Economics
Trade Gap in U.S. Widened to a Four-Month High in October
- Gap jumped 17.8% from month earlier to $42.6 billion
- U.S. imports of business equipment, consumer goods pick up
Shipping containers sit stacked at the Port Jersey Marine Terminal above New York.
Photographer: Craig Warga/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
The U.S. trade deficit widened to a four-month high in October as overseas sales weakened and American companies imported more equipment and consumer goods.
The gap grew to $42.6 billion from the prior month’s revised $36.2 billion, Commerce Department figures showed Tuesday. The 17.8 percent increase from September was the largest since March 2015. The Bloomberg survey median called for a $42 billion shortfall.