U.S. Trade Deficit Shrinks in September

The U.S. trade deficit shrank by 5.1% in September, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

The gap between imports and exports fell to $41.5 billion from $43.8 billion in August.

Economists had projected a $45 billion deficit, Bloomberg reported.

Imports increased 1.5% to $228.5 billion, while exports climbed 3.1% to $187 billion.