The U.S. trade deficit grew 18.2% to $36.5 billion in September, the largest increase by percentage in more than 10 years, the Commerce Department reported Friday.
The U.S. exported $132 billion of goods and services in September while it imported $168.4 billion. Exports and imports increased to their highest levels since December 2008.
Economists expected the trade deficit to grow to $31.60 billion for the month, according to the median estimate from Thomson Reuters.
September’s 18.2% jump in the trade deficit was the largest since February 1999.