U.S. Goods-Trade Gap Widens to Four-Month High

The U.S. merchandise-trade deficit widened to a four-month high as imports rose for the first time since April, according to preliminary figures released Thursday by the Commerce Department. The report also showed inventories increased at wholesalers and fell at retailers.

The rebound in imports spanned all major categories except motor vehicles, with shipments of capital goods and industrial supplies both rising more than 2 percent. Exports also gained, though the increase was concentrated in industrial supplies, with most other categories declining. Even so, U.S. companies have benefited from strong overseas markets and a weak dollar, both of which have boosted shipments abroad. The trade and inventory figures will be used by analysts to refine their estimates for third-quarter economic growth, with data set to be released Friday.