Exports Jump, Imports Falls In September

September reversed August's outsized goods trade gap, coming in at $58.6 billion vs $67.2 billion. Exports jumped 3.1 percent following August's 3.2 percent decline with wide gains in consumer goods, autos, industrial supplies and capital goods. Imports fell 2.5 percent following the prior month's 2.2 percent gain. Decreases are wide including industrial supplies, capital goods, autos and consumer goods. The results do point to slowing demand but, because imports are counted as a subtraction in the national accounts, they should nevertheless give a boost to third-quarter GDP estimates.