News In Brief
| Washington
2nd-quarter US trade deficit ran at a record $24.4 billion
The deficit for the broadest measure of the nation's foreign trade widened to a record $24.4 billion in the April-June quarter, surpassing the previous mark of $19.7 billion set earlier in the year, the Commerce Department reported Monday.
In other economic news, the department also said inventories held by US businesses increased 0.8 percent in July. It marked the 13th consecutive monthly increase in that economic category. Inventories on shelves and in back lots grew
