Trade gap widened in March

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WASHINGTON, May 10 (UPI) -- The U.S. trade deficit returned to a trend of widening in March, the deficit growing for four of the past five months, the U.S. Census Bureau said Thursday.

The trade gap fell by $6.5 billion in February. In March, however, the trade gap climbed from a revised $45.4 billion in February to $51.8 billion, an increase of $6.4 billion.

The gap widened with exports at $186.8 billion in March and imports at $238.6 billion.

Imports grew February to March by $11.7 billion, while exports grew by $5.3 billion

The trade deficit with China, which shrunk in February, grew from $19.4 billion to $21.7 billion in March. With the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, the deficit, which also fell in February, climbed from $6.4 billion back to $9.1 billion.

The trade deficit with the European Union also down in February, rose from $5.9 billion to $9.8 billion.