The US trade deficit widened slightly in June to 27.0 billion dollars as volumes increased for a second consecutive month amid signs of global economic recovery, government data showed Wednesday.
The increase in the trade gap was less than the 28.5 billion dollars expected by most analysts.
The Commerce Department said the deficit was a revised 26.0 billion dollars in May.
The June trade deficit was 55 percent below the level of a year ago. The Commerce Department said that adjusted for inflation, the deficit was the smallest since December 1999.
Trade flows with the world's largest economy accelerated for the second month: up 2.2 percent in June after a slight 0.4 percent rise in May.
Trade volumes hit their lowest level of 2009 in April after nine straight months of declines amid the worst global economic crisis since the Great Depression.
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