The trade deficit in the US widened more than anticipated in February as imports climbed, adding to evidence of a rebound in economic growth. The gap increased 7.4% to $39.7 billion from a revised $37 billion in January according to figures from the Commerce Department in Washington. Imports climbed 1.7% as Americans bought more computers and televisions made abroad, while exports rose to the highest level since October 2008.

On the forex market the US Dollar extended losses against the Yen after the report to trade at 92.71 Yen to the US Dollar from 93.24 Yen late yesterday. The US Dollar weakened to $1.3613 per Euro from $1.3592 late yesterday.

Another report by the Labor Department showed that the price of goods imported into the US rose less than anticipated in March, indicating few signs of increasing inflation pressures from abroad. The 0.7% increase in the import-price index followed a revised 0.2% drop in February. Excluding petroleum, prices fell 0.2% last month, the first decline since July 2009.

After eliminating the influence of prices, which are the numbers used to calculate GDP, the trade deficit grew to $42.5 billion from $40.9 billion in January. The average for the first two months of the year is about the same as in the previous quarter, indicating trade will have little influence on growth figures.

Purchases of foreign-made goods increased to $182.9 billion as demand for consumer goods, including televisions, toys, pharmaceuticals and clothing climbed to the highest level since October 2008. With the economy generating 162,000 jobs in March, the most in three years, U.S. consumers are beginning to spend more. That spending will probably continue to drive import growth.

Exports increased 0.2% to $143.2 billion, led by growing foreign demand for engines and semiconductors. An $821 billion drop in civilian-aircraft deliveries to buyers overseas, an often volatile category, limited the overall gain.

Sales of U.S.-made goods are getting a boost from growing demand in China and other expanding economies. The U.S. surplus with newly industrialized countries, including Korea, Singapore and Taiwan, reached a record $2.2 billion as exports grew.

President Barack Obama has said the US needs to focus on expanding exports and investment rather than depend on consumer spending as in the past. He plans to increase government-backed export financing for small businesses by 50%, to $6 billion a year.

Today’s report showed the trade gap with China decreased to $16.5 billion, the lowest since March 2009, from $18.3 billion in the prior month. Americans imported the fewest Chinese-made goods in almost a year. China reported on April 11th that it posted a trade deficit of $7.24 billion in March, the first in six years. It still showed a $9.9 billion surplus with the US.

China’s trade numbers were released three days after U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner met in Beijing with Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan amid rising pressure from American lawmakers for action to allow its currency, the Yuan, to appreciate and reduce a trade gap that was $227 billion last year.