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The U.S. current-account deficit widened to $246.0 billion in the second quarter of 2026, up 15.7% from a revised first-quarter level as goods imports rose faster than exports. The latest federal data show where the gap expanded, how revisions changed the comparison and how the measure differs from other widely followed U.S. deficits. Key Takeaways The U.S. current-account deficit reached $246.0 billion in Q2 2026, up 15.7% from the revised first-quarter level The deficit increased by $33.4 billion and represented 3.0% of current-dollar GDP Goods imports rose by $67.4 billion to $931.6 billion, while goods exports increased by $27.1 billion to $640.3 billion The goods deficit widened by $40.4 billion to $291.3 billion The $246.0 billion headline figure came in below the $255.0 billion forecast from economists The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported on September 24 that the deficit increased by $33.4 billion from a revised $212.6 billion in the first quarter. The second-quarter gap represented 3.0% of current-dollar gross domestic product, up from 2.7% in the January-to-March period. The increase was centered on goods trade. Imports of goods rose substantially more than exports, while changes in primary and secondary income offset part of the wider goods deficit. Goods Imports
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