Economics

U.S. Goods-Trade Gap Widens More Than Forecast as Imports Rise

  • Goods imports resume upward trajectory to near-record level
  • Automotive exports posted biggest percentage-change decline

    

Photographer: Ty Wright/Bloomberg
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

The U.S. merchandise-trade deficit widened more than forecast in May as the value of imports rose to near-record levels and exports declined.

The deficit increased to $88.1 billion from a revised $85.7 billion in April, according to Commerce Department data released Thursday. The median estimate in Bloomberg survey of economists had called for a $87.5 billion shortfall last month.