Economics

U.S. Trade Deficit Widened in August to Largest Since 2006

Nation’s trade shortfall in merchandise climbs to record
Services trade surplus declines to smallest since 2012

Tugboats guide the Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) Mia container ship arriving at the Port of Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California, U.S., on Wednesday, April 1, 2020.
Photographer: Tim Rue/Bloomberg

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By Ana Monteiro and Reade Pickert

October 6, 2020 at 8:34 AM EDT

Updated on

October 6, 2020 at 2:40 PM EDT

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The U.S. trade deficit widened in August to the largest since 2006 as the nation imported a record amount of consumer goods amid a pickup in demand ahead of the holiday-shopping season.