USA - Nåværende situasjon

The US current account deficit narrowed to USD 128.2 billion in the second quarter of 2019 from a revised USD 136.2 billion gap in the previous period and compared to market consensus of USD 127.8 billion. The second quarter deficit was equivalent to 2.4 percent of GDP, down from 2.6 percent in the first quarter. The secondary income deficit shrank to USD 32.5 billion from USD 36.6 billion in the previous three-month period, while the primary income surplus increased to USD 67.6 billion from USD 56.9 billion and the services surplus was little-changed at USD 60.0 billion, compared to USD 60.3 billion. Meanwhile, the goods deficit widened to USD 223.3 billion from USD 216.7 billion.

The US current account deficit narrowed to USD 130.4 billion or 2.5 percent of the GDP in the first quarter of 2019 from an upwardly revised USD 143.9 billion gap or 2.8 percent of the GDP in the last three months of 2018, above market consensus of USD 125 billion. The goods deficit fell to USD 216.5 billion from USD 232.3 billion, as goods imports shrank 2.1 percent to USD 635.9 billion mainly due to industrial supplies and materials, in particular petroleum and products while exports rose 0.6 percent to USD 419.3 billion driven by automotive vehicles, parts, and engines, namely passenger cars, and in foods, feeds, and beverages, mostly soybeans. Also, the services surplus widened to USD 61.9 billion from USD 61.2 billion and the primary income surplus went up to USD 61.1 billion from USD 60.1 billion. Meanwhile, the secondary income shortfall increased to USD 36.9 billion from USD 32.8 billion.

The current account gap in the United States widened to USD 134.4 billion in Q4 2018 from an upwardly revised USD 126 billion gap in Q3, above forecasts of USD -130 billion. It is the highest current account gap in ten years as deficits on goods and on secondary income rose and surplus on services decreased. Goods exports shrank USD 3.7 billion to USD 416.1 billion, mainly due to foods, feeds, and beverages, mostly soybeans. Services imports increased USD 3.4 billion to USD 143.2 billion, mostly due to travel (for all purposes including education), primarily personal travel, and in transport, primarily sea freight transport and air passenger transport. Considering full 2018, the current account gap widened 8.8% to USD 488.5 billion, the highest since 2008. Compared to the GDP, the deficit reached 2.4% in 2018 versus 2.3% reported in 2017.