WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. current account deficit narrowed sharply in the second quarter amid a surge in goods exports, data showed on Thursday.
The Commerce Department said that the current account deficit, which measures the flow of goods, services and investments into and out of the country, contracted 11.1% to $251.1 billion last quarter.
The current account gap represented 4.0% of gross domestic product, down from 4.6% in the January-March quarter. The deficit peaked at 6.3% of GDP in the fourth quarter of 2005.
The United States is now a net exporter of crude oil and fuel. While the deficit remains wide, it has no impact on the dollar given its status as the reserve currency.
Exports of goods jumped $52.0 billion to $539.9 billion. They were boosted by shipments of industrial supplies and materials, mostly petroleum and products.
Exports were one of the few bright spots in the economy last quarter, helping to limit the drag on gross domestic product from a sharp slowdown in the pace of inventory accumulation. GDP contracted at a 0.6% annualized pace in the second quarter after declining at a 1.6% rate in the January-March quarter.
Imports of goods increased $20.8 billion to $850.4 billion, reflecting petroleum products. Import growth has slowed as businesses assess their inventory needs amid cooling domestic demand against the backdrop of aggressive interest rate increases from the Federal Reserve.
Primary income receipts rose $21.1 billion to $299.1 billion, while payments of primary income increased $16.2 billion to $255.5 billion. The rise in receipts was led by direct investment income. The increase in payments was led by other investment income, mostly interest.
Secondary income receipts advanced by $1.4 billion to $43.6 billion, reflecting a rise in general government transfers, largely fines and penalties.
Payments of secondary income increased $4.0 billion to $84.9 billion, driven by rises in general government transfers, largely international cooperation, and in private transfers, mostly insurance-related transfers.
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(Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
