TRADE DEFICIT HITS RECORD OF $ 80.9B IN SEPTEMBER

The U. S. trade deficit hit an all- time high of $ 80.9 billion in September as American exports fell sharply while imports, even with supply chain problems at American ports, continue to climb. The September deficit topped the previous record of $ 73.2 billion set in June, the Commerce Department reported Thursday. The deficit is the gap between what the United States exports to the rest of the world and the imports it purchases from foreign nations. In September, exports plunged 3% to $ 207.6 billion while imports rose 0.6% to $ 288.5 billion.