US trade deficit widens sharply in December while weekly jobless claims fall
The U.S. trade deficit surged to $70.3 billion in December as imports of capital goods hit record highs. Meanwhile, weekly jobless claims fell to 206,000.
The United States 
US trade deficit widened sharply in December to $70.3 billion, according to data released today by the U.S. Commerce Department. This figure represents a five-month high and a significant miss compared to economists' forecasts. The report, which was delayed, was issued jointly with the Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, providing a critical update on the nation's external balance just before the release of the advance fourth-quarter GDP estimate.
US trade deficit widened sharply in December to $70.3 billion, according to data released today by the U.S. Commerce Department. This figure represents a five-month high and a significant miss compared to economists' forecasts. The report, which was delayed, was issued jointly with the Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, providing a critical update on the nation's external balance just before the release of the advance fourth-quarter GDP estimate.The expansion of the deficit was primarily driven by a surge in imports, particularly within the capital goods sector and industrial supplies. While imports rose, exports fell during the final month of the year. This shift contributed to a record shortfall in goods trade for 2025, which reached an all-time high of $1.24 trillion. The composition of these imports, heavy on capital goods, carries significant implications for business investment and the broader manufacturing sector.
