US Trade Deficit Sets Record in December

The US Trade deficit in goods and services reached  $81 billion in December a new all-time monthly high. On a yearly basis the trade deficit increased 27% in 2021 to a total of $859 billion up from $677 billion in 2020.

The largest 2021 deficits were registered with China at $355 billion, the European Union at $220 billion and Mexico at $108 billion. The largest surpluses were with Hong Kong at $26 billion, the Netherlands at $18 billion and Brazil at $16 billion.

The US saw a particularly sharp rise in imports of crude oil and iron and steel mill products driving industrial supplies and materials up by $170 billion. Cell phones and toys helped drive imports of consumer goods up by $126 billion.

The US trade deficit has almost doubled from pre-pandemic levels close to $40 billion a month to the current level of $80 billion.