US Merchandise Trade

A look at the top imports and exports for 2008 & 2009.

Fluctuations in the American economy between 2008 and 2009 can be tracked in the top imports and exports of US merchandise. Overall, the prices of both exported goods from America and imported goods to America fell between ’08 and ’09.

Focusing solely on US merchandise imports, the biggest fluctuation was found in crude oil and petroleum prep, which decreased from $225 billion in 2008 to $104 billion in 2009, nearly half its original cost. Large fluctuations were also noted in vehicles, which went from $103 billion in 2008 to $51 billion in 2009. Natural gas also took a tumble, going from $19 billion in 2008 to $8 billion in 2009; as with vehicles and crude oil, this was a decrease of nearly half its original cost.

Prices have decreased across the rest of the top imports as well:

  • Consumer electronics prices have decreased from $112 billion in 2008 to $91 billion in 2009;
  • Machinery prices have decreased from $109 billion in 2008 to $80 billion in 2009;
  • Chemicals prices have decreased from $54 billion in 2008 to $48 billion in 2009;
  • Textiles prices have decreased from $47 billion in 2008 to $40 billion in 2009;
  • Metals prices have decreased from $32 billion in 2008 to $21 billion in 2009;
  • Home goods and recreation prices have decreased from $28 billion in 2008 to $22 billion in 2009; and
  • Power generating machines prices have decreased from $24 billion in 2008 to $17 billion in 2009.

Turning the focus to US merchandise exports, the top export was machinery, and the prices fell from $95 billion in 2008 to $70 billion in 2009. The largest decrease in price was tied to vehicles, which fell from $51 billion in 2008 to $27 billion in 2009. Metals also experienced a large decline, from $33 billion in 2008 to $15 billion in 2009. The price of gold non-monetary also experienced a large decline, from $11 billion in 2008 to $6 billion in 2009.

There was a decrease in price among all the top US exports, including:

  • Chemicals prices have decreased from $70 billion in 2008 to $58 billion in 2009;
  • Airplanes prices have decreased from $42 billion in 2008 to $39 billion in 2009;
  • Consumer electronics prices have decreased from $27 billion in 2008 to $21 billion in 2009;
  • Petroleum prep prices have decreased from $25 billion in 2008 to $15 billion in 2009;
  • Scientific instruments prices have decreased from $21 billion in 2008 to $18 billion in 2009; and

Power generating machines prices have decreased from $16 billion in 2008 to $13 billion in 2009.

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