US: September trade deficit up 2.1 per cent to $134.9 billion; estimates at $130.2 billion

(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - In September, the US trade deficit widened, according to preliminary figures, reaching its highest level since March 2025, due to the continued rise in imports of capital goods. The trade deficit rose by 2.1 per cent compared with the previous month, standing at $134.9 billion, according to figures from the Department of Commerce. Economists had forecast a figure of $130.2 billion. The value of goods imports rose by 2.4 per cent, whilst exports grew by 2.6 per cent. Imports of capital goods – a category that includes computers and accessories, semiconductors and telecommunications equipment that drive the development of artificial intelligence – rose by 7.5 per cent. Wednesday’s figures suggest that imports of capital goods continued to weigh on the trade balance in September, against a backdrop of a rush to equip data centres with components manufactured abroad. This category has been the main driver behind the sharp widening of the deficit over the past year, coinciding with the acceleration of the boom in investment in artificial intelligence. The preliminary figures focus exclusively on trade in physical goods (for example, cars, consumer goods and capital goods). Final trade reports combine goods and services (e.g. financial services and tourism).

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