- Last-minute legal ruling allows betting on US election
- Despite hurricanes, Floridians refuse to leave 'paradise'
- Israel observes Yom Kippur amid firestorm over Lebanon strikes
- Trump demonizes migrants in dark, misleading speech
- X says 'alert' to manipulation efforts after pro-Russia bots report
- US, European markets rise before Boeing unveils sweeping job cuts
- Small Quebec company dominates one part of NHL hockey: jerseys
- Comoros shock Tunisia, Salah, Mbeumo strike in AFCON qualifiers
- Boeing to cut 10% of workforce as it sees big Q3 loss
- Germany win in Nations League as 10-man Dutch rescue point
- Undav brace sends Germany to victory against Bosnia
- Israel says fired at 'threat' near UN position in Lebanon
- Want to film in Paris? No sexism allowed
- Ecuador's last mountain iceman dies at 80
- Milton leaves at least 16 dead, millions without power in Florida
- Senegal set to announce breakaway development agenda: PM
- UN says 2 peacekeepers wounded in south Lebanon explosions
- Injury-hit Australia thrash 'embarrassing' Pakistan at Women's T20 World Cup
- Internal TikTok documents show prioritization of traffic over well-being
- Israel says fired at 'immediate threat' near UN position in Lebanon
- New US coach Pochettino hails Pulisic but worries over workload
- Brazil orders closure of 2,000 betting sites
- UK govt urged to raise pro-democracy tycoon's case with China
- Sculptor Lalanne's animal creations sell for $59 mn
- From Tesla to Trump: Behind Musk's giant leap into politics
- US, European markets rise as investors weigh rates, earnings
- In Colombia, children trade plastic waste for school supplies
- Supercharged hurricanes trigger 'perfect storm' for disinformation
- JPMorgan Chase profits top estimates, bank sees 'resilient' US economy
- Djokovic proves staying power as he progresses to Shanghai semi-finals
- Sheffield Utd boss Wilder 'numb' after Baldock death
- Little progress at key meet ahead of COP29 climate summit
- Fans immerse themselves in Marina Abramovic's first China exhibition
- Israel says conducting review after UN peacekeepers wounded in Lebanon
- 'Party atmosphere': Skygazers treated to another aurora show
- Djokovic 'overwhelmed' after 'greatest rival' Nadal's retirement
- Zelensky in Berlin says hopes war with Russia will end next year
- Kyrgyzstan opens rare probe into glacier destruction
- European Mediterranean states discuss Middle East, migration
- Djokovic proves staying power as progresses to Shanghai semi-finals
- Hurricane Milton leaves at least 16 dead as Florida cleans up
- Britain face 'ultimate challenge' in America's Cup duel with New Zealand
- Lebanon calls for 'immediate' ceasefire in Israel-Hezbollah war
- Nihon Hidankyo: Japan's A-bomb survivors awarded Nobel
- Thunberg leads pro-Palestinian, climate protest in Milan
- Boat captain rescued clinging to cooler in Gulf of Mexico after storm Milton
- Tears, warnings after Japan atomic survivors group win Nobel
- 'Unspeakable horror': the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
- Stock markets diverge before China weekend briefing
- Christian villagers 'trapped' in south Lebanon crossfire
US trade deficit hits highest on record as imports soar
A surge in imports of goods and services in March drove the US trade gap to the highest level ever recorded, with huge increases in purchases of autos, computers, furniture and clothing, the government reported Wednesday.
The trade deficit jumped more than 22 percent to $109.8 billion, as the double-digit increase in imports to an all-time high of $351.5 billion outstripped the more modest gain in exports, the Commerce Department said.
But US exports also hit a record of $241.7 billion, the data showed.
As the world's largest economy showed a robust recovery from the pandemic disruptions in recent months, businesses have been hampered by global supply chain snarls and shortages that meant relatively modest import gains.
But the data showed a shift in March with a $3.2 billion increase in imports of autos, parts and engines -- including a $2.5 jump in passenger cars alone -- a $1.5 billion rise in computers, and $1.3 billion gain for computer accessories.
Purchases of furniture and household goods jumped $1.3 billion, while toys, games and sporting goods rose by a similar amount, the report said.
A strong American consumer is likely to support continued demand for imports, while slower recoveries among US trading partners could hold down export growth, economists say.
"The prevailing domestic and overseas economic environment could keep the deficit pinned near record levels and impose a significant headwind to US GDP growth," said Mahir Rasheed of Oxford Economics.
The Federal Reserve is raising interest rates as it grapples with accelerating inflation, which could tamp down demand.
In the first three months of the year, the goods and services deficit increased $84.8 billion, or 41.5 percent, from the same period in 2021, the report said.
"However, we expect aggressive policy tightening (and) somewhat softer domestic demand growth to cool import growth and allow the deficit to stabilize," Rasheed said.
Even with the ongoing Covid-19 lockdowns in China, which raised fears of increasing difficulties sourcing products, the trade gap with the world's number two economy jumped $7.4 billion to $48.6 billion, the report said.
The deficits with Vietnam and Taiwan were the highest ever, according to the data.
M.Fischer--AMWN