MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Weak dollar helps US October exports rise 2.6%, highest level in almost a year

But China’s surplus with the US also peaked in October

The United States trade deficit unexpectedly narrowed in October as exports rose to their highest level in almost a year, official figures have shown. The deficit fell to 32.9 billion US dollars, 7.6% lower than September's downwardly revised 35.7 billion

Helped by the weaker value of the dollar US exports increased by 2.6% to 136.8 billion USD led by sales of civilian aircraft, cars and computer chips.

Imports rose 0.4% to 169.8 billion. Analysts had expected the deficit to widen.

On average, analysts had predicted the deficit to expand to 36.8 billion.

The value of US exports was the highest since November 2008, according to the Commerce Department figures. The trade deficit is now expected to widen again in 2010 as the US economy continues to recover and consumers buy more imported goods.

The United States closely-watched deficit with China widened in October to 22.7 billion USD (2.5%), which is the highest level in almost a year.

This came despite US exports to China hitting an all-time high, as Chinese-made goods coming in the other direction also continued to rise.

The US has long accused China of keeping its currency artificially low to boost its exports.

On his visit to China last month, President Barack Obama reiterated US calls for Beijing to allow the Yuan to rise in value against the dollar.

China continues to maintain that it will eventually allow the Yuan to increase, but only when domestic demand for its products rises sufficiently to take up the slack of any resulting decline in exports.