U.S. trade deficit widens in April

The nation’s trade deficit in goods and services stood at $47.6 billion in April, a 5.2 percent increase from March, surpassing the $46.5 billion deficit projection of economists polled by financial news outlet MarketWatch.    The United States’ trade deficit in goods and services totaled $47.6 billion in April 2017, a 5.2 percent increase from March, according to the Department of Commerce.
   Economists polled by financial news outlet MarketWatch projected a $46.5 billion trade deficit for April.
   During the month, the nation’s exports reached $191 billion, down 0.3 percent from March, while imports totaled $238.6 billion, up 0.8 percent month-over-month.
   Bilateral surpluses were recorded in April with South and Central America ($2.7 billion), Hong Kong ($2.0 billion), Singapore ($900 million), Brazil ($300 million), and the United Kingdom ($200 million).
   On the flip side, deficits were recorded with China ($32.1 billion), the European Union ($13.2 billion), Mexico ($6.4 billion), Germany ($5.5 billion), Japan ($5.0 billion), Italy ($3.0 billion), Canada ($2.6 billion), India ($1.6 billion), South Korea ($1.5 billion), Taiwan ($1.3 billion), France ($1.2 billion), OPEC ($1.1 billion) and Saudi Arabia ($200 million).
   Through the first four months of 2017, the U.S. trade deficit stood at $186.6 billion, an increase of 13.4 percent from the corresponding 2016 period.