Usa: trade deficit increases in April

According to the Department of Commerce, April's negative trade balance in the Us was 48.4 billion dollars and has increased compared to 46.6 billion in March.

The deficit is decidedly higher than the expectations of Us economists and trade authorities, who maintained that the ceiling would be 44.5 billion dollars. Imports increased by 0.2% up to 142.3 billion dollars, whereas exports fell by 1.5% to 93.9 billion dollars.

During the first four months of 2004 the negative balance of trade in the United States amounted at 191.3 billion dollars (+19.4 billion dollars compared to the same period 2003). Italy exported goods for an equivalent of 8.9 billion dollars (+8.5% '04/'03) and imported for a value of 3.5 billion dollars (+6% '04/'03). Italy has a positive total balance of 5.4 billion dollars (+10.2% '04/'03).

In the first four months the trade deficit with China also continued to increase (+23.8% '04/'03) and reached 42.1 billion dollars. Also up is the negative balance with the European Union, +16.5% (31.8 billion dollars).

On the increase too is the deficit with Germany, +19% (14.4 billion dollars), the United Kingdom, +30% (3 billion dollars), France, 13.3% (3.4 billion dollars), Canada, +23% (20.9 billion dollars) and Japan, +9,4% (24.4 billion dollars).

(Source: Ice)