US trade deficit in September at lowest level in 19 months

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. trade deficit fell in September to the lowest level in 19 months as demand for U.S.-made airplanes and other exports increased while imports slipped. The politically sensitive deficit with China declined.

The deficit narrowed to $36.4 billion in September, down 9.9 percent from August, the Commerce Department said Friday. It was the lowest imbalance since February 2015. Exports rose 0.6 percent to $189.2 billion, the highest level in more than a year. Imports fell 1.3 percent to $226.6 billion.

The latest report offers American manufacturers an encouraging sign that the problems caused by overseas weakness and a rising dollar were beginning to wane. A falling trade deficit boosted the overall economy in the July-September quarter. Economists are looking for further gains in the coming months.

Trade has been a contentious issue in the current presidential election campaign. Republican Donald Trump has accused China, Mexico and other nations of pursuing unfair practices that have lowered U.S. wages and cost millions of American jobs. He has vowed to impose stiff penalty tariffs against countries that do not halt these practices.

Both Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton have come out against the 12-nation Trans Pacific Partnership, a big regional trade deal which was negotiated by the Obama administration and is currently pending before Congress.

So far this year, the deficit is running 2.5 percent lower than the same period in 2015. For all of last year, the deficit totaled $500.4 billion, up 2.1 percent from the previous year.