September's Trade Deficit Data Is in: Here's What You Need to Know

The U.S. exported $188.9 billion worth of goods in September and imported $230.7 billion in that same period, resulting in a goods and services deficit of $41.8 billion, up from August�s revised figure of $38.7 billion, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced Thursday.

�September exports were $0.4 billion less than August exports of $189.3 billion,� the BEA report notes. �September imports were $2.7 billion more than August imports of $228.0 billion.�

The goods and services deficit increased by a total of $0.2 billion from September 2012 to September 2013, the report adds.

The trade deficit widened by a full eight percent in September to the largest trade gap since May:

Driven by demand for industrial supplies and materials, automotive vehicles, and consumer and capital goods, imports increased in September by 1.2 percent, the report notes.

Meanwhile, exports fell by approximately 0.2 percent, reflecting a decrease in industrial supplies and consumer goods.

A wider trade gap could pose a problem as it means consumers are spending more abroad than they are on U.S. goods at home.

Here are highlights from the Thursday report:

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In short, more was spent abroad than at home in September and the trade deficit widened from its position in August, confirming earlier suspicions that the third quarter would be sluggish.

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