The U.S. trade deficit fell to $38.7 billion in October, from $44.6 billion in September.
The Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis said total October exports were $158.7 billion, an increase of $4.9 billion from the previous month. Imports were $197.4 billion, a drop of $900 million.
However, the trade deficit was $6.4 billion higher than in October 2009.
The month-over-month change largely reflected change in the industrial supplies and materials industry, where exports rose by $2.6 billion while imports fell by $1.7 billion.
