Exports from the U.S. rose to a
record level in September, and the trade deficit unexpectedly declined, propping
up the world's largest economy at the end of the Q3. The gap narrowed 5.1% to
$41.5 billion, the smallest since the end of 2010 and lower than economists'
estimate. The increase in sales to overseas buyers appeared to be broad-based,
with improvement from soybeans to civilian aircraft and fuel.