The U.S. government reported on Friday that domestic demand for imports fell in March by the most since 2001, the latest indication that the economic slowdown is forcing Americans to rein in their spending habits.

According to the New York Times, “Americans shied away from buying imported automobiles, which fell 9.3 percent in March, and oil, which dropped 8.9 percent. It was the second consecutive month that crude oil imports had declined. Declines were reported in a variety of other consumer goods arranging from clothing to toys and furniture.”

Meanwhile, exports decreased for the first time in 12 months, which is a troubling sign for American business struggling with a pullback among domestic consumers. Amid the current slowdown, foreign purchases have helped to prop up the American economy.

In March, the Commerce Department reported, the trade deficit narrowed to $58.2 billion from a downwardly revised $61.7 billion in February.

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