The US trade deficit in April rose 7.8 per cent to $8.4 billion a record exports were not enough to offset record imports, the US Department of Commerce announced yesterday.

The department said exports, led by increased sales of telecommunications equipment, rose 0.2 per cent to a record 878.36 billion in April. Imports, reflecting strong demand for clothes, toys, sporting goods and other consumer products, rose 0.9 per cent.