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US Trade Gap Falls in June After Exports Rise


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US Trade Gap Falls in June After Exports Rise

Business

Category: Statistics

The Commerce Department said Tuesday that the U.S. trade gap fell more than 22 percent in June from May to $34.2 billion. That’s lowest level since October 2009.

American companies shipped more aircraft engines, telecommunications equipment, heavy machinery and farm goods. As a result, exports rose 2.2 percent to an all-time high of $191.2 billion.

Imports declined 2.2 percent to $225.4 billion, in part because oil imports fell to the lowest level in more than two years.

Economists said the steep drop in the trade deficit will likely lead the government to revise its economic growth estimate for the April-June quarter.

“We could see a sizeable upward revision,” said Jennifer Lee, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets.

Source: Associated Press

Published: June 8, 2013