U.S. international trade deficit shrank 23.8 percent month on month in August to 59.6 billion U.S. dollars as the imports of non-monetary gold saw a sharp decrease from July, according to data issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce on Wednesday.

In particular, the goods deficit decreased by 18.1 billion dollars to 85.6 billion dollars in August, while the service surplus inched up 0.5 billion dollars to 26.1 billion dollars.

Imports of industrial supplies and materials fell by 11.3 billion dollars in August, including a sharp reduction of 9.3 billion dollars in non-monetary gold imports.

By contrast, the imports of non-monetary gold jumped 9.6 billion dollars in July as U.S. tariff policy on gold spooked investors.

Moreover, the imports of consumer goods and capital goods, as well as foods, feeds and beverages, decreased by 3.7 billion dollars, 3.4 billion dollars and 1.6 billion dollars in August, respectively.

International trade data for August, originally scheduled to be released on Oct. 7, was delayed by the record-long federal government shutdown.

The Commerce Department has not determined when to issue the international trade data for September, which was originally scheduled for Nov. 4.