AP

WASHINGTON

THE US trade deficit narrowed in May from April, weighing less on economic growth this spring.

American companies sold more products in Europe and China, while cheaper oil lowered the amount spent on imports.

The Commerce Department said on Wednesday that the trade deficit fell 3.8 percent to $48.7 billion in May, down from $50.6 billion in April.

Exports rose 0.2 percent to $183.1 billion. The increase reflected stronger sales of telecommunications equipment and heavy machinery.

Imports dropped 0.7 percent to $231.8 billion.

America’s foreign oil bill fell to the lowest level in 15 months.

A narrower trade gap is less of a drag on growth. It means the United States is spending less on foreignmade products, while taking in more from sales of US-made goods.

The increase in exports to the second-highest level on record is a hopeful sign for growth in the April-June quarter.

US manufacturing has weakened this spring, hurt by Europe’s financial crisis and slower growth in China.

At the same time, sluggish US job growth and meager pay increases have made American consumers more cautious about spending, leading some economists to predict growth slowed in the second quarter from the first-quarter’s tepid 1.9 percent annual pace.

Through the first five months of this year, US exports are up 5.7 percent from the same month a year ago. And exports to the 27- nation European Union rose 2.6 percent in May from April.

Still, the US deficit with the EU widened 21 percent in May to $10.5 billion because imports from Europe increased 7.8 percent.

America’s trade deficit with China increased to $26 billion in May.

US exports to China rose 5.2 percent, but imports rose by a faster 5.8 percent.

The deficit with China is the largest with any country and is on pace to break last year’s all-time high.

Still, other reports suggest exports have slowed since May.

A survey by the Institute for Supply Management, a trade group of purchasing managers, said US manufacturing shrank in June for the first time in nearly three years. The survey noted that exports declined and new orders plunged.

Economic growth of 1.9 percent is not enough to significantly lower the unemployment rate, which stayed at 8.2 percent in June.

High unemployment is also putting pressure on US politicians to protect American workers against what critics see as unfair trade practices from such nations as China.