# U.S. Trade Deficit Narrows to $105 Billion as Exports Outpace Imports

The U.S. goods and services trade gap edged down in September as exports rose slightly faster than imports, federal data showed.

By Will Langan | 24X7 News
Published: 2026-11-04T14:04:02.347Z
Updated: 2026-11-04T15:08:35.709Z
Section: Money
Format: News
Canonical: https://24x7news.us/articles/us-trade-deficit-september-2026-exports-imports-november-4

The U.S. goods and services trade deficit narrowed to $105.0 billion in September, the Bureau of Economic Analysis and Census Bureau reported Wednesday, as exports increased slightly more than imports.

Exports rose $5.8 billion from August to $321.5 billion. Imports increased $5.2 billion to $426.6 billion. The August deficit was revised to $105.7 billion, leaving the September gap $0.7 billion smaller.

The goods deficit declined $0.7 billion to $135.9 billion, while the services surplus slipped by less than $0.1 billion to $30.9 billion. The figures are seasonally adjusted and measured on a balance-of-payments basis.

Export growth was led by goods, which increased $5.1 billion to $211.0 billion. Capital-goods exports climbed $3.8 billion, including gains in computers, computer accessories and civilian aircraft. Foods, feeds and beverages also rose, helped by a $1.3 billion increase in soybean exports. Services exports increased $0.7 billion to $110.5 billion.

Goods imports increased $4.4 billion to $346.9 billion. On a Census basis, capital-goods imports rose $11.6 billion, including a $7.6 billion increase in computers and a $5.7 billion increase in computer accessories. Services imports increased $0.8 billion to $79.7 billion.

Through September, the trade deficit was $92.4 billion, or 12.2%, smaller than during the same period in 2025. Exports were up 11.6% year to date, while imports increased 6.2%.

The monthly trade report is a key input into estimates of U.S. economic growth. The next release, covering October, is scheduled for Dec. 8.

Sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and U.S. Census Bureau, “U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, September 2026,” Nov. 4, 2026.

## Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — September 2026 International Trade Release: https://www.bea.gov/news/2026/us-international-trade-goods-and-services-september-2026
- Image source — Port of Los Angeles aerial view, USGS, public domain: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Port_of_LA.jpg