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The U.S. trade deficit widened sharply in May, rising to $77.6 billion from a revised $54.6 billion in April — a 42.2% increase. The $23.0 billion expansion reversed the narrowing seen in the prior month and marked the widest trade gap since March 2025. This deterioration was driven by a 3.3% increase in imports that combined with a 3.2% decline in exports. Trade data have been volatile during President Trump’s second term, with shifting tariff policies and a Supreme Court ruling that limited the president’s ability to impose broad duties on most foreign countries.
