The US trade deficit narrowed 0.7% to $105.0 billion in September, below economists’ $108.0 billion forecast, while imports rose 1.2% to a record $426.6 billion. Exports increased 1.9% to $321.5 billion.
The US trade shortfall contracted 0.7% to $105.0 billion in September, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis and Census Bureau said. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a $108.0 billion deficit.
Imports rose 1.2% to a record $426.6 billion. Goods imports increased 1.3% to an all-time high of $346.9 billion. Exports advanced 1.9% to $321.5 billion, including a 2.5% increase in goods exports to $211.0 billion.
The government estimated that imports subtracted 2.64 percentage points from third-quarter GDP growth, the most since the first quarter of 2025. The economy grew at a 3.4% annualized rate in the July-September quarter, and trade has not contributed to GDP growth for four straight quarters. The article cited resilient consumer spending and investment in artificial intelligence as sources of domestic-demand strength.
