Analysts predict record trade gap

The annual trade deficit probably widened to a record $7.28 billion last month, a median forecast of nine economists surveyed by Bloomberg News has found.

They think the gap widened because imports probably rose 2.9 per cent in March from a year earlier, and exports increased 2 per cent.

Statistics New Zealand will report the data on Thursday.

Analysts monitor a rolling 12-month deficit because the monthly figures are not seasonally adjusted. The economists think the country had a $251 million deficit last month in March compared with $190 million a year earlier.