Nov. trade deficit plunges 29% to lowest level since '03

WASHINGTON -- The trade deficit plunged to the lowest level in five years in November as a deepening recession slashed demand for oil by a record amount. Imports from China also fell by the largest amount on record.

The Commerce Department said Tuesday that the trade deficit narrowed to $40.4 billion in November, a 28.7% decline from October's deficit of $56.7 billion. The bigger-than-expected decrease left the deficit at its lowest level since November 2003.

The trade deficit through November was running at an annual rate of $688.2 billion, down from the 2007 imbalance of $700.3 billion. The 2007 deficit had represented the first decline after five years of record highs.

Economists expect the trade deficit will fall even more sharply this year as the recession further cuts demand for imported products.

For November, exports of goods and services dropped 5.9% to $142.8 billion, the smallest level in 14 months. This reflected big declines in sales of American farm products, autos and heavy machinery.

Imports fell an even larger 12% to $183.2 billion, the lowest level in 2½ years. The huge decline was led by the largest-ever drop in crude oil, reflecting a record fall in the average price of a barrel of crude. Total petroleum imports were down 36.5% to $23.6 billion. Analysts predicted further declines in the months ahead, because oil is trading more than $100 below its all-time high of $147 per barrel set in July.

The politically sensitive deficit with China shrank 17.5% to $23.1 billion in November, the smallest imbalance since June. The big drop reflected a record decline in imports from China as shipments of consumers goods, from cellphones to toys and clothing, all fell. U.S. exports to China also were down sharply, reflecting smaller shipments of metals, computers and aircraft.

American manufacturers are finding themselves battered by a recession that has cut into demand at home and in their biggest export markets in Europe and Asia.

Alcoa, the world's third largest aluminum company, reported late Monday that it lost $1.19 billion during the fourth quarter of last year as demand for aluminum plunged. Pittsburgh-based Alcoa last week announced plans to lay off about 13% of its global work force by the end of this year.