Shrinking US Trade Gap Shows Economy's Underlying Strength
The U.S. trade deficit fell in July to its lowest level in five months as exports rose broadly, signaling underlying strength in the economy amid concerns about a global growth slowdown.
While other data Sept. 3 showed an increase in the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits, the trend in jobless claims remained consistent with a strengthening labor market.
The Commerce Department said the trade gap narrowed 7.4% to $41.9 billion, the smallest since February. June's trade deficit was revised to $45.2 billion from the previously reported $43.8 billion.
When adjusted for inflation, the deficit fell to $56.2 billion in July from $59 billion in the prior month.
The smaller deficit implied a modest contribution to gross domestic product from trade early in the third quarter. Trade contributed 0.3 percentage point to the economy's 3.7% annualized growth rate in the second quarter.
Data ranging from consumer spending to employment and housing have suggested the economy retained much of its momentum from the second quarter and was on solid footing when global financial markets were rocked by turbulence triggered by worries over China's economy.
U.S. stock index futures extended gains slightly after the data, while the dollar fell further against a basket of currencies. Prices of U.S. government debt rose.
In a separate report, the Labor Department said initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 12,000 to a seasonally adjusted 282,000 for the week ended Aug. 29.
The claims data have no bearing on the closely watched employment report for August as it fell outside the survey period. According to a Reuters survey of economists, non-farm payrolls likely increased by 220,000 last month after rising 215,000 in July.
But job gains could come in below expectations as the first reading of August payrolls has tended to be weaker in the past several years before being revised higher.
The August employment report will be released less than two weeks before the Federal Reserve's Sept. 16-17 policy-setting meeting. There is speculation the U.S. central bank could raise interest rates at that meeting.
The four-week moving average of claims, considered a better measure of labor market trends as it irons out week-to-week volatility, rose 3,250 to 275,500 last week.
It was the 23rd straight week that the four-week average remained below the 300,000 threshold, which usually is associated with a strengthening labor market.
In July, exports increased 0.4% to $188.5 billion. While that was the first increase since April, exports remain constrained by a strong dollar. The dollar has gained 16.8% against the currencies of the United States' main trading partners since June 2014.
There were increases in exports of food, industrial supplies and materials, and capital goods in July. Automobile exports also rose. Imports fell 1.1% to $230.4 billion. However, automobile imports were the highest on record. Imports of consumer goods fell in July.
Exports to China fell 1.9% and imports from that country dipped 0.2%. That left the politically sensitive U.S.-China trade deficit at $31.6 billion, up 0.4% from June. The trade deficit with China will be closely watched in the coming months after that country devalued its currency in August.
Exports to Canada fell 8.3% in July and could come under more pressure after the Canadian economy slipped into recession in the second quarter. Exports to recession-hit Brazil were the lowest since February 2010.
Exports to the European Union fell 5.3%.
