Highlights of Advance Trade and Inventories

Goods-trade gap increased to $64.1bn (just above the estimated $64bn) from $63.3bn in August. Wholesale inventories increased 0.3 percent m/m (the estimated gain was 0.4 percent), after a revised 0.8-percent rise in the prior month. Retail stockpiles fell 1 percent m/m as auto inventories dropped by most since 2009.

Key Takeaways

The rebound in imports spanned all major categories except motor vehicles, with shipments of capital goods and industrial supplies both rising more than 2 percent. Exports also gained, though the increase was concentrated in industrial supplies, with most other categories declining. Even so, U.S. companies have benefited from strong overseas markets and a weak dollar, both of which have boosted shipments abroad.

Read Full Article