Overview
- Imports rose 5.0% to $348.9 billion, with goods imports up 6.6% and capital goods hitting a record on strong computer and semiconductor inflows.
- Exports fell 3.6% to $292.1 billion, with goods shipments down 5.6% as industrial supplies, non-monetary gold, and pharmaceuticals declined.
- The 94.6% monthly jump marked the largest percentage increase in the gap since March 1992, reversing October’s unusually low reading.
- Roughly one-third of the widening came from a larger European Union goods shortfall, up $8.2 billion, while the U.S. goods deficit with China narrowed to about $13.9 billion.
- The report, released after a 43-day government shutdown, has forecasters reworking Q4 GDP views as some link the import surge to an AI-driven investment cycle.