August exports were $185.1 billion and imports were $233.4 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the Department of Commerce. This resulted in a goods and services deficit of $48.3 billion in August, up $6.5 billion from July. August exports were down $3.7 billion from July, and August imports were up $2.8 billion.
The August increase in the goods and services deficit of $6.5 billion reflected an increase in the goods deficit of $6.6 billion to $67.9 billion and an increase in the services surplus of $0.1 billion to $19.6 billion.
Year-to-date, the goods and services deficit increased 5.2 percent from the same period in 2014. Exports decreased 3.8 percent and imports decreased 2.2 percent.
Exports of goods decreased $4.1 billion to $124.5 billion in August, primarily due to a 2.2 billion decrease in industrial supplies and materials.
Exports of services increased $0.4 billion to $60.6 billion in August. Financial services increased $0.1 billion and travel (for all purposes including education) increased $0.1 billion.
Imports of goods increased $2.5 billion to $192.4 billion in August. Consumer goods increased $4 billion.
Imports of services increased $0.3 billion to $41.1 billion in August. Travel (for all purposes including education) increased $0.2 billion, and transport, which includes freight and port services and passenger fares, increased $0.1 billion.
