📉 U.S. Trade Deficit Hits 16-Year Low!

Huge news just dropped today, January 8, 2026: The U.S. trade deficit has plummeted to $29.4 billion—the lowest level since June 2009.

This 39% drop from the previous month caught economists by surprise, as most were expecting a deficit nearly double that size.

🔍 What Happened?

Import Slump: Imports fell 3.2%, largely due to a sharp pullback in pharmaceutical preparations and gold.

Record Exports: U.S. exports hit an all-time high of $302 billion, driven by industrial supplies and non-monetary gold.

Tariff Impact: Large swings this year are being linked to the latest tariff policies, causing companies to adjust inventory rapidly.

The data was delayed by over a month due to last year's federal government shutdown, but the results signal a massive shift in the U.S. trade balance heading into 2026.

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