[remember]

We gotta get it from somebody since all we got to export is jobs and dollars.

Over $1 trillion in exports last year. Not bad considering we don’t make anything here anymore.

I agree that we obviously do still make things for export and that exports have had increased significantly in nominal terms over the past four years. However, it's worth looking at exports and imports as a percent of GDP as shown in the following graph:

The actual numbers and sources are at http://home.att.net/~rdavis2/tradeall.html. As can be seen, as a percent of GDP, exports are still below their 1997 high. Imports, on the other hand, have increased significantly over that period. As a result, so has the trade deficit.

[ex-snook]

Thanks for setting the record straight without cutting corners. Our export of jobs and dollars accelerates. Trade means we buy from you and you buy from us. Goods for goods.

[Gvl_M3]

I don’t have time to research the numbers, but I thought one of you might have this answer at your finger tips.

Do these import/export numbers include fuel (oil, gasoline, diesel, Nat Gas, etc)?

If so, what is our trade balance without the fuel number included?

What is it if we used the price of oil from 10 years ago?

Thanks,
Chris