US international trade gap at $47.1B in Feb vs $46.2B expected

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/04/05/us-international-trade-gap-february-2016.html

This article brings up many interesting points. In the past February, the U.S. trade deficit expanded slightly more than expected. The trade deficit reached $46.2 billion. After being calculated for inflation, the deficit rose to $63.3 billion which is the largest since March of last year at $61.8 billion. This article also talks about how exports made a come back but this increase was leveled out due to the increase in imports. According to the Commerce Department, the trade gap increased 2.6 percent to $47.1 billion. This article also includes data that suggests economic growth slowing to a 1.4 percent annualized rate in the last three months of 2015 making growth estimates for the first quarter below 1%. Trade has been held back by the strong value of the dollar and low demand around the globe which caused a 1/10th% reduction from GDP in the fourth quarter. With that being said, in February, exports of goods increased 1.6% to reach $118.6 billion and this was the first rise since September. While this increase in exports is very comforting to hear about, I am curious as to how much of our exports consist of services rather than goods since the U.S. exports one of the largest amounts of services. The article brings up a couple things that are hindering U.S. exports like the undercut by the buoyant dollar and the slowing growth of Europe and China. These foreign factors diminish the demand of U.S. goods/services.  I hope exports continue to expand with that being said.
The dollar is actually down 1.3% on a trade-weighted basis so far this year after gaining about 20% against the currencies of the United States' most common trading partners between June 2014 and December 2015. It is interesting to see exports of industrial supplies and materials sitting at the lowest since March 2010. It is no surprise to see that capital good exports were at their lowest since November 201 and that Petroleum exports dropped to is lowest since September 2010 as well. China's exports also feel 2%. While imports of goods and services rose 1.3% to $225.1 billion, these imports are being kept under control by low oil prices, efforts to drop inventory overhang, and increased domestic energy production.