U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, September 2026
Key takeaways
- September’s trade deficit narrowed a touch, with exports and imports both climbing, hinting at a small shift toward a more balanced trade picture.
- Deficit: $105.0 billion (-0.7%)
- Exports: $321.5 billion (+1.9%)
- Imports: $426.6 billion (+1.2%)
What happened
The U.S. goods and services trade balance for September 2026 showed a deficit of $105.0 billion, a slight improvement of $0.7 billion from August. Exports rose to $321.5 billion, up 1.9%, while imports increased to $426.6 billion, up 1.2%.
Why it matters
A smaller deficit indicates the U.S. is importing slightly less relative to its exports, which can influence currency strength and interest‑rate expectations. The modest gains in both exports and imports reflect ongoing global demand and supply dynamics that affect domestic production and employment.
Short-term and longer-term
Short-term. In the short term, traders should note the slight narrowing of the trade deficit, which could support a modest rally in the U.S.
Longer-term. Over the coming months, the trade data may affect expectations for the Federal Reserve’s policy path.
Words on this card
- Deficit
- The amount by which imports exceed exports in trade.
- Exports
- Goods and services sold by a country to other countries.
- Imports
- Goods and services bought by a country from other countries.
- Seasonally Adjusted
- Data adjusted to remove regular seasonal patterns for clearer trend analysis.