The U.S. "...trade deficit soared to an all-time high of $17 billion in January as global financial troubles pushed U.S. exports down further while imports of autos, consumer goods and food were climbing to record levels. ...Commerce Department reported ...trade deficit shot up 21 percent from December's (1998) $14.1 billion level and surpassed the old monthly record of $16.7 billion set last August (1998).

Economists believe the deficit in 1999 will easily surpass the record $169.3 billion imbalance set last year (1998) as the global financial crises further depresses the ability of American manufacturers (the few that are left) and farmers (the few family farmers that are left) to sell in the world markets."

"...Labor Department said...exceptionally good labor conditions are continuing with the number of Americans (U.S. citizens) filing first time applications for unemployment benefits holding under 300,000 for the seventh consecutive week - longest such streak since 1974. (Numbers don't reflect those who have used up their unemployment benefits.) Claims last week were 298,000, up 6000 from the previous week.

...consumer prices edged up just 0.1 percent in February, leaving prices so far this year rising at a rate of just 1.1 percent." (Of course prices will increase, when deliberate inflation (that is, if increase of money supply is at 2.5 percent per year, and fewer people are employed in the manufacture of product)."

"America's trade deficit mushroomed to an all-time monthly high in June as a flood of foreign cars, computers and clothing sent imports to a record level, overwhelming a small rise in exports.

The Commerce Department reported today that the trade deficit balooned to $24.6 billion in June - a 16.3 percent increase from the $21.2 billion deficit in May.

Imports of goods and services rose a hefty 3.9 percent in June to a record $103 billion. At the same time, U.S. exports managed a .05% gain to $78.3 billion, only the second increase this year (1999).

Through the first half of this year, the U.S. trade deficit was running at an annual rate of $236 billion - 44 percent above last year's $164.3 billion, which has been a record high. ....

At noon on Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 94.98 at 10,896.40. The Dow had dropped 125.70 on Wednesday amid interest rate worries."

"The U.S. trade deficit soared to a record $80.7 billion in the spring as a small increase in American export sales abroad was swamped by a huge rise in imports, including a big increase in the nation's foreign oil bill.

The Commerce Department reported today that the deficit in the nation's current account climbed 17.5 percent in the April-June quarter, above the first quarter imbalance of $68.7 billion, which had also been a record." ...Note: (17.5% increase over the $68.7 billion is 1.175 x $68.7 = $80.7 billion)

"The current account is the broadest measure of trade because it includes not only goods and services, tracked in monthly government reports, but also investment flows and a category that includes U.S. foreign aid payments.

Through the first half of this year, the current account was running at an annual rate of $299 billion, far surpassing the imbalance for all of 1998 of $220.6 billion, the biggest deficit in history. ...

U.S. goods exports increased 0.9 percent with manufactured goods and farm exports both showing increases. However, this small improvement was swamped by a 4.9 percent rise in imports, led by a sharp increase in world petroleum prices."

"America's (meaning United States) deficit in the broadest measure of trade climbed to a record $106.1 billion in the second quarter of this year as the sizzling economy allowed U.S. consumers to buy more from abroad than American exporters were able to sell.

The Commerce Department reported ... the (trade) deficit in the current account was up 4.6 percent from the previous quarter, which showed an imbalance of $101.5 billion.

The current account is considered the best measurement of a country's international economic economic standing because it measures not just the goods and services reflected in monthly trade reports but also investment flows between countries and unilateral transfers, including U.S. foreign aid payments."

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