U.S. businesses brought in a new high of foreign goods in March for the fourth month in a row as they tried to beat price increases tied to the Trump tariffs — all but assuring a weak GDP report in the first quarter.

The U.S. trade deficit in goods widened to a record high in March as businesses ramped up efforts to bring in merchandise ahead of President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, suggesting trade was a large drag on economic growth in the first quarter.

The US merchandise-trade deficit unexpectedly widened in March to a record as companies continued importing goods to get ahead of tariffs, indicating a large hit to the economy in the first quarter.