WASHINGTON — The U.S. trade deficit jumped by $6.6 billion to $50.2 billion in May, the largest deficit since October 2008, as oil costs increased and exports shrank, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday.
May imports rose by $5.6 billion, or 2.6%, to $225.1 billion. Imports of goods were the highest since July 2008. Industrial supply and material imports were the highest since August 2008. Food, feed and beverage imports reached a record high.
Exports dipped by $1.0 billion, or 0.5%, to $174.9 billion, the first decline in exports since February.
Economists expected a $44.0 billion deficit, according to the median estimate from Thomson Reuters.