The U.S. Census Bureau released their Merchandise Trade data numbers on September 10th, 2009. As you can see illustrated below, there was another increase in the Merchandise Trade deficit this month of the same size in June (click here to see June's U.S. Census data update). Export totals stayed about the same, decreasing 1.25% while total Imports rose by 6.45%. This increased the deficit by 23% from June and is a 73% increase from the smallest deficit of the year in February. This increase brings the deficit to $266 billion for the year, which is still down 44.5% from 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 July's data; here are the hightlights:

1. Imports of cars were up, but again only slightly
2. The Trade Deficit grows, but it is driven by oil
3. Deficits with our largest trading partners are growing
4. Africa's largest products are still fuel
5. School supply demand has gone down

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