US: International trade deficit increased to $71.6 billion in Dec from $70.0 billion in Nov

"The international trade deficit was $71.6 billion in December, up $1.6 billion from $70.0 billion in November," the U.S. Census Bureau reported today.

Key highlights

Exports of goods for December were $137.6 billion, $3.6 billion more than November exports.

Imports of goods for December were $209.2 billion, $5.2 billion more than November imports.

Wholesale inventories for December, adjusted for seasonal variations but not for price changes, were estimated at an end-of-month level of $611.4 billion, up 0.2 percent from November 2017, and were up 3.3 percent from December 2016.

Retail inventories for December, adjusted for seasonal variations but not for price changes, were estimated at an end-of-month level of $620.4 billion, up 0.2 percent from November 2017, and were up 2.2 percent from December 2016.