Trade gap widens on weak exports

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- The U.S. trade gap widened to $29.2 billion in April as exports weakened again in a reflection of waning global demand, a U.S. government report on Wednesday showed.

The Commerce Department said total exports fell 2.3% to $121.1 billion, the lowest level for foreign sales since mid-2006. Exports have dropped in eight of the past nine months.

Imports declined in April for a ninth straight month but by a smaller amount than exports, down 1.4% to $150.3 billion. That was the lowest value for imports since September 2004, more evidence that the recession-struck U.S. economy was not generating as much demand as it once did.

Imports of industrial supplies and materials, which include minerals, chemicals and lumber used in U.S. manufacturing, fell in April as did imports of new cars and parts. But imports of consumer goods like televisions and cosmetics and pharmaceuticals rose modestly from March levels.

The monthly deficit on goods trade with China climbed to $16.8 billion from $15.6 billion in March and was the largest with any single country. During a visit to Beijing last week, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said U.S. consumers were no longer in a position to keep powering global growth with the United States in recession since late 2007.

U.S. exports to nearly all of its major trading partners fell. Exports to Japan plummeted to a 15-year low of $3.9 billion, while exports to the European Union dropped 9.9% to $17.8 billion.

Despite soft demand, oil prices rose to their highest level this year. Imported oil cost $46.60 a barrel in April, up from $41.36 in March.