Supply Chain Research

The long-term downturn in U.S. trade activity continued for a 16th straight month in July with a 10.9% year over year slide. That was nonetheless slower than the 19.6% decline in June. With imports down by 7.6% and exports sliding 15.9% lower the result was the largest one-month trade deficit since at least 2008. The improving conditions were largely driven by consumer activity, though a slowdown in the rate of decline in capital goods trade suggests industry is recovering too. More recent data indicates that the recovery in the wake of COVID-19 is continuing. U.S. seaborne imports rose ...