President Donald Trump’s tariffs don’t seem to be helping the US deficit. The US deficit with its global trading partners nearly doubled in November as the shortfall with the European Union swelled and the impact of President Trump’s tariffs worked their way through the economy, the Census Bureau reported Thursday.
In November 2025, the United States experienced a sharp increase in its trade deficit, nearly doubling compared with the previous month, according to official data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
The deficit rose to approximately $56.8 billion, up from $29.2 billion in October, representing an increase of nearly 95 percent. This surge reflected a combination of declining exports and rising imports, which together contributed to the largest monthly jump in the trade gap in several years.
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The increase was particularly pronounced in the U.S. deficit with the European Union, highlighting the ongoing challenges in balancing trade with major partners. Analysts noted that U.S. tariffs and trade policy decisions in prior months likely influenced the flow of goods, although the impact of such measures often materializes with a lag. In particular, tariffs on certain imports and retaliatory measures by trading partners may have contributed to higher costs, altered trade patterns, and disrupted supply chains.
The November surge underscores the complex interplay between trade policy, international demand, and domestic economic factors. While tariffs are intended to protect domestic industries, they can also amplify imbalances in global trade, demonstrating the difficulty of managing both national objectives and international obligations simultaneously.
A framework agreement between the U.S. and the EU in August put the tariff rate at 15% on most European goods and sought to stabilize relations between the two sides.
Census Bureau Overview
The U.S. Census Bureau provides a wide range of monthly and quarterly economic indicators that measure the performance of the U.S. economy. These surveys cover key areas such as construction, housing, international trade, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, services, and business activity. The data are designed to be timely, reliable, and comprehensive, supporting analysis for business investment, economic policy, and research decisions.
Recent releases highlight several notable trends for late 2025. The international trade deficit in goods and services for November 2025 reached $56.8 billion, a significant 94.6% increase from October, indicating substantial shifts in trade balances.
Advance new orders for manufactured durable goods in November were $323.8 billion, up 5.3% from October, while overall new orders for manufactured goods rose 2.7% to $621.6 billion. Retail and food services sales for November totaled $735.9 billion, a modest 0.6% increase over the previous month.
Construction spending in October 2025 was $2,175.2 billion, slightly up 0.5% from September, and housing starts for the same month totaled 1,246,000 units, down 4.6% from the previous month.
The data are seasonally adjusted unless otherwise noted and include measures of statistical reliability, including confidence intervals and sampling considerations. Some estimates, such as homeownership rates, rental vacancy rates, and certain quarterly profit data, are not adjusted for price changes.
The Census Bureau coordinates its release calendar with other federal agencies and the Office of Management and Budget, providing updated schedules in response to federal funding lapses.
The Bureau’s economic indicators offer critical insights into U.S. economic activity, enabling policymakers, businesses, and researchers to track trends, assess performance, and make informed decisions.