By MARTIN CRUTSINGER

(Forbes.com – The Associated Press)

WASHINGTON — A lower dollar appears to be boosting the U.S. economy only gradually, with higher prices on imported oil helping outweigh the benefit of cheaper American exports.

The latest evidence was a government report Friday that the U.S. trade deficit jumped in September by the largest percentage amount in more than a decade. A big culprit was foreign oil, whose prices hit their highest point in nearly a year. That helped eclipse a fifth straight gain in U.S. exports.

Economists think a rebounding global economy will keep raising demand for U.S. exports. The dollar’s value … Continue Reading