Consumer Demand For Everything Crashes: Trade Deficit At 6 Year Low

By: Mike_Shedlock

Many were of the belief that the trade deficit would widen as the US recession strengthened. The only way that could have happened is if oil prices stayed stubbornly high. While the price of oil may have bottomed, odds of it shooting up towards $100 again in the near future are slim.

However it's is not just demand for (and price of) oil that has collapsed, the demand for everything has collapsed. Please consider U.S. Trade Gap Narrows to Smallest in 6 Years on Oil .

The U.S. trade deficit narrowed in January to the lowest level in six years on tumbling American demand for everything from OPEC oil to Japanese automobiles.

Imports fell faster than exports, shrinking the gap by 9.7 percent to $36 billion, the Commerce Department said today in Washington. Excluding petroleum, the deficit was little changed at $21.3 billion.

The credit crunch gripping the financial system is causing demand throughout the world to slump as consumers and businesses pull back. What's shaping up to be the biggest plunge in global trade in 80 years is adding to pressure on the Obama administration to rework international agreements and include protections for U.S. workers and the environment.

Imports slumped 6.7 percent to $160.9 billion, the fewest since March 2005, paced by a $4.3 billion plunge in purchases of crude oil. Demand for foreign automobiles dropped by $3.3 billion.

The deficit with OPEC dropped to $3.9 billion, the smallest since November 2003, and the gap with Japan shrank to the lowest level since January 1998, as U.S. imports fell to an almost 16- year low.

U.S. gross domestic product is forecast to contract again this quarter after shrinking at a 6.2 percent annual pace from October to December, the most since 1982. A collapse in U.S. exports led to a widening in the trade gap that subtracted a half percentage point from growth last quarter.

The trade gap with Canada, the U.S.'s biggest trading partner, narrowed to the lowest level since May 1999, and the deficit with Mexico was the smallest since January 2002. The shortfall with the European Union was cut in half from $7 billion in December to $3.5 billion the following month.

U.S. International Trade In Goods And Services January 2009

Inquiring minds are investigating the official press release: U.S. International Trade In Goods And Services January 2009 .

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the Department of Commerce, announced today that total January exports of $124.9 billion and imports of $160.9 billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $36.0 billion, down from $39.9 billion in December, revised. January exports were $7.6 billion less than December exports of $132.5 billion. January imports were $11.5 billion less than December imports of $172.4 billion.

Those looking for detailed data can find table in the above release. Calculated Risk has a couple of interesting charts in his January Export Import Report .

Here is one of Calculated Risk's charts.



For Sale: Everything Including The Kitchen Sink

Here is a humorous anecdote from a Craigslist San Diego Listing that represents one person's demand for stuff.

Date: 2009-03-07, 7:37AM PST

HI EVERYONE! THE "EVERYTHING MUST BE SOLD" SALE IS BEING PUSHED BACK AND WILL NOT START UNTIL 10:00 DUE TO A VERY OVERWHELMING RESPONSE!!!!!!!!! WE CANNOT HAVE 50 PEOPLE AT OUR DOOR AT 8 AM SO PLEASE DO NOT COME UNTIL 10 THANKS. BUT WE WILL BE THERE TILL 6, IF THAT HELPS :)

MARBLE COUNTERTOPS (YOU REMOVE)
HOUSEWARE/DECOR
PICTURES
MIRRORS
NON-WORKING APPLE IPOD
WORKING APPLE IPOD CHARGER
COACH AND DOONEY PURSES
SIRIUS SPEAKERS
PRINTERS
FAXES
COPIERS
WINE REFRIGERATOR
CLOCKS
CANDLES
MONITORS/COMPUTERS
SINKS (YOU REMOVE)
SHUTTERS (YOU REMOVE)
TOP OF THE LINE DOORS AND MAILBOX AND FLAGPOLE (YOU REMOVE)
PLANTS/FLOWERS (YOU DIG)
PLANTERS
PALM TREES, LARGE MEDIUM AND SMALL (YOU REMOVE)
MARBLE
OUTSIDE SHOWER
TABLES
COUCHES
BRICKS (U HAUL)
FREE SAND
PALAPA BAR WITH SINK, FRIDGE AND KEGERATOR
LEATHER OFFICE CHAIRS
OFFICE STORAGE SPACE
GARAGE CABINETS
RUGS
ARTIFICIAL PLANTS
PURE SILVER BELT
POWER TRANSFORMERS OUTSIDE LIGHTS 900 AMP
2 BBQ SETS ( ONE HAS TO BE REMOVED FROM TILE)
OUTDOOR ICEMAKER
OUTDOOR SINK (YOU REMOVE FROM TILE)
FIRE PITS
BEACH CHAIRS
POLK AUDIO SPEAKERS
2 STORAGE SHEDS
2 TORO LAWN MOVERS
1 PUTTING GREEN MOWER
PIONEER TV COMPLETE WITH BOSE SUROUND-SOUND SPEAKERS
DINNETE SET
LEATHER CHAIR
CABINETRY ( YOU REMOVE)
TONS OF ELECTRONICS
WHIRLPOOL ELITE WASHER AND DRYER SET
POOL TABLE
QUEEN SIZED BEDROOM SET

You often hear the advertising expression " Everything must go ". That person clearly means it.

By Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com

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Mike Shedlock / Mish is a registered investment advisor representative for SitkaPacific Capital Management . Sitka Pacific is an asset management firm whose goal is strong performance and low volatility, regardless of market direction.

Visit Sitka Pacific's Account Management Page to learn more about wealth management and capital preservation strategies of Sitka Pacific.

I do weekly podcasts every Thursday on HoweStreet and a brief 7 minute segment on Saturday on CKNW AM 980 in Vancouver.

When not writing about stocks or the economy I spends a great deal of time on photography and in the garden. I have over 80 magazine and book cover credits. Some of my Wisconsin and gardening images can be seen at MichaelShedlock.com .

© 2009 Mike Shedlock, All Rights Reserved

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