Trade gap hit record in 2006. Imports top exports by nearly $764 billion.

[sinkingfeeling]

http://money.cnn.com/2007/02/13/news/economy/trade_gap/index.htm?cnn=yes

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The U.S. trade deficit jumped 6.5 percent to a record $763.6 billion last year as high oil prices and Americans' appetite for foreign-made goods outpaced strong exports.

The deficit came even as U.S. exports surged to a record $1.44 trillion last year, up 12.3 percent from 2005. But imports also jumped, up 10.5 percent to about $2.20 trillion for the year.

Even with exports growing, the deficit was a drag on the economy, as it meant that every man, woman and child spent an average of about $7,300 on imported goods and services during the year, turning to factories overseas rather than U.S. producers for the products they wanted.

[Nederland]

1. Interesting

If I read this right, as a percentage of total GDP, the trade deficit is shrinking. This is good news.