Lurking Illness Under Supposedly Health Economy

Trade Gap Hits Record For 4th Year In a Row
By Paul Blustein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, February 11, 2006; Page A01

The U.S. trade deficit soared to a record in 2005 for the fourth year in a row, according to a government report released yesterday that provided a reminder of the dangers hovering over a generally robust economy.

The United States imported $725.8 billion more in goods and services than it exported last year, the Commerce Department said. That is up 17.5 percent from last year, and it is an all-time high not only in dollar terms but as a proportion of the economy; the figure is equal to 5.8 percent of gross domestic product.
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If the indicators point to a massive economic collapse, the question is: What action is being taken to prevent, or prepare for this?