U.S. December imports improve

U.S. December imports improve    The U.S. trade deficit widened in December as imports outpaced exports by almost $4 billion, pushing the gap in goods and services to $40.2 billion from $36.4 billion in November, the Commerce Department reported.
   December exports increased more than $4.6 billion from the previous month to $138.1 billion, while imports were up $8.4 billion from $174.5 billion. Almost all of the change was due to trade in goods, with exports reaching $99.1 billion.
   On an annual basis, the trade deficit decreased $1.7 billion from December 2008. Exports increased $9.8 billion, or 7.4 percent. Imports were up $8.1 billion, or 4.6 percent. The increases are relative given the low starting base a year earlier when the economy and trade were severely contracting.
   Export growth was led by capital goods, industrial supplies and automotive supplies.
   For 2009, goods exports were down $230.5 billion from 2008, while imports fell $545.6 billion during the period.