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U.S. Trade Deficit Widens as Imports Surge to a Record

  • November shortfall in goods, services grows to $80.2 billion
  • Services surplus rises to five-month high, helped by travel
Container ships at anchor outside the Port of Los Angeles on Nov. 21.
Container ships at anchor outside the Port of Los Angeles on Nov. 21.Photographer: Tim Rue/Bloomberg
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The U.S. trade deficit widened in November, reflecting a surge in the value of imports as domestic retailers made a final push to stock shelves for holiday shoppers and demand for foreign oil increased.

The gap in trade of goods and services expanded to $80.2 billion, from a revised $67.2 billion in October, according to Commerce Department data released Thursday. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists was for an $81 billion shortfall. The figures aren’t adjusted for prices.