US Trade Deficit Widened in February by Less Than Forecast (2)

The US trade deficit widened in February by less than forecast as both imports and exports increased.

The gap in goods and services trade grew 4.9% from the prior month to $57.3 billion, Commerce Department data showed Thursday. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for an almost $61 billion deficit.

Exports rose 4.2% in February, driven by gold and natural gas shipments. Imports increased 4.3% on more inbound shipments of computers, semiconductors and automobiles. Goods imports rose an almost one-year high.

Charges for the use of imported intellectual property also rose, which ...