Ticker: Hunting and fishing fees up; US trade deficit hits record $73.3B

Massachusetts is hiking its freshwater fishing and hunting license fees for the first time in more than a quarter century, state wildlife officials said.

The fishing, hunting and trapping license fee increases announced Monday will be phased in over five years and are the first such increases in 26 years, according to the agency.

Under the new fee structure, resident fishing and hunting licenses will increase annually from $22.50 this year to $40 by 2026. A non-resident big game hunting license will go from $94.50 this year to $112 by 2026.

The higher fees will be used to address MassWildlife’s current revenue shortfall, fund core operations and maintain programs and services.

US trade deficit hits record $73.3B in August

The U.S. trade deficit increased to a record $73.3 billion in August as a small gain in exports was swamped by a much larger increase in imports.

The Commerce Department reported Tuesday that the monthly trade deficit increased 4.2% in August, rising to an all-time high, surpassing the previous record of $73.2 billion set in June. The trade deficit represents the gap between what the country exports to the rest of the world and the imports it purchases from other countries.

In August, exports rose 0.5% to $213.7 billion, reflecting revived overseas demand. But imports, even with all the supply chain problems at ports, were up an even stronger 1.4% to $287 billion.

The deficit with China surged 10.8% to $31.7 billion in August. This year’s deficit with China through eight months totals $218.9 billion, up 13.7% from the same period a year ago.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3BemJPr