Trade Deficit Widens by Most Since 1999

The U.S. trade deficit widened 18% in September, the most in more than a decade, the Commerce Department said Friday.

The gap between imports and exports rose to $36.5 billion, the highest level since January, from a revised $30.8 billion in August, Commerce said.

Economists had forecast the deficit would rise to $31.8 billion from an initially reported $30.7 billion, Bloomberg said.

Imports rose 5.8%, the most since March 1993, to $168.4 billion. Exports gained 2.9% to $132 billion, the highest this year.