Trade gap hits record $48.3 billion - CNN Money

[tandot]

http://money.cnn.com/2004/06/14/news/economy/trade/index.htm?cnn=yes

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The U.S. trade deficit grew in April to a record $48.3 billion, coming in larger than Wall Street forecasts, a government report Monday showed.

The gap between U.S. imports and exports was up from the revised record of $46.6 billion posted in March, the Commerce Department said. Economists surveyed by Briefing.com forecast the trade gap would drop to $45.0 billion.

Imports edged 0.2 percent higher to about $142.3 billion from the previous record set in March, while exports fell 1.5 percent to roughly $93.9 billion. Exports of goods fell 2.3 percent while service exports edged 0.3 percent higher.

The higher deficit is likely to be a drag on second-quarter U.S. economic growth and may prompt some analysts to lower their forecasts

[Doctor Smith]

1. "Exports of goods fell 2.3 percent"

Sounds like the much touted manufacturing recovery is starting to sputter.

Is it counted as an export when you take a bomb to another country and blow it up?

[Mokito]

3. Yes, but the profit margin varies from country to country.

[struggle4progress]

2. kick

:kick: