The U.S. trade deficit fell 3.6% to $40.4 billion in March as the nation boosted exports of gas, oil and commercial aircraft, the Commerce Department announced today. Economists forecasted a deficit of $40.0 billion. U.S. exports climbed 2.2% - the biggest increase since June - to $193.9 billion. Imports rose a slower 1.7% to $234.3 billion. The deficit for February, meanwhile, was revised down to $41.9 billion from an initially reported $42.3 billion. A smaller trade deficit, generally a good thing for an economy, results when the U.S. sells more goods and services overseas and or buys less from foreign countries