U.S. Goods Trade Deficit Narrows 3.4% to $82.4 Billion in April on Export Surge

The U.S. goods trade deficit contracted 3.4% to $82.4 billion in April 2026, driven by a sharp rise in exports that outpaced import growth, the Commerce Department reported on May 29. If sustained, the trend could allow trade to contribute positively to second-quarter economic growth after being a major drag in the prior period. Goods exports climbed $8.5 billion to $219.7 billion, while imports increased $5.6 billion to $302.1 billion. Economists had forecast a goods deficit of $86.5 billion. The narrower April gap followed a first quarter during which trade subtracted 1.25 percentage points from gross domestic product, with the economy expanding at a 1.6% annualized rate.