US trade deficit increased more than expected

America´s trade deficit with the rest of the world increased slightly more than expected at the end of 2015 as exports of vehicles and parts slipped.

The trade deficit worsened by $1.1bn in December to reach -$43.4bn, according to figures from the US Department of Commerce.

Analysts on Wall Street had been expecting a shortfall of -$42.5bn.

Exports of goods and services decreased by $0.5bn to reach $181.5bn - entirely as a result of a $1.3bn increase in the goods deficit driven by falls in overseas sales for vehicles, parts, engines and industrial supplies - while total imports increased by $0.6bn to $224.9bn, the Department of Commerce said in a statistical release.

For all of 2015, the total trade deficit in goods and services reached $531.5bn, 4.6% more than in 2014, as exports dropped 4.8% to $2.23trn - led by a $76.9bn drop in sales of industrial supplies and materials - while imports decreased 3.1% to $2.76trn.