The US trade deficit widened more than expected in November, as stronger consumer and manufacturer demand pushed imports to the highest level in nearly a year, a Commerce Department report showed today.
The monthly trade gap grew 9.7 per cent to $36.4 billion, from an upwardly revised estimate of $33.2 billion in October. Analysts surveyed before the report had expected the deficit to widen to about $34.8 billion.
US imports of goods and services jumped 2.6 per cent to $174.6 billion, the highest since December 2008.
The average price for a barrel of imported oil rose to $72.54, the highest since October 2008, but volume was the lowest in more than 10 years.
The overall import jump reflected gains in industrial supplies and materials, consumer goods and capital goods, which more than offset slight declines for food and auto imports.
US exports of goods and services rose by a less robust 0.9 percent in November to $138.2 billion, the highest in a year.
That included a record $7.3 billion to China, beating the record set just one month before. Soybeans were the major cause of the increase in both October and November, as US suppliers stepped in to fill a shortage caused by drought in Argentina.
Food, feed and beverage exports posted the biggest overall gain in November, followed by autos and capital goods. Exports of consumer goods and industrial materials showed slight declines.
The global financial crisis sharply curtailed trade in developed countries last year. As a result, the US trade gap appears likely to fall below $400 billion in 2009 for first time since 2001. Through the end of November, the trade gap totaled $340.6 billion.
Reuters