CAD: March Trade Deficit Widest on Record – Deutsche Bank
Brett Ryan, Research Analyst at Deutsche Bank, notes that on a balance
of payments basis, Canada’s March international trade deficit (-C$3.4
billion vs. –C$2.5 billion) was the widest on record.
Key Quotes
“Exports
declined by -4.8% month-over-month (vs. -6.6% previously), largely due
to motor vehicles and parts (-6.0% vs. -6.1%), which accounted for 25%
of the drop in March. Auto-related exports are expected to rebound
modestly in April following two consecutive months of declines. Imports
fell by -2.5% (vs. -2.7%) with consumer goods (-4.6% vs. +1.0%)
comprising 43% of the drop in March.
However, for the first
quarter, inflation-adjusted exports were up 8.7% annualized, while
imports rose a lesser 3.0%. In turn, net exports should contribute
meaningfully to Q1 real GDP growth (released May 31), which we currently
project at 3.2%.”
