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The U.S. trade deficit widened in January to its highest level since October 2008, the Commerce Department said Friday.

The gap between imports and exports rose 4.3% to $52.6 billion, from a revised $50.4 billion in December that was higher than originally reported.

Ecoomists had projected the deficit would widen to $49 billion, from the previously reported $47.1 billion in December, Bloomberg reported.

Exports rose 1.4% to $180.8 billion, while imports rose 2.1% to $233.4 billion.