US trade deficit rises 1.9% to $68.9 billion in February

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - The US trade deficit rose $1.3 billion, or 1.9%, to $68.9 billion in February, according to data from the Commerce Department's Census Bureau on Thursday.

The expectation for the figure was to show a deficit of $66.9 billion, following a deficit of $67.6 billion in January.

Exports in February were $263 billion, $5.8 billion more than January; while imports were $331.9 billion -- $7.1 billion more than the previous month.

"The February increase in the goods and services deficit reflected a decrease in the goods deficit of $0.3 billion to $91.4 billion and a decrease in the services surplus of $1.6 billion to $22.5 billion," the Census Bureau said in a statement.

"Year-to-date, the goods and services deficit decreased $3.9 billion, or 2.8 percent, from the same period in 2023. Exports increased $9.3 billion or 1.8 percent. Imports increased $5.4 billion or 0.8 percent," it added.