The US trade gap narrowed 0.4 per cent in December to $33 billion from November but soared 39.5 percent to a record $369.7 billion dollars for all of 2000, the US commerce department reported today.
The deficit in goods and services has narrowed in the last three months, reflecting a steady decline in exports in a faltering overall economy.
Imports fell 0.7 per cent to $122.81 billion in December, the third straight drop in purchases from overseas.
The value of exports fell 0.8 per cent to $89.82 billionin December, the fourth consecutive monthly decline in exports. The last time exports fell in four straight months was May-August 1991.
The deficit with the euro zone widened to $3.23 billion from $2.97 billion in the same month of 1999.
In November, the United States recorded a deficit with the euro zone of $4.32 billion.
AFP