U.S. trade deficit declines in September

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. trade deficit dropped 5.1 percent in September from the previous month as an increase in exports outpaced a rise in imports, the Commerce Department reported on Thursday.

The monthly trade deficit declined to 41.5 billion U.S. dollars in September, down from the revised 43.8 billion dollars in August.

Exports rose 3.1 percent from the previous month to 187 billion dollars in September, and imports increased 1.5 percent from the previoius month to 228.5 billion dollars in September, the department said.

The trade deficit has been a drag on U.S. economic growth for many years. The U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 2 percent in the third quarter this year.

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