US Trade Balance Worst In 39 Months With Largest 3 Month Drop In 20 Years

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 03/09/2012 08:55 -0500

• headlines
• Trade Balance

While NFP dominated the headlines, the US Trade Balance (deficit) limped out and dropped far more than expected. At a $52.565bn Deficit, this is the worst trade balance since October 2008. Perhaps more shocking is the fact that the 3 month drop (rise in deficit) is the largest ever on record, dropping $9.4bn in that period. Unsurprisingly, the bulk of this drop is in the 'Petroleum' trade balance which has accelerated the most in the last 3 months (coincidentally dropping the most since last March and we know how that ended).
The deficit is rising...


and reaccelerating...


Charts: Bloomberg