🌎 Imports and tariffs. The trade balance numbers for October are half of what was forecast

Who knew? <cough> Tariffs work. Common sense among some...not so much.

Expected a little under 60 billion...half of that.

I voted for this. It's great economic news.

The US trade deficit narrowed sharply to $29.4 billion in October 2025, the smallest gap since June 2009, down from a revised $48.1 billion in September and well below forecasts of a $58.1 billion shortfall. The implementation of tariffs led to significant swings in trade flows, particularly in non-monetary gold and pharmaceutical products. Imports declined 3.2% to a 21-month low of $331.4 billion, led by a big fall in pharmaceutical preparations and to a smaller extent nonmonetary gold and transport. On the other hand, purchases went up for computer accessories, telecommunications equipment, and computers. Exports rose 2.6% to a record $302 billion, led by a surge in nonmonetary gold and other precious metals while a fall was seen in pharmaceuticals and government goods and services. The largest gaps were recorded with Mexico ($-17.9 billion), Taiwan ($-15.7 billion), Vietnam ($-15 billion) and China ($-13.7 billion). The trade gap with the EU narrowed sharply to $6.3 billion. source: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)​

United States Balance of Trade

The United States recorded a trade deficit of 29.35 USD Billion in October of 2025. This page provides the latest reported value for - United States Balance of Trade - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey...

tradingeconomics.com

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[TerryP]

This is true. It not what caught my eye...the comment saw the same thing.

If you drop your batteries, drills, etc. a lot...worth looking at. I do.

 

[ElephantStomp]

Tariffs don’t work when we the consumer pay for them mostly. WSJ, CNBC, Economist, all say the same thing

Based on recent economic research and data from 2024–2025, the costs of the Trump tariffs are paid almost entirely by
American importers and consumers, not by foreign countries.

 

[TerryP]

Tariffs don’t work when we the consumer pay for them mostly. WSJ, CNBC, Economist, all say the same thing

Based on recent economic research and data from 2024–2025, the costs of the Trump tariffs are paid almost entirely by
American importers and consumers, not by foreign countries.

You will get different data from any source you chose.

How am I paying for something Britian imports from the since they are one of the countries who has seen an increase?

I'm simply looking around at his economic policies and we're seeing things move in the right direction across the board. The latest was probably the upsurge in new home sales that was reported this week. A lot of areas that directly affects my life are better today than they've been in awhile: gas, food, this colder weather won't look great on the next electricity bill.

I went to the meat market the other day. I'd have to find the actual receipt to know if I bought more than usual. Both my gut and mind (as well as the room in the freezer) tell me it was about the same at it normally has been. But, I did notice it was cheaper this time around; around $30 or so. On the other hand the seafood market...noticed a little uptick there. Part of it is seasonal; less demand for some of the shell fish when it's Oyster season (clams fit here as well.) I think the shrimp was $5.98 lb.

I looked up an older thread here the other day when Tim made a comment about buying eggs. When I started it I was paying $5.19 a dozen. It was under $3 the other day...for 18.

 

[Krimson]

Tariffs don’t work when we the consumer pay for them mostly. WSJ, CNBC, Economist, all say the same thing

Based on recent economic research and data from 2024–2025, the costs of the Trump tariffs are paid almost entirely by
American importers and consumers, not by foreign countries.

What do you think drove the migration of manufacturing jobs from the US to foreign countries.

Tariffs are basically a sales tax and, in my opinion, if tariffs had been in place there would've been no incentive for manufacturers to ship those jobs overseas because the financial gain for the manufacturer would've been mitigated.

What doesn't work is administrations flip flopping so drastically on economic and environmental policy. Imagine being an automotive manufacturer trying to produce a product these days. One administration is pushing electric vehicles and "green" vehicles and the next relaxes environmental restrictions and says internal combustion and fossil fuels is the way to go. Manufacturing needs stability and we are constantly in a state of change. They're scared to invest in the next product because they don't know what restrictions or lack thereof will be in place.

I find it interesting that democrats say they're the party of blue collar people but are doing everything they can to force manufacturers overseas and keep them there. Let's be honest, rich people run both parties' agendas but one party's agenda helps people who want to be contributing members of society and one supports the lunatic fringe and those who expect government handouts.

 

[TerryP]

Tariffs are basically a sales tax and, in my opinion, if tariffs had been in place there would've been no incentive for manufacturers to ship those jobs overseas because the financial gain for the manufacturer would've been mitigated.

Imports are down. Exports are up. But I'm supposed to understand, no believe, that this is stupid and bad for the country. Yeah, lost me here...

One thing that strikes me odd and I mean it as a comparison, not a criticism. Biden tried to get an energy deal with the EU; couldn't. Obama tried and he wasn't able to as well.

I'd have to go back to the articles/reports in the summer to get the exact figures. I want to say Europe agreed to buy 750B in US energy with confidence...it's their investment numbers I can't quite remember. I know it was north of 500B.

Let's say I'm wrong on the numbers and it's only half of that. We're still north of 500B.

No deal + no deal < deal. Right?

 

[Krimson]

Imports are down. Exports are up. But I'm supposed to understand, no believe, that this is stupid and bad for the country. Yeah, lost me here...

One thing that strikes me odd and I mean it as a comparison, not a criticism. Biden tried to get an energy deal with the EU; couldn't. Obama tried and he wasn't able to as well.

I'd have to go back to the articles/reports in the summer to get the exact figures. I want to say Europe agreed to buy 750B in US energy with confidence...it's their investment numbers I can't quite remember. I know it was north of 500B.

Let's say I'm wrong on the numbers and it's only half of that. We're still north of 500B.

No deal + no deal < deal. Right?

Anyone who doesn't think Trump knows how to negotiate to get what he wants is just ignorant. They may not like how he gets there but he gets deals done, often times by doing things that seem to have nothing to do with the overall goal.