The US trade deficit expanded sharply in February to its highest in nearly a year, fueled by US demand for imported vehicles and consumer goods, while exports rose only marginally, the US government said today.
The February trade gap of $31.51 billion was the largest since the April 2001 tally of $31.94 billion. The US department of commerce said that when imports of oil and petroleum were factored out, the February trade gap was the largest on record.
It also greatly exceeded economists' average estimate of $28.88 billion and was $3.27 billion more than the January deficit.
Reflecting a rebounding US economy, imports rose to $110.70 billion in February from $106.48 billion in January, for the highest monthly tally since the August level of $112.23 billion.
