US trade deficit widens in January

The US trade deficit recorded an increase in January reaching USD 39.1 billion compared to USD 39.0 billion in December, official data showed Friday.According to the Department of Commerce, the total January exports of USD 192.5 billion and imports of USD 231.6 billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of USD 39.1 billion, up from USD 39.0 billion in December.It indicated that January exports were USD 1.2 billion more than December exports of USD 191.3 billion. January imports were USD 1.3 billion more than December imports of USD 230.3 billion.In January, the goods deficit increased USD 0.7 billion from December to USD 59.3 billion and the services surplus increased USD 0.5 billion from December to USD 20.2 billion.Exports of goods increased USD one billion to USD 133.8 billion and imports of goods increased USD 1.7 billion to USD 193.1 billion. Exports of services increased USD 0.2 billion to USD 58.7 billion and imports of services decreased USD 0.4 billion to USD 38.5 billion.The goods and services deficit decreased USD three billion from January 2013 to January 2014. Exports increased three percent to USD 5.7 billion and imports were up USD 2.6 billion or 1.2 percent.US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker said in a statement in this regard that US exports are off to a "solid" start in 2014 and that the Department "will continue helping US companies' access new markets so they can reach the 95 percent of worldwide consumers who live outside our borders." "We know that when our businesses sell their goods around the world, they create growth and opportunity here at home. Exports supported 11.3 million jobs nationwide last year, and we're working hard to ensure more US communities benefit from the job opportunities and economic benefits that come from exporting companies," Pritzker affirmed.