Economics
U.S. Posts a Record Deficit in Manufacturing Trade
Imports from China also set a record in September.
A worker stokes the fire after throwing buckets of scrap glass into the flames during marble production at a manufacturing facility in Paden City, W. Va.
Photographer: Luke Sharrett/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
The U.S. trade deficit in manufacturing hit a record $74.7 billion in September, according to an analysis of new Census Bureau data by RealityChek, a reliable blog on manufacturing and trade. That could become fodder for debate in the presidential election, where candidates have been arguing over the plight of American factory workers.
The record was spotted by Alan Tonelson, founder of RealityChek. Spotting records involves searching through historical trade data, since the Census Bureau doesn't make comparisons in its news releases.