There is no gas shortage...

Bayouboy said
Blame everything on our trade deficits. Until we take in more than we dole out, expect bad things (fiscally speaking) to occur in the US.

When was the last year we were in the black????? The 60's???

But the weak dollar has actually been a significant boost for our exports.

So this just demonstrates how complex it is. The trade deficit is a problem. The weak dollar is a problem. The trade deficit is actually reduced by a weak dollar.

Note however, that this is a theoretical point. Though our exports have been helped signficantly by the weak dollar, our imports continue to grow and grow.

US trade deficit jumps despite weak dollar
Apr 10, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The weak dollar failed to improve the US trade picture as the deficit rose to 62.3 billion dollars in February from 59 billion a month earlier, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

The report showed a bulging trade deficit worse than the 57.4 billion dollars expected by Wall Street analysts and marking the biggest since last November.

The rise in the deficit comes from a jump in imports which was stronger than the increase in exports.

AFP: US trade deficit jumps despite weak dollar