Trade Gap Jumps as Americans Buy Imported Cars, Oil: Economy
U.S. Trade Gap Widens; Jobless Claims Rise
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The trade deficit in the U.S. swelled in December to the biggest in two years as a strengthening dollar propelled a surge in imports.
The gap jumped 17.1 percent to $46.6 billion, the widest since November 2012, from a revised $39.8 billion in November, according to Commerce Department data issued Thursday in Washington. Other reports showed fewer Americans than forecast filed claims for jobless benefits last week and worker productivity ebbed in the fourth quarter.