The U.S. trade deficit widens in March as imports increase, according to data cited from the U.S. Commerce Department. The trade gap rises 4.4% to US$60.3 billion, compared with expectations of US$60.9 billion. The figures reflect a larger imbalance between what the United States imports and exports during the month. Both outlets also note that petroleum exports increase over the same period. While the deficit grows, the reported level is slightly below the forecast cited by one source. The widening deficit is therefore presented as being driven primarily by import growth, with petroleum exports contributing to export performance. Overall, the coverage agrees on the direction and magnitude of the month’s trade gap, the percentage increase, and the reported U.S. dollar value for March.