Consumer Demand for Goods Drove US Import Surge During Holidays

US trade deficit in goods hit a fresh record in November due to strong demand and an easing of supply-chain issues.

California’s Port of Los Angeles is struggling to keep up with the influx of cargo containers arriving at its terminals, creating one of the biggest obstruction points in the global supply-chain crisis.

US consumer demand for goods and an easing of supply-chain constraints drove a surge in imports in November, pushing the trade deficit close to a record.

The goods deficit increased in November to a record $99 billion as Americans shopped for clothing, toys, and cell phones early in the holiday season, the Commerce Department said on Thursday.