The diamond trade register in the US has taken a beating in terms of volume. Owing to the economic crunch, the value of diamonds has increased, for, polished diamond imports increased by 2.6 percent in value to $1.359 billion in August, but it sipped by 25 percent to 1.075 million in volume. The export of polished diamonds also saw an increase in value by 10.3 percent to $1.137 billion, while in volume it slipped by 13 percent to 2.685 million carats. %% The net account of diamonds in August valued at $223 million, falling 25 percent from the same month last year. The net polished diamond imports fell 24 percent to $222 million, compared to August 2007. The net rough import account also dropped by 80 percent to $1 million, as rough imports increased by 26 percent to $53 million (for 133,814 carats,) and exports by 41 percent to $52 million (for 654,024 carats.) %% For the period between January to August 2008, imports of polished goods increased by 16 percent to $13.709 billion and exports by 44 percent to $10.215 billion. Rough imports rose by 12 percent to $599 million, whereas exports fell by 4.7 percent to $304 million. The net diamond account during these eight months amounted to $3.789 billion, decreasing by 22 percent, as compared to the same period last year.