U.S. Trade Deficit Widens

The U.S. trade deficit expanded in April for the second straight month following seven declines, as exports dropped to the lowest level in almost three years, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

The gap between imports and exports rose 2.2% to $29.2 billion, Commerce said.

Economists had forecast the deficit would rise to $29 billion, Bloomberg said.

Exports fell 2.3% to $121.6 billion, the lowest level since August 2006. Imports fell 1.4% to $150.3 billion, the lowest since September 2004.