January 29, 2026
Chips, tariffs, and hot takes
US trade deficit widens by the most in nearly 34 years in November
AI spree blows up US trade gap; boycotts, sarcasm, and 'deficit is good'
TLDR: The U.S. trade deficit jumped 94.6% to $56.8B in November as AI-fueled imports of computers and chips surged while exports fell. Comments split between “deficits can be good,” tariff sarcasm, and a non‑US boycott of American brands, debating growth risks and the Fed’s rosy outlook.
America just went on an AI shopping binge, and the tab has arrived: the U.S. trade deficit popped 94.6% to $56.8B in November, per Reuters citing the Commerce Department. That’s what happens when imports of computers and semiconductors soar while exports slump — in simple terms, the U.S. bought way more from abroad than it sold. Cue the comments section chaos. One non‑U.S. reader proudly announced a personal boycott of U.S. brands to “do their part,” turning trade drama into lifestyle content. Another contrarian declared, “deficit is good,” arguing foreign money stays invested in America. And the tariff crowd? Pure sarcasm: “Weren’t tariffs supposed to fix this?” Meanwhile, someone joked the fix is easy — swap the Atlanta Fed leadership for happier headlines, after the data was delayed by a 43‑day government shutdown. Economists may trim growth hopes, even as the Atlanta Fed pegs Q4 at a sizzling 5.4% while Wall Street goes under 3%. The vibe is a cocktail of memes (“AI chips ate our lunch”), boycotts, and macro hot takes. One commenter tried to calm the snark: explain, don’t dunk — but let’s be real, the dunking is half the show.
Key Points
- •U.S. trade deficit rose 94.6% to $56.8 billion in November, the largest percentage increase since March 1992.
- •Imports increased 5.0% to $348.9 billion; capital goods imports jumped $7.4 billion to a record, driven by computers and semiconductors.
- •Exports fell 3.6% to $292.1 billion; goods exports dropped 5.6% due to declines in industrial supplies, precious metals, and crude oil.
- •Consumer goods imports rose $9.2 billion (pharmaceutical preparations up), while industrial supplies imports fell $2.4 billion.
- •Atlanta Fed projects Q4 GDP growth at 5.4% annualized, while Wall Street banks such as Goldman Sachs forecast below 3.0%, and the trade deterioration may temper GDP expectations.