NEW YORK (AP) — Stock futures are rising after the government said the trade deficit rose more than expected in September, due to an increase in imports.
The Commerce Department says the trade deficit jumped 18.2 percent to $36.5 billion. That is more than the $31.7 billion imbalance economists had expected.
The wider deficit was driven by a strong rise in imports, a sign that consumers and businesses are picking up their spending.
In another sign of improving consumer confidence, department-store operator J.C. Penney & Co. has raised its profit and sales outlook.
Dow Jones industrial average futures are up 17 at 10,207. Standard & Poor's 500 index futures are up 3 at 1,090, while Nasdaq 100 index futures are up 2 at 1,776.
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