The U.S. current account deficit expanded more than expected in the second quarter to US$218.4 billion, reflecting a big jump in payments for foreign oil, the U.S. Commerce Department reported on Monday.

The quarterly shortfall was larger than forecasts for a deficit of $214 billion. To make matters worse, the Commerce Department also raised its estimate of the first quarter current account deficit to US$213.2 billion compared with the initial estimate of US$208.7 billion.

Nevertheless, the deficit totalled 6.6% of gross domestic output, the same as in the first quarter.

The current account measures U.S. trade with the rest of the world, it includes trade in goods and investment flows.

The deficit on goods increased to US$210.6 billion in the second quarter from US$208 billion in the previous three months.

U.S. goods exports increased to US$252.8 billion in the second quarter from US$244.5 billion in the first.

However, higher oil prices boosted imports to US$463.4 billion in the second quarter from US$452.5 billion in the first three months of the year.

As well, the income deficit widened to a record US$4.1 billion in the second quarter from US$2.5 billion in the first.