The US trade deficit widened to a record high in January on rising imports, which could see trade remain a brake on economic growth in the first quarter.

The Commerce Department said the trade deficit jumped 9.4% to a record $89.7 billion in January.

The data for December was revised - the deficit amounted to 82.0 billion dollars instead of the previously announced 80.7 billion dollars.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a deficit of $87.1 billion. Trade has been subtracted from gross domestic product growth for six consecutive quarters.