US trade deficit hits new high with imports climbing

The US Commerce Department reported on Wednesday that the US trade gap has reached its highest level ever recorded amid a surge in imports of goods and services in March, driven mainly by huge increases in the purchase of laptops, computers, automobiles, furniture, and clothing.

While US exports hit a record of $241.7 billion, imports reached an all-time high of $351.5 billion, meaning that the trade deficit surged by more than 22% to $109.8 billion.

"The prevailing domestic and overseas economic environment could keep the deficit pinned near record levels and impose a significant headwind to US GDP growth," said Mahir Rasheed of Oxford Economics. 

In the first three months of 2022, the deficit in goods and services increased $84.8 billion, or 41.5% from the same period last year. "However, we expect aggressive policy tightening (and) somewhat softer domestic demand growth to cool import growth and allow the deficit to stabilize," Rasheed said.