US Goods Trade Deficit Widens 11.5% to $132.6B in August on Import Surge

The US goods trade deficit widened 11.5% to $132.6 billion in August, the Census Bureau reported on Sept. 30, 2026, far exceeding the $115.0 billion forecast by Reuters-polled economists. The surge suggests trade will remain a drag on third-quarter GDP growth. Goods imports jumped $17.4 billion, or 5.5%, to $336.1 billion, led by a 16.6% increase in industrial supplies, including petroleum. Capital goods imports rose 4.0% amid an AI infrastructure buildout, and food imports gained 5.5%. Consumer goods imports fell 1.6%. Exports rose $3.7 billion, or 1.9%, to $203.4 billion. Industrial supplies exports climbed 8.3%, while consumer goods fell 10.5% and motor vehicles and parts dropped 6.9%. Trade has subtracted from GDP for three consecutive quarters. Rising inventories—wholesale up 0.7% and retail up 0.3% in August—could partly offset the drag.