US imports of goods and services rose $17.2 billion in August to $420.8 billion, according to the Commerce Department. The increase was led by crude oil, which added $3.3 billion, nonmonetary gold ($3.1 billion) and semiconductors ($2.4 billion).
The trade deficit widened to $105.6 billion from a revised $92.8 billion in July. It was the widest since March 2025, Reuters reported.
Crude oil and gold together added $6.4 billion, about 37% of the $17.4 billion increase in goods imports on the Census Bureau’s count. Crude imports averaged 6.5 million barrels a day, up from 5.5 million in July, while the average price fell to $76.94 a barrel from $79.32.
Semiconductor imports rose to $15.4 billion, but computer imports fell $0.4 billion and computer accessories fell $1.6 billion. For the year through August, computer imports totaled $255 billion, up from $130.9 billion a year earlier, while semiconductor imports reached $90.5 billion, up from $49.2 billion.
Consumer goods imports fell $486 million to $57.5 billion, led by a $1.2 billion decline in pharmaceuticals. Autos and parts imports rose $331 million to $35.7 billion.
Container traffic remained strong. The Port of Savannah handled a September record of 504,015 TEUs, with loaded imports up 5.5% from a year earlier. The National Retail Federation;s Global Port Tracker forecast September imports at 2.31 million TEUs, up 9.6% year over year, and November at 2 million TEUs, down 0.9%.
