Americans' stronger appetites for imported goods, especially cars and computers, lifted the broadest measure of the US trade deficit in the second quarter to its highest point since late 2008. The current account trade deficit grew to $123.3 billion in the April-to-June period, a 12.9 percent increase from the first quarter, the Commerce Department said Thursday. It marked the fourth straight quarter that the deficit has increased. That could be viewed as a healing sign for the US economy as Americans slowly regain their appetite to spend. “We generally view this widening as a necessary consequence of the economic recovery since it largely reflects the resumption of trade flows resulting from increased demand both at home and abroad,” said Nicholas Tenev, economist at Barclays Capital. The current account is the broadest measure of trade because it tracks the flow of goods and services as well as investments between the United States and other countries. Exports did rise in the second quarter, but imports rose faster, contributing to the wider trade gap. Exports of US-made goods to other countries totaled $316.1 billion, a 3.4 percent rise from the first three months of the year. Industrial supplies and materials - including petroleum products and metals - factored into the gain. Imports grew to $485.7 billion in the quarter, up 6.3 percent from the prior period. That reflected stronger demand for cars, computer as well as pickups in other manufactured consumer goods. To help boost the economy and job creation, the Obama administration wants to double sales of US exports in five years. It's an ambitious goal, especially given trade tensions between the United States and China, which offers a huge market to US companies to sell their goods. But the United States routinely run massive trade deficits with China. With the midterm congressional elections just two months away and Americans concerned about the economy, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Thursday ratcheted up the pressure on Beijing. He called on the country to take more aggressive steps to let its currency rise in value, a move that would aid sales of US exports abroad. Meanwhile, Japan, which has been struggling with a weak economy, has taken steps to lower the value of its currency, which should make its goods cheaper for foreign buyers. The second quarter's current account trade figure was in line with economists' forecasts. Thursday's report also showed that foreigners still have strong demand for US Treasury securities.
