Trade Deficit Numbers Swell

[dArKeR]

The trade deficit swelled to an all-time high of $46 billion in March as a stronger U.S. economy stoked Americans' appetite for foreign-made cars, TVs and other goods.

Wall Street economists had predicted a deficit of only $43 billion for the month, reports CBS MarketWatch.

Although imports grew faster than exports, sales of U.S. goods and services to other countries also climbed in March, to their highest level on record. This was encouraging news for U.S. manufacturers and exporters.

The trade gap reported by the Commerce Department on Wednesday was 9.1 percent bigger than the $42.1 billion deficit posted in February, which was 3.1 percent less than in January.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/03/10/national/main605060.shtml