21.   Still, some economists are skeptical imports will grow significantly.

22.   The government noted that retained imports grew more in October, with sustained domestic demand.

23.   The trade deficit for merchandise continued to widen as imports grew three times as quickly as exports in the first half of the year.

24.   Imports grew a modest three percent.

25.   The office also said that in the final quarter imports grew by about six per cent and exports rose by two per cent.

26.   It said the worsened deficit came because imports grew much more rapidly than exports.