US bought $42.6B in cell phones made overseas last year

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At least the U.S. sold some cell phones to our foreign trade partners. The Census Bureau tells us the U.S. exported $5.3 billion worth of cell phones, which leaves a cell-phone deficit of $37.3 billion.

Here's the sort-of good news: The increase in imports is slowing. And this, according to the Census:

U.S. exports of cellphones increased by 54 percent from 2009 to 2010. In 2012, U.S.'s biggest export market for cellphones was Mexico ($1.1 Billion).

Earlier this year the <="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/imported-cell-phones-foreign-cars-boost-u-s-trade-deficit-surprise-16-increase-article-1.1238308">New York Daily News reported cell phone imports were a big part of the trade gap in November:

The U.S. trade gap widened unexpectedly in November as Americans stuffed their holiday stockings with imported goods. 

The deficit ballooned 16% to $48.7 billion, the highest since April, according to figures from the Commerce Department. 

Analysts had been expecting the gap to shrink to $41.3 billion. 

An influx of cell phones as retailers stocked up ahead of the key holiday shopping season and of foreign cars helped lift imports nearly 4% to $231.3 billion.