The Commerce Department said on Wednesday the current account gap,
which measures the flow of goods, services and investments into and
out of the country, rose 1.9 percent to $100.3 billion from a
revised $98.4 billion deficit in the second quarter.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the deficit narrowing to
$97.5 billion from a previously reported $98.5 billion shortfall in
the April-June quarter.
The current account deficit represented 2.3 percent of gross
domestic product, unchanged from the second quarter.
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The deficit had declined in recent quarters as the U.S. ramped up
domestic energy production, which has reduced its petroleum import
bill.
With crude oil prices at 5-1/2 year lows, the current account gap is
expected to narrow in the coming quarters.
Goods and services exports increased 0.9 percent to $592.0 billion
in the third quarter, while imports slipped 0.2 percent to $716.3
billion.
The surplus on primary income rose to $59.0 billion in the third
quarter from $54.8 billion in the prior quarter.
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The deficit on secondary income increased to $34.9 billion from
$22.0 billion in the second quarter. Secondary income receipts fell
to $27.8 billion from $40.1 billion. Secondary income receipts had
been boosted by fines and penalties paid to the U.S. government by
foreign entities.
((Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Andrea Ricci))
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