Trade Gap in U.S. Little Changed as Imports, Exports Increase

The trade deficit was little changed in October as an improving U.S. economy caused imports to climb to a record while exports also rose.

The gap narrowed by 0.4 percent to $43.4 billion from the prior month’s revised $43.6 billion, Commerce Department figures showed today in Washington. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of 71 economists called for a narrowing to $41.2 billion. Purchases of foreign-made capital goods such as computers and semiconductors were the highest ever, pointing to gains in business investment.