Trade deficit rises to $40.4B

May 13, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

The U.S. trade deficit rose to a 15-month high as rising oil prices pushed crude-oil imports to the highest level since fall 2008, offsetting another strong gain in exports. The larger deficit is evidence of a rebounding U.S. economy.

Analysts expect this year’s deficit to be up significantly from 2009, when it hit an eight-year low. But U.S. exports should keep growing, providing a major source of strength from American manufacturers and will be affected only marginally by the European debt crisis.

The Commerce Department reported Wednesday that the trade deficit rose 2.5 percent to $40.4 billion in March compared with the February imbalance. It was the largest monthly trade deficit since December 2008. Exports of goods and services were up 3.2 percent to $147.87 billion, the highest level since October 2008. Imports were up 3.1 percent to $188.3 billion.

U.S. manufacturers, the standout performers in this recovery, will continue to get a boost from rising demand for their products, economists predicted. Their sales are being helped by a rebound in the global economy and declines in the value of the dollar against other major currencies.