Analyst estimates had predicted a $43.0bn increase this month The US trade deficit grew sharply in January after a plunge in December, government data released on Thursday showed. The Commerce Department reported the trade gap rose to $44.4bn, up from a revised $38.1bn in December.Exports fell by $2.2bn to $184.5bn, led by declines in exports industrial supplies and materials as the United States beefed up its imports of those goods.
Total imports rose about $4.1bn to $228.9bn.
The increase in the trade shortfall came in larger than the average analyst estimate of $43.0bn.