Trade Balance

The Trade Balance numbers were released today showing a worse than expected result.  The Trade Balance measures the difference in value between imported and exported goods and services during the reported month.  A positive number indicates that more goods/services were exported than were imported and vice-versa for a negative number.  Exports impacts our production as if we export more than we import or see improvements in exports over imports demand for U.S. products is getting stronger.  The forecast was for the trade balance to be -$43.5 billion, but the actual headline number was -$46.4 billion.  This signals a slowdown in production and services for companies that export either.  We'll have to keep an eye on the trend going foreword, but serves as a datapoint along with other market signals, which currently most are not looking good.