Question

In recent decades, has the U.S. trade balance usually been in deficit, surplus, or balanced?

a) Deficit
b) Surplus
c) Balanced
d) Cannot be determined

Answer 1

In recent decades, the U.S. trade balance has generally been in a deficit, with a few exceptions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The U.S. trade balance has generally been in a deficit in recent decades. From the 1960s to the 1970s, the U.S. economy had small trade surpluses, but starting in the 1980s, the trade deficit increased rapidly. After a small surplus in 1991, the trade deficit became even larger in the late 1990s and into the mid-2000s. It declined in 2009 after the recession and rebounded partially in 2010. Since then, it has remained relatively stable.