US exports of goods and services climbed to a record in May, helping to push the trade deficit down to its lowest level of the year, the Commerce Department said Thursday.
American exports rose by $3 billion to $255.9 billion, narrowing the trade gap to $85.5 billion, Led by a jump in sales of oil, natural gas and consumer goods, the data showed. Imports rebounded slightly after the steep decline in April, rising to $255.9 billion.
Companies in recent months have rushed to replenish depleted inventories amid strong demand from American shoppers, and while spending so far has not slowed significantly, sky-high inflation has raised concerns that consumers will put away their wallets.
Multiple export categories set records, including industrial supplies, autos and parts, and petroleum. But imports of oil and autos also hit a new peak.
Services exports rose only slightly but still hit a new all-time high, while services imports also were the highest on record, the report said.
However, Mahir Rasheed of Oxford Economics said a slowing global economy is likely to impact the trade picture in the coming months.
“The recent moderation in import growth, combined with strong headwinds facing exports given rising fragility in the world economy, suggests domestic and global trade flows will slow further in the months ahead,” Mahir Rasheed.
The Federal Reserve has increased its benchmark overnight interest rate by 150 basis points since March as it seeks to cool domestic demand to lower inflation. A record trade deficit weighed on the economy in the first quarter, resulting in gross domestic product declining at a 1.6% annualized rate. Trade has subtracted from GDP for seven straight quarters.
The US trade deficit with China declined again, falling from $2.8 billion to $32.2 billion in May, on another big drop in imports from the world’s second-largest economy.
For the first five months of 2022, the total trade gap is up 28.4 per cent from the same period in 2021, according to the data.
Read also; U.S Inflation Rises to a 40-Year High of 8.6% in May.
