Surging imports pushed up the US trade deficit by 18 per cent in September, official data showed in a sign of improving trade flows and a healing global economy.

The goods and services trade gap rose to $36.5 billion, the highest since January, from a revised $30.8 billion in August, the Commerce Department reported.

The figure was higher than anticipated by most economists.

The report showed a rise in both imports and exports, underscoring an improvement in trade flows that had fallen with the global economic slump.

Total September exports were up nearly three percent to $132 billion while imports amounted to $168.4 billion, rising by a hefty 5.8 per cent in the biggest percentage increase since March 1993.

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