US trade deficit narrows in June as both exports and imports decline

4th Aug 2026 13:56

(Sharecast News) - The US trade deficit narrowed in June as both exports and imports declined, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, with the goods shortfall easing and the services surplus improving.

Exports slipped $2.9bn on the month to $314.7bn, while imports fell $7.3bn to $388bn, pulling the overall goods and services deficit down to $73.3bn. The goods deficit narrowed $3.9bn to $102.1bn, and the services surplus edged up to $28.8bn.

Year‑to‑date, the deficit has shrunk 33.8%, helped by an 11.7% rise in exports, while imports are up just 0.4%. The three‑month moving average deficit, however, widened to $68.5bn, with average imports rising and average exports slipping.

Goods exports fell $4bn in June, led by declines in industrial supplies, crude oil, fuel oil, computers and capital goods, partly offset by a jump in non‑monetary gold. Services exports rose $1.1bn, driven by financial services and travel.

Goods imports dropped $7.9bn, with lower inflows of capital goods, computers, consumer goods and pharmaceuticals. Services imports increased $600m, lifted by intellectual‑property charges, transport and insurance.

In real terms, the goods deficit narrowed 5.3% to $94.5bn, as real imports fell more sharply than real exports. May's figures saw only minor revisions across both exports and imports.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com