On December 11th, the U.S. Census Bureau released their Merchandise Trade data numbers. The Merchandise Trade deficit saw a 7.36% decrease this month as export growth outpaced import growth (click here to see September's U.S. Census data update). Export totals increased 9.73% while total imports rose 3.71% from September. This brings the deficit to $406 billion for the year, which is still 42% lower than the same period in 2008.

Below is an in-depth breakdown of the U.S. Census Merchandise Trade data released last week. This month we have highlighted 5 interesting items that we found while looking at October's data; here are the hightlights:

1. Consumer sentiments may have improved, but imports only slightly
2. Cadbury resists takeover while chocolate numbers remain stagnant
3. China’s exports nearing normality
4. Vaccine imports down
5. Increasing demand for meat
   

Click here for Zepol’s U.S. Census Merchandise Trade Data Update for October 2009