Canada Trade Gap Persists but Exports Climbing

(Reuters – Louise Egan)

Canada’s trade deficit in December was twice the size expected and contributed to the country’s first annual trade gap since 1975 even though more goods were sold to the United States in the month.

The December shortfall was C$246 million ($230 million), up from a revised deficit of C$201 million in November, Statistics Canada reported on Wednesday. Markets had expected a C$100 million deficit for December. The 2009 deficit totaled C$4.79 billion, compared with a surplus the year before of C$45.9 billion.

Summary statistics and links to the data files are on the Statistics Canada website. Export and import price indexes are available here.

Related:

• Canada has first yearly trade deficit since 1975 (Globe & Mail)
• U.S. Trade Deficit Widened in December (New York Times)