The U.S. Commerce Department released the trade data on Friday. The U.S. trade deficit widened to $37.4 billion in April from a deficit of $35.5 billion in March. March's reading was the smallest gap since December 2013.

March's figure was revised up from a deficit of $40.44 billion.

Analysts had expected a trade deficit of $41.3 billion.

The increase of a deficit was driven by a rise in imports. Exports of goods increased by 0.9% in April, while imports of goods rose by 2.3%.