Imports fell more than exports.

The deficit shrank 6% in June on record exports. Sending liquefied natural gas to Europe played a part in that.

Global turmoil put a cap on U.S. exports, while the easing of supply chain snags allowed Americans to import more.

It’s a sign that Americans have money to spend on consumer goods and businesses are importing parts for things they’ll sell to consumers.

U.S. consumers could be buying more American products. Or just buying less of everything.

The causes? The trade war and a slowing global economy.

Tariffs on foreign-made imports to the U.S., and retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports, are dragging down exports and imports.

The overall deficit getting bigger isn’t necessarily a bad thing, said Dan Ikenson, director of the Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies at the Cato Institute.

Americans imported a record number of goods last year, according to new data from the Commerce Department released Wednesday. U.S. service exports also hit a record high. The net effect was the largest trade deficit since 2008 — $621 billion, up nearly 13 percent from the prior year. However, many economists say the U.S. trade deficit […]