The trade deficit widened 8.8 percent to $46.3 billion in August from $42.6 billion the prior month as a rise in imports swamped gains in exports, Commerce Department figures showed today in Washington. The number of Americans filing claims for jobless benefits unexpectedly climbed by 13,000 to 462,000 last week, according to the Labor Department.

Economists at Morgan Stanley cut their forecast for third- quarter growth based on the increase in imports from countries like China, while at the same time boosting estimates for business investment. The prospect that unemployment holds above 9 percent through next year and a lack of inflation are among reasons Federal Reserve policy makers may ease monetary policy.