U.S. trade deficit rises 18.2% in September

WASHINGTON (Xinhua) -- The U.S. trade deficit increased 18.2 percent in September to 36.5 billion U.S. dollars, the highest level since January, the Commerce Department reported Friday.     

The figure was more than the 31.7 billion dollars economists had expected. The key factor that drove up the trade deficit in September was foreign oil prices, which rose to their highest level in nearly a year, offsetting a fifth consecutive gain in exports.     

The Commerce Department said that exports, which have been rising since May, increased 2.9 percent to 132 billion dollars, reflecting stronger sales of American autos, aircraft and industrial machinery.     

Imports rose 5.8 percent to 168.4 billion dollars, led by a 20.1 percent jump in oil shipments.     

So far this year, the U.S. trade deficit is running at 366 billion dollars, about half of last year's 695.9 billion dollars deficit.     

Analysts expected that a rebounding global economy will keep pushing demand for exports higher, helping to bolster the U.S. recovery.     

President Barack Obama said earlier this month that the U.S. economy would transform its model of growth, indicating to promote the country's export.

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