Trade Deficit Hits Record $3.1 Billion: Monthly Trade Deficit Hits Record $3.1 Billion
The nation racked up a record $3,1 billion trade deficit last month, the Commerce Department reported yesterday, but officials cautioned that the deficitÛªs size was exaggerated by the East and Gulf Coast dock strikes.</br></br>Nevertheless, it was the 17th month in a row that the United States has imported more than it has exported.</br></br>this year, is contributing to the decline In the value of the dollar abroad. At home the trade Imbalance Is boosting sentiment for measures to restrict imports.</br></br>A $27 billion deficit-the deficit already totals $22.4 billion through Oc-tober-would dwarf both last year's $5.7 billion and the previous one-year record of $6.4 billion set in 1972, yesterday that the big increase in the deficitÛÓfrom September's $1.7 billion -was not an indication that the U.S. trade picture was getting worse.</br></br>However, she conceded, there is no suggestion that things are getting any better cither. Exports rose sharply in September as shippers tried to beat the Ocl. 1 dock strike deadline, then declined last month because of the longshoremen's walkout.