U.S. trade deficit widens to $105.6 billion in August

The U.S. goods-and-services trade deficit widened 13.7% in August to $105.6 billion, the largest monthly gap since March 2025, as imports rose substantially faster than exports, Commerce Department data showed Tuesday. The seasonally adjusted figures are not adjusted for inflation. The deficit increased from a revised $92.8 billion in July. Imports climbed 4.3% to $420.8 billion, while exports rose 1.4% to $315.2 billion. The August shortfall exceeded economists’ forecast of $102 billion cited in reports, though forecasts are not part of the government’s trade data. The increase was concentrated in goods. The goods deficit widened by $12.8 billion to $136.6 billion, while the services surplus edged up to $31.0 billion. Imports of industrial supplies and materials rose $9.1 billion, including increases in crude oil and nonmonetary gold. Capital-goods imports increased $6.2 billion, with semiconductors among the leading contributors, according to the detailed trade figures. The import rise outpaced export growth even as exports increased. In the first eight months of 2026, however, the cumulative goods-and-services deficit was $138.