US Trade Deficit Narrows Less Than Expected in Feb.

April 12, 2011 9:24 AM EDT
The trade deficit narrowed in the U.S. during February from a seven-month high as import demand fell for the first time in four months.

The Commerce Department reported Tuesday the trade deficit in the U.S. contracted 2.6 percent to $45.8 billion from a revised $47 billion in January, when imports reached a more than two-year high.

Economists had estimated the gap would shrink even more to $44 billion in February, from a previously reported deficit of $46.3 billion in January.

Imports in February fell 1.7 percent from $214.5 billion to $210.9 billion in the prior month, the largest decline since August 2008. Exports dropped 1.4 percent to $165.1 billion from $167.5 billion.

January's deficit was the widest since last June as demand for crude oil pushed imports up 5.4 percent.


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