Soaring prices and high demand for foreign crude oil put renewed pressure on the U.S. trade balance in June, the government reported Friday, while U.S. exports were flat amid a strengthening dollar.

The Commerce Department said the U.S. deficit in international trade of goods and services grew 6.1% to US$58.82 billion. Exports were basically unchanged, advancing to US$106.83 billion from US$106.78 billion in May, and imports rose 2.1% to US$165.65 billion, a record high.

The value of crude-oil imports rose to a record US14.58 billion in June as the average price per barrel climbed $1.32 to US$44.40. The volume of crude imports increased to 328.32 million barrels from 318.63 million in May.

Deficits with major trading partners also got bigger in June, Commerce said. The U.S. shortfall with China widened to US$17.59 billion from May’s US$15.75 billion. The U.S. trade deficit with Japan grew to US$6.95 billion from US$6.58 billion in May. The trade gap with the euro area increased to US$8.19 billion from US$8.12 billion. The deficit with Canada widened to US$5.40 billion from $4.75 billion. The U.S. gap with Mexico rose to US$4.76 billion from US$4.48 billion.

Meanwhile, prices of goods imported into the U.S. rose at the fastest pace in four months in July as surging crude-oil prices set new records. Overall import prices rose 1.1% last month, marking the largest increase since March, the Labor Department said.

The increase reflected rising petroleum prices. Non-petroleum prices fell for a third month in a row, dropping 0.1%.

Prices of goods imported from Canada registered the biggest increase in July — a 1.1% increase that was the largest in four months, the Labor Department said.

Separately, the University of Michigan’s midmonth report on consumer sentiment for August was said to have shown a decrease to 92.7 from 96.5 in July.

Its preliminary August consumer expectations index fell to 81.3 from 88.5 in July. The early reading on the current conditions index showed a decrease to 110.4 from 113.5.