Falling crude oil imports push U.S. trade deficit to 11-month low

[January 07, 2015]  WASHINGTON,(Reuters) - The U.S. trade deficit fell to an 11-month low in November as declining crude oil prices curbed the import bill, eclipsing a drop in exports that could be related to a labor dispute at one of the nation's key ports.

The Commerce Department said on Wednesday the trade gap narrowed 7.7 percent to $39 billion, the smallest since December 2013. October's shortfall on the trade balance was revised down to $42.2 billion from a previously reported $43.4 billion.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the trade deficit falling to $42.0 billion.

When adjusted for inflation, the deficit fell to $47.8 billion from $50.1 billion in October, probably not enough to change views trade would be a drag on fourth-quarter gross domestic product.

Trade contributed 0.8 percentage point to the third quarter's robust 5.0 percent annualized growth pace, which was the fastest in 11 years.

Growth estimates for the fourth quarter are currently between a 2.5 percent and 3.0 percent rate. In addition to trade, inventory accumulation is also expected to restrict growth after businesses restocked warehouses faster than had been anticipated in the third quarter.

But with lower gasoline prices and rising wages expected to provide a tailwind to consumer spending, the outlook is bullish for the economy in 2015.

In November, imports dropped 2.2 percent to $235.4 billion, the lowest since last February. The value of petroleum imports was the lowest since August 2009, pushing the petroleum deficit to its lowest level in nearly 11 years.

A domestic energy boom has enabled the United States to reduce its dependence on foreign oil, easing pressure on the current account deficit. In November, the quantity of crude oil imports was the lowest since February 1994.

The average import oil price dropped to $82.95 per barrel in November, the lowest since December 2010, from $88.47 in October.

Lower oil prices should help to temper the impact of non-petroleum imports, which are expected to rise because of strengthening domestic demand and a firming dollar.

Exports fell 1.0 percent to $196.4 billion in November. Both exports and imports might have been hobbled by a labor dispute at West Coast ports, which has been cited by businesses as causing delays in the movement of goods.

The decline in exports could also be an early sign that a slowing global economy was starting to undercut demand for U.S.-made goods.

Exports to the European Union fell 7.7 percent, while those to Canada and Mexico - the main U.S. trading partners - also dropped sharply. Exports to Japan tumbled 9.7 percent.

China saw a 3.9 percent drop in goods imported from the United States. Imports from China fell 6.9 percent, leaving the politically sensitive trade gap down 8.0 percent at $29.9 billion.

(Reporting By Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Andrea Ricci)

[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.