US goods-trade gap widens to 4-month high

Washington

THE US merchandise-trade deficit widened to a four-month high as imports rose for the first time since April, according to preliminary figures released on Thursday by the Commerce Department.

The report also showed inventories increased at wholesalers and fell at retailers. Goods-trade gap in September increased to US$64.1 billion from $63.3 billion in August. Wholesale inventories increased 0.3 per cent month-on-month, after a revised 0.8 per cent rise in the prior month. Retail stockpiles fell one per cent month-on-month as auto inventories dropped by most since 2009.