U.S. Trade Deficit Dips 0.4% To $43.4 Billion In October

The U.S. trade edged down 0.4% to $43.4 billion in October from a revised $43.6 billion in the prior month, the Commerce Department said Friday. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had forecast a deficit of $41 billion. Exports rose 1.2% to $197.5 billion, led by commercial aircraft. Imports advanced 0.9%, tbut the increase would have been larger if not for plunging oil prices. The trade deficit with China was little changed, though imports from the Asian country reached a record high.