MONTHLY TRADE DEFICIT IS HIGHEST IN 14 YEARS

The U. S. trade deficit jumped to $ 68.1 billion in November, the highest monthly deficit in 14 years, as a surge in imports overwhelmed a smaller increase in exports. The November gap between what America buys from abroad compared to what it sells abroad rose by 8% from the October deficit of $ 63.1 billion, the Commerce Department said Thursday. The increase reflected a 2.9% rise in imports of goods and services to $ 252.3 billion on a seasonally adjusted basis. That jump swamped a 1.2% rise in exports.