US trade deficit unexpectedly narrows as services surplus rises

The US trade deficit unexpectedly narrowed in November, driven by a pickup in services exports and a slight decline in imports of merchandise.

The deficit in goods and services trade shrank 2% from the prior month to $63.2 billion, Commerce Department data showed Tuesday. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for a $64.9 billion gap.

The value of imports and exports each decreased 1.9%. The figures aren’t adjusted for inflation.

Despite the November decline, merchandise imports remain elevated against a backdrop of resilient consumer spending. US exports of services climbed for a fourth month, to a record $85.7 billion in a broad advance.

On an inflation-adjusted basis, the merchandise trade deficit shrank to $84.8 billion in November, the smallest in three months. Prior to the current report, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s GDPNow forecast showed trade subtracting 0.23 percentage point from fourth-quarter growth.

The drop in goods imports reflected decreases in industrial supplies, consumer goods and capital equipment. US exports were restrained by decreases in shipments of vehicles, industrial supplies and consumer goods.