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Friday, September 4, 2026

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Trade · Friday, September 4, 2026

July trade gap widens to $88.6 billion as imports rise and exports fall

The File desk · Sep. 4, 2026, 8:14 a.m. ET

Status

Confirmed from the joint Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis release numbered BEA 26–40 / CB 26–142, embargoed until 8:30 a.m. Eastern Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026.
On Sept. 3, 2026, the Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis said the United States bought more than it sold by $88.6 billion in July, up $17.4 billion from a revised $71.2 billion in June. Exports were $310.7 billion, down 2.1 percent. Imports were $399.3 billion, up 2.8 percent. The goods deficit rose $17.6 billion to $119.6 billion. The services surplus edged up $0.2 billion to $31.0 billion. Capital-goods imports rose sharply, led by computers and accessories. The next release is Oct. 6, 2026, covering August.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Census Bureau, embargoed until 8:30 a.m. Eastern Thursday, September 3, 2026, release BEA 26–40, CB 26–142: “The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $88.6 billion in July, up $17.4 billion from $71.2 billion in June, revised.” Exports $310.7 billion (−2.1%); imports $399.3 billion (+2.8%).
“The July increase in the goods and services deficit reflected an increase in the goods deficit of $17.6 billion to $119.6 billion and an increase in the services surplus of $0.2 billion to $31.0 billion.”
On the import side, goods imports rose $11.4 billion to $320.6 billion. Capital goods increased $14.4 billion, with computers up $6.9 billion and computer accessories up $6.6 billion.
Next release printed on the same page: Tuesday, October 6, 2026.

What is still unknown or disputed

Primary sources

Every claim in this story is drawn from the documents below. If a fetch failed, that is recorded on the card.

  1. Source 1

    U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, July 2026

    U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis / U.S. Census Bureau · September 3, 2026

    The goods and services deficit was $88.6 billion in July, up $17.4 billion from $71.2 billion in June, revised. BEA 26–40 / CB 26–142. Next release: Tuesday, October 6, 2026.

    https://www.bea.gov/news/2026/us-international-trade-goods-and-services-july-2026