US trade gap narrows in October

WASHINGTON: The US trade deficit shrank sharply in October to its lowest level of the year as imports tumbled, government data showed Friday.

The Commerce Department said the trade gap fell to a seasonally adjusted $43.5 billion, down from a revised $44.2 billion in September.

Imports, which had stagnated between June and September at around $224 billion a month, dropped by 1.0 percent to $222.6 billion.

Exports also fell in October, down 0.8 percent from the prior month to $179.2 billion.

The politically sensitive trade gap with China, Washington's second-largest trade partner, was unchanged at $28.1 billion from September.