U.S. trade deficit smallest in four years

The U.S. Commerce Department said the current account deficit fell 12.9% to $34.3 billion in Novembver, marking the smallest gap since October 2009. An increase in exports, which are up 17% above their pre-recession peak and roughly 5% since November of 2012 along with a 5.6% rise in petroleum exports helped narrow the current acccount gap which measures the flow of goods, services and investments into and out of the country.