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Trade Balance under George H. W. Bush

Official data from the Census Bureau and BEA.

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-165.6%-52.2%+61.2%Month 1Month 13Month 25Month 37Month 48Clinton, month 1: 0.0%Clinton, month 4: -66.4%Clinton, month 7: -64.9%Clinton, month 10: -70.3%Clinton, month 13: -60.5%Clinton, month 16: -103.9%Clinton, month 19: -125.8%Clinton, month 22: -136.7%Clinton, month 25: -140.8%Clinton, month 28: -148.3%Clinton, month 31: -98.7%Clinton, month 34: -57.9%Clinton, month 37: -118.6%Clinton, month 40: -125.8%Clinton, month 43: -161.8%Clinton, month 46: -71.3%Clinton, month 48: -170.5%ClintonBush 43, month 1: 0.0%Bush 43, month 4: +13.9%Bush 43, month 7: +15.8%Bush 43, month 10: +12.7%Bush 43, month 13: +15.0%Bush 43, month 16: +2.5%Bush 43, month 19: +2.4%Bush 43, month 22: -0.8%Bush 43, month 25: -18.8%Bush 43, month 28: -21.4%Bush 43, month 31: -19.1%Bush 43, month 34: -19.2%Bush 43, month 37: -28.6%Bush 43, month 40: -36.5%Bush 43, month 43: -49.3%Bush 43, month 46: -59.3%Bush 43, month 48: -58.7%Bush 43Obama, month 1: 0.0%Obama, month 4: +23.0%Obama, month 7: +15.0%Obama, month 10: +11.2%Obama, month 13: +4.0%Obama, month 16: -5.7%Obama, month 19: -5.8%Obama, month 22: -3.1%Obama, month 25: -22.8%Obama, month 28: -8.5%Obama, month 31: -17.0%Obama, month 34: -15.6%Obama, month 37: -27.5%Obama, month 40: -18.3%Obama, month 43: -6.9%Obama, month 46: -4.8%Obama, month 48: +7.9%ObamaTrump I, month 1: 0.0%Trump I, month 4: -2.1%Trump I, month 7: +0.7%Trump I, month 10: +1.6%Trump I, month 13: -8.6%Trump I, month 16: -6.5%Trump I, month 19: -14.3%Trump I, month 22: -20.1%Trump I, month 25: -10.9%Trump I, month 28: -14.1%Trump I, month 31: -10.6%Trump I, month 34: +6.1%Trump I, month 37: +1.2%Trump I, month 40: -23.2%Trump I, month 43: -39.7%Trump I, month 46: -44.4%Trump I, month 48: -46.3%Trump IBiden, month 1: 0.0%Biden, month 4: -3.8%Biden, month 7: -9.8%Biden, month 10: -7.5%Biden, month 13: -33.9%Biden, month 16: -30.9%Biden, month 19: -7.2%Biden, month 22: -22.1%Biden, month 25: -7.8%Biden, month 28: -12.4%Biden, month 31: -1.0%Biden, month 34: -4.5%Biden, month 37: -4.1%Biden, month 40: -15.4%Biden, month 43: -25.4%Biden, month 46: -23.4%Biden, month 48: -57.7%BidenTrump II, month 1: 0.0%Trump II, month 4: +51.6%Trump II, month 7: +39.8%Trump II, month 10: +70.0%Trump II, month 13: +57.8%Trump II, month 16: +57.6%Trump II, month 19: +25.6%Trump II, month 21: +15.8%Trump II
% change since each president's first month in office, months 1–48 of each term. Highlighted: current term.

All administrations at month 48

Trade Balance at month 48 in office, 5 administrations ranked on % change since month 1. Average of all 5: −65.1%.
RankAdministrationValue at month 48Change since month 1Latest / end of month 48Primary federal source
#1Barack Obama−$35B+7.9%−$35B (month 48)Census Bureau and BEA · BOPGSTB
#2Donald Trump (first term)−$61B−46.3%−$61B (month 48)Census Bureau and BEA · BOPGSTB
#3Joe Biden−$97B−57.7%−$97B (month 48)Census Bureau and BEA · BOPGSTB
#4George W. Bush−$54B−58.7%−$54B (month 48)Census Bureau and BEA · BOPGSTB
#5Bill Clinton−$10B−170.5%−$10B (month 48)Census Bureau and BEA · BOPGSTB

Methodology and source verification

Monthly U.S. balance of trade in goods and services, in billions of dollars (Census Bureau and BEA). Negative = deficit.

Every administration is aligned to its own inauguration: month 1 is the month it took office, and the comparison runs to month 48 (the first term). Each administration is compared at the same month in office, so a president halfway through a term is never measured against another's full four years.

Primary source: Census Bureau and BEA. Retrieved from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED), series BOPGSTB, refreshed hourly. Latest observation 2026-09-01, first published 2026-11-04. Full methods: methodology.

More on George H. W. Bush

GDP GrowthReal GDPUnemployment RateLabor Force ParticipationJobs Added per MonthManufacturing JobsInflation (CPI)Core InflationGas PricesReal WagesPurchasing Power of the DollarFederal Funds RateDebt-to-GDP30-Year Mortgage RateHousing StartsRetail SalesJob OpeningsJob Openings per Job SeekerPersonal Saving RateConsumer SentimentS&P 50010-Year Treasury Yield5-Year Treasury YieldYield Curve (10Y–2Y)Federal Budget Balance

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