Trade deficit at record high

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Thursday, Nov. 13, 2003 | 9:29 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. trade deficit widened to $41.3 billion in September as imports climbed to an all-time monthly high, a fresh sign of Americans' hearty appetite for foreign-made goods. Exports, however, also posted a solid gain.

The latest snapshot of the country's trade activity showed that the trade gap grew by 4.4 percent in September from August's $39.5 billion imbalance, the Commerce Department reported today. September's trade deficit was slightly larger than the $40.2 billion shortfall that economists were forecasting.

Imports of goods and services in September came to a record $127.4 billion, a 3.3 percent increase from the previous month. As the United States' economy strengthens, so has Americans' demand for foreign-made goods and services.