DEFICIT WIDENS: The deficit in the current account, the broadest measure of international trade, widened 15.7 percent to $137.3 billion for January to March, the highest level since late 2008.

TRADE FLOWS: The rise reflected a 1.6 percent increase in U.S. exports but a bigger 2 percent rise in imports. Also, the U.S. surplus on investments shrank as Americans earned less on overseas investments and foreigners earned more on U.S. investments.