MNI DATA ANALYSIS: US October Trade Gap Widened To $48.7b>

--Census Goods Gap $68.1b Vs $68.3b Advance Estimate

By Kevin Kastner, Holly Stokes and Sara Haire

     WASHINGTON (MNI) - The U.S. international trade gap widened to 

$48.7 billion in October, a larger gap than the $47.5 billion deficit 

expected and following a revised wider $44.9 billion gap in September, 

data released by the Commerce Department Tuesday morning showed. 

     The wider trade gap was the result of a virtually unchanged reading 

for exports and 1.6% increase in imports to a record high $244.6 

billion level. 

     The revised Census goods gap reported Tuesday was smaller than the 

advance estimate of $68.3 billion, coming in at $68.1 billion. The 

Census gap was much wider than September's $64.0 billion reading. The 

overall BOP goods gap widened to $69.1 billion from $65.2 billion in 

September. 

     The services surplus was roughly unchanged from September, 

narrowing to $20.3 billion from $20.4 billion in September

     The chained goods gap widened to $65.3 billion from $62.2 billion 

in September and was much larger than the $62.0 billion third quarter 

average, a negative for fourth quarter GDP. 

     The petroleum gap narrowed to $3.2 billion in October from $3.9 

billion in September, though both exports and imports rose on higher 

prices. The nonpetroleum gap widened to $64.9 billion from $60.1 

billion. 

     Exports held steady in the month, as a $1.4 billion drop in soybean 

exports and a $1.1 billion drop in civilian aircraft exports were offset 

by a sharp increase in industrial supplies, with virtually every energy 

component higher. There were small declines for autos and consumer 

goods. 

     Imports were lifted primarily by a price-related surge in crude 

oil, as the barrel price hit a two-year high. There was also a $0.3 

billion gain in cell phone imports due to the new iPhones. A small 

decline in capital goods imports provided some offset. 

     The unadjusted trade gaps with the EU, Canada, Mexico, China, and 

Japan all widened in October. 

     Trade with China was particularly strong, with exports the highest 

since December 2013 and imports a record high. 

     ** MNI Washington Bureau: 202-371-2121 ** 

[TOPICS: MAUDS$,M$U$$$,MAUDR$]