Trade Deficit

Chinese New Year kicked off on Monday, and the celebration of the new lunar cycle will effect you than you might think. When the country that manufactures so much of what we buy goes on vacation for two weeks, U.S. retail can hardly act like it's business as usual.

Bad economic news across the board is weighing on Americans' mood this month. The consumer sentiment index fell to a 5-month low in March, thanks to increases in the U.S. trade deficit, higher jobless claims, and a more than 40-cent jump in the price of a gallon of gas.

The U.S. trade gap widened to just under $500 billion in 2010, but that obscures impressive growth in global sales of U.S. goods. And the outlook for 2011 is even better. Still, to reach a trade surplus, America must solve two serious problems.

Aided by a jump in exports and a dip in imports, the U.S. trade deficit unexpectedly plunged to $38.7 billion in October, the U.S. Commerce Department said. A weaker dollar is making U.S. industrial and agricultural goods and services more attractive to foreign customers, including emerging market economies developing their infrastructures.

The consumer sentiment index rose to its highest level in five months in November, propelled by a slightly better economic outlook. However, despite the gain, sentiment remains at a low level, and not high enough to suggest a surge in consumer spending anytime soon.

Aided by a decline in imports and a two-year high in exports, the U.S. trade deficit unexpectedly plunged 5.3% in September to $44 billion. Strong commercial airline orders helped boost the export total. Further, if the dollar remains at present levels, that will likely lead to more export gains in the months ahead -- something that will boost the revenue of many U.S. corporations with substantial international customers.

The U.S. trade deficit unexpectedly jumped to $46.3 billion in August, as the nation's deficit with China surged to a record $28 billion. Oil prices were the other key culprit as the petroleum deficit surged 5.7%.

Among Monday's top online stories for investors: Why everyone hates TARP; bullish signs for housing; stocks that matter most to hedge funds.

The U.S. trade deficit fell to $42.8 billion in July from $49.8 billion in June. The gap remains huge, but if the trends continues in the months ahead, trade will boost U.S. GDP growth above current forecasts.

The U.S. trade deficit surged in June to the highest level in 20 months and imports of foreign consumer goods hit an all-time high. But U.S. exports faltered, representing a setback for the global hopes of American manufacturers. The Commerce Department says the deficit jumped 18.8 percent in June...