US Trade Deficit Widens in February As Imports Offset Record Exports

WASHINGTON, April 2 (Reuters) – The U.S. trade deficit widened in February as a rebound in imports offset strong growth in exports, which increased to a record high, potentially keeping trade on track to subtract from economic growth in the first quarter.

The trade gap increased 4.9% to $57.3 billion, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis and Census Bureau said on Thursday. Data for January was revised to show the deficit narrowing to $54.7 billion instead of $54.5 billion as previously estimated. Economists polled by Reuters forecast the trade deficit rising to $61.0 billion in February.

The BEA and Census