The U.S. Census Bureau this week released advance indicators showing that the international trade deficit declined while wholesale inventories increased in April.

The international trade deficit was $85.2 billion in April, down $6.8 billion from $92 billion in March. Exports of goods for April were $144.7 billion, $1.7 billion more than March exports. Imports of goods for April were $229.9 billion, $5.1 billion less than March imports.

Wholesale inventories for April, adjusted for seasonal variations and trading day differences, but not for price changes, were estimated at an end-of-month level of $698.3 billion, up 0.8% from March 2021, and were up 5.2% from April 2020. The February 2021 to March 2021 percentage change was revised from up 1.3% to up 1.1%.