A 7.5% rise in capital-goods imports helped push the U.S. goods trade deficit to $134.9 billion in September, the largest gap since March 2025, U.S. Census Bureau data showed.
The bureau’s import-by-category exhibit put capital-goods imports at $157.4 billion, compared with $146.4 billion in August. Reuters linked the increase to demand for equipment associated with investment in AI infrastructure.
Across all goods, imports totaled $344.1 billion and exports reached $209.2 billion. Imports increased $8.1 billion, or 2.4%, from August, while exports grew $5.3 billion, or 2.6%. The larger dollar increase in imports widened the deficit despite the rise in exports.
September’s deficit was $2.8 billion above August’s $132.1 billion. A Reuters survey of economists had forecast a $130.2 billion gap.
The advance figures cover goods. They are seasonally adjusted but do not account for price changes, and the bureau said the September estimates drew on nearly complete trade coverage. EconoTimes previously covered the advance September goods balance.
The Census Bureau’s calendar schedules the full September goods-and-services trade report for Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 8:30 a.m. ET. That release will provide a broader measure than the advance goods figures.
