MERCHANDISE TRADE DEFICIT: ROUNDUP Trade Deficit Up By $4.6 Billion
The nationÛªs merchandise trade deficit grew by $4.6 billion in April, the biggest monthly increase since last October. Story, F10.</br></br>The nationÛªs merchandise trade deficit grew by $4.6 billion in April for the biggest monthly increase since last October, as imports other than oil increased.</br></br>In April, exports dropped 4 percent from the March level to $16.07 billion, mostly because of a big drop in the volatile category of aircraft sales. Agricultural exports also were down. Imports rose 1.4 percent to $20.67 billion.</br></br>BANK CHIEF RESIGNS: J. William Middleton has resigned as president of Equitable Bank N.A. and as a director of its holding company, Equitable Bancorp, the bank announced yesterday.</br></br>The bankÛªs chairman and chief executive officer, H. Grant Hathaway, said that Middleton is stepping down because he ÛÏfelt that his particular talents and experience were no longer being fully used.Û