Exports help narrow U.S. trade deficit

Exports help narrow U.S. trade deficit    U.S. exports continue to be a sign of strength in the economy as goods and services sold abroad increased 15.1 percent in January from the $123.9 billion value from the same month a year ago, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.
   On a monthly basis the trade deficit narrowed 6.6 percent to $37.3 billion between December 2009 and January. Exports were almost flat in January, dipping 0.3 percent to $142.7 billion while imports fell 1.7 percent to $180 billion.
   For the three months ending in January, exports of goods and services averaged $141.4 billion, while imports of goods and services averaged $179.2 billion, resulting in an average trade deficit of $37.8 billion. For the three months ending in December, the average trade deficit was $36.3 billion, reflecting average exports of $139.6 billion and average imports of $175.9 billion.
   Trade in U.S. transportation services outside passenger airlines, which includes freight carriage, fell $14 billion, or 23.8 percent, to $44.9 billion in 2009 from 2008.