The year-to-date trade deficit is 17% larger than in the first nine months of 2024—partly reflecting a flood of imports at the start of the year as U.S. companies stocked up before tariffs landed.
The Commerce Department data was delayed by the fall government shutdown.
The US trade deficit widened in December, capping a turbulent year of erratic tariff policy.
The goods and services trade gap expanded from the prior month to $70.3 billion, Commerce Department data showed Thursday. The shortfall culminated in a full-year deficit of $901.5 billion, still one of the largest in data back to 1960.
