bln usd recovering only slightly from the decline in March.

Nor was there any major effect from energy prices in the April trade balance. Though the average price per barrel for oil imports was up 4.28 usd to 57.28 usd, seasonally adjusted crude imports were
down 0.3 bln usd. That partly offset a 0.7 bln usd increase in
natural gas and LPG imports.

April 's reduction in consumer goods imports didn't extent to China.

US imports were up and exports down leaving the monthly trade
deficit with China up 12.3 pct to 19.4 bln usd.

Through April of this year, the US trade deficit totals 235.3 bln usd.

The lack of airplane and energy effects makes the April trade report unusual since their volatility, rather than changes in core goods,
usually account for large moves in any given month.

BY

美国4月份贸易赤字大幅度收窄, 出口额创历史新高, 但是对中国贸赤升至3个月来的最高水平。 商务部公布, 今年4月份, 美国录得贸易赤字585亿美元。3月份贸赤由初估的639亿美元, 下修至624亿。

4月份贸赤较3月份修订後贸赤收窄6.2%。 市场原先预期, 4月份贸赤收窄至634亿美元。 4月份进口额下跌1.9%至1,880亿美元。其中, 汽车进口跌10亿美元; 药品进口跌12亿; 资本设备进口跌6亿。 4月份出口额上升0.2%至破纪录的1,295亿美元。 能源价格对4月份贸易结馀的影响不大。尽管每桶原油均价升4.28美元, 创去年9月份以来的最大单月涨幅, 价位达57.28美元, 经季节性调整的原油进口额却下跌3亿美元, 部份抵销了天然气和液化石油气(LPG)进口增加7亿美元的影响。

4月份美国对中国贸赤扩阔12.3%至194亿美元, 创1月份以来的新高。 今年首4个月, 美国录得贸易赤字2,353亿美元。

JKL

thanks