WASHINGTON—The U.S. trade deficit widened in April as Americans stepped up purchases of foreign goods such as cell phones and equipment.
The trade gap in goods and services with other nations increased 5.2% from a month earlier to $47.62 billion, the Commerce Department said Friday. Imports grew 0.8% while exports fell 0.3%.
Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had projected a gap of $46.2 billion for April.
Trade-flow estimates are volatile from month to month, but exports and imports have both risen broadly over the past year as the global economy has gained strength. The value of foreign goods and services imported to the U.S. climbed 7.5% in the first four months of this year compared with the same period a year earlier. Exports--or the value of American goods and services sold abroad--grew 6.1% over that time.
Consequently, the trade gap has widened 13.4% this year from a year ago.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-trade-gap-widened-5-in-april-1496406883
