US trade deficit widens to $105.6 billion in August

The US trade deficit widened 13.7 percent to $105.6 billion in August, Commerce Department data showed Tuesday, as imports of oil and technology products helped push the gap to its widest level since March 2025.

The figure was above a $102 billion consensus forecast released by MarketWatch. The data are adjusted for seasonality but not inflation.

US imports rose 4.3 percent to $420.8 billion, driven by crude oil, gold, semiconductors and industrial machinery. Exports climbed 1.4 percent to $315.2 billion, partly driven by energy exports.

US trade flows have swung since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, as businesses tried to get ahead of his tariffs on trading partners. The latest figures also reflect higher global energy prices linked to the war in the Middle East, where US-Israel strikes targeting Iran since late February triggered Tehran's response in blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for energy transport.