Trade gap hits record in '04
December trade deficit down from monthly record set in November, but full-year shortfall tops $600B.
February 10, 2005: 8:59 AM EST
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The U.S. trade deficit in December fell from record levels set the previous month, the government reported Thursday, but the latest reading was enough to give the country the biggest annual gap with its trading partners.
The Commerce Department reported the December gap fell to $56.4 billion from a record $59.3 billion level reported in November, which was revised slightly lower. Analysts had forecast the gap would fall to $57.0 billion in December.
The December reading brought the full-year trade gap to $617.7 billion, up from the previous record of $496.5 billion set in 2003.
The trade gap records occurred despite strong U.S. exports, as December saw the exports of goods and services cross the $100 billion mark for the first time. The nation had a positive balance of trade in services of $48.5 billion with the rest of the world during the year..
But while full-year exports rose 12 percent to $1.1 trillion, full-year imports gained 16 percent to $1.8 trillion. Top of page
CNN
December trade deficit down from monthly record set in November, but full-year shortfall tops $600B.
February 10, 2005: 8:59 AM EST
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The U.S. trade deficit in December fell from record levels set the previous month, the government reported Thursday, but the latest reading was enough to give the country the biggest annual gap with its trading partners.
The Commerce Department reported the December gap fell to $56.4 billion from a record $59.3 billion level reported in November, which was revised slightly lower. Analysts had forecast the gap would fall to $57.0 billion in December.
The December reading brought the full-year trade gap to $617.7 billion, up from the previous record of $496.5 billion set in 2003.
The trade gap records occurred despite strong U.S. exports, as December saw the exports of goods and services cross the $100 billion mark for the first time. The nation had a positive balance of trade in services of $48.5 billion with the rest of the world during the year..
But while full-year exports rose 12 percent to $1.1 trillion, full-year imports gained 16 percent to $1.8 trillion. Top of page
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