americans imported more goods and services from abroad in april another sign businesses and consumers remain resilient despite rising interest rates while exports decreased businesses brought in more cars cellphones and supplies while bringing in less oil us companies shipped less oil and drugs outside the country the trade figures arent adjusted for inflation and so reflect changes in demand and price here are the takeaways from wednesdays commerce department report on us import and export trends in april imports rose 15 to a seasonally adjusted 3236 billion automotive vehicles parts and engines increased by 20 billion and industrial supplies increased 19 billion nonmonteary gold and other metal products drove the increase cellphones and other household goods accounted for the bulk of the increase in consumergoods imports imports of services including transportation and travel decreased slightly exports fell 36 to 249 billion industrial supplies and materials shipments decreased 61 billion including a 21 billion drop in crude oil consumergoods exports decreased 17 billion including less shipments of pharmaceutical preparations diamonds and jewelry the us exported more soybeans rice and frozen fruit juices and fewer semiconductors and aircraft exports of services were nearly flat in april travel to the us increased but financial services decreased the goods and services trade deficit was 746 billion in april compared with 606 billion in march the gap shows the us imports more goods and services than it exports through april this year the goods and services deficit decreased 239 from the same period in 2022 the commerce department said write to austen hufford at austenhuffordwsjcom and anthony debarros at anthonydebarroswsjcom