Trade Deficit Widens, Showing Effect of Strong U.S. Dollar

The trade deficit in the U.S. widened in June as the strong dollar lifted imports and hobbled exports, representing a hurdle for economic growth.

The gap grew by 7.1 percent to $43.8 billion, the largest in three months, Commerce Department figures showed Wednesday in Washington. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of 67 economists called for a widening to $43 billion.