The U.S. goods and services deficit was $42.4 billion in August, down $1.2 billion from the revised July figure of $43.5 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the Department of Commerce. August exports were $195.3 billion, $0.8 billion more than July exports. August imports were $237.7 billion, $0.4 billion less than July imports.
The August decrease in the goods and services deficit reflected a decrease in the goods deficit of $0.9 billion to $64.4 billion and an increase in the services surplus of $0.3 billion to $22 billion.
Year-to-date, the goods and services deficit increased $29.1 billion, or 8.8 percent, from the same period in 2016. Exports increased $84.9 billion, or 5.8 percent. Imports increased $114 billion or 6.4 percent.
Exports of goods increased $0.6 billion and exports of services increased $0.2 billion. The increase in exports of goods mostly reflected an increase in consumer goods ($1 billion). The increase in exports of services mainly reflected increases in travel ($0.1 billion).
Imports of goods decreased $0.3 billion and imports of services decreased $0.1 billion. The decrease in imports of goods mostly reflected a decrease in industrial supplies and materials ($0.5 billion). The decrease in imports of services mostly reflected a decrease in transport ($0.2 billion).
