Official figures show that the US trade deficit narrowed unexpectedly in September to its lowest since May 2005 as exports set a record.
The US Commerce Department said the trade gap shrank to $56.5 billion, down slightly from a revised estimate of $56.8 billion for August, despite a record high price for imported oil.
The report was more proof that a weak US dollar is boosting exports of goods and services, which rose for a seventh consecutive month to a record $140.1 billion.
Overall US imports rose slightly in September to $196.6 billion, just shy of the record set in July 2007. Imports from China and from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries were both the second highest on record.
