U.S. DEFICIT DOWN TO $101.5 BLN

U.S. BEA - The U.S. current-account deficit decreased to $101.5 billion (preliminary) in the second quarter of 2018 from $121.7 billion (revised) in the first quarter of 2018, according to statistics released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The deficit was 2.0 percent of current-dollar gross domestic product (GDP) in the second quarter, down from 2.4 percent in the first quarter.

The $20.3 billion decrease in the current-account deficit reflected a $17.6 billion decrease in the deficit on goods, a $2.5 billion increase in the surplus on services, and relatively small and offsetting changes in the balances on primary income and secondary income.

Current-Account Transactions

Exports of goods and services and income receipts

Exports of goods and services and income receipts increased $28.0 billion in the second quarter to $933.3 billion.

Goods exports increased $17.8 billion to $429.2 billion, mostly reflecting increases in industrial supplies and materials, primarily petroleum and products, and in foods, feeds, and beverages, primarily soybeans.

Primary income receipts increased $3.9 billion to $259.9 billion, primarily reflecting increases in portfolio investment income and in other investment income. A decrease in direct investment income partly offset the increases. 

Services exports increased $3.2 billion to $209.2 billion, mainly reflecting increases in other business services, led by professional and management consulting services, in financial services, and in charges for the use of intellectual property.

Imports of goods and services and income payments

Imports of goods and services and income payments increased $7.7 billion in the second quarter to $1,034.7 billion.

Primary income payments increased $4.2 billion to $199.1 billion, mainly reflecting increases in other investment income and in portfolio investment income. A decrease in direct investment income partly offset the increases.

Secondary income payments increased $2.7 billion to $63.4 billion, primarily reflecting an increase in U.S. government grants.

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Earlier: 

2018, September, 17, 14:45:00 U.S. INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION UP 0.4% U.S. FRB - Industrial production rose 0.4 percent in August for its third consecutive monthly increase. Manufacturing output moved up 0.2 percent on the strength of a 4.0 percent rise for motor vehicles and parts; motor vehicle assemblies jumped to an annual rate of 11.5 million units, the strongest reading since April. Excluding the gain in motor vehicles and parts, factory output was unchanged.

2018, September, 13, 14:10:00 U.S. SANCTIONS AGAINST THE WORLD CNBC - "We can see that the pricing situation today depends not just on the supply/demand balance or the general economic situation but also on the uncertainty that we observe today in the global markets: the trade wars, the sanctions that the U.S. pursue," Novak said, speaking to CNBC's Geoff Cutmore at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok, Russia.

2018, September, 10, 12:10:00 U.S. UNEMPLOYMENT 3.9% U.S. DL - The unemployment rate remained at 3.9 percent in August, and the number of unemployed persons, at 6.2 million, changed little.

2018, September, 7, 12:13:00 U.S. DEFICIT $50.1 BLN U.S. BEA - The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $50.1 billion in July, up $4.3 billion from $45.7 billion in June, revised.

2018, August, 31, 11:10:00 U.S. GDP UP OF 4.2% U.S. BEA - Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 4.2 percent in the second quarter of 2018, according to the "second" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the first quarter, real GDP increased 2.2 percent.

2018, August, 17, 11:30:00 U.S. INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION UP 0.1% U.S. FRB - Industrial production edged up 0.1 percent in July after rising at an average pace of 0.5 percent over the previous five months. Manufacturing production increased 0.3 percent, the output of utilities moved down 0.5 percent, and, after posting five consecutive months of growth, the index for mining declined 0.3 percent. At 108.0 percent of its 2012 average, total industrial production was 4.2 percent higher in July than it was a year earlier. Capacity utilization for the industrial sector was unchanged in July at 78.1 percent, a rate that is 1.7 percentage points below its long-run (1972–2017) average.

2018, August, 6, 13:15:00 U.S. DEFICIT UP $3.2 BLN TO $46.3 BLN U.S. BEA - The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $46.3 billion in June, up $3.2 billion from $43.2 billion in May, revised.