US trade deficit grows to 44.2 bln USD in August

The U.S. trade deficit edged up 4.1 percent in August, as the decline of exports outpaced the drop of imports, reported the Commerce Department on Thursday. The total trade deficit grew to 44.2 billion U.S. dollars in August, from the revised 42.5 billion dollars in July. Exports fell 1 percent from the previous month to 181.3 billion dollars in August. Imports shed 0.1 percent from the previous month to 225.5 billion dollars in August. Trade deficit has been a drag of the U.S. economic growth for many years. The U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 1.3 percent in the second quarter.