Reflecting a sharp increase in the value of exports, the Commerce Department released a report on Thursday showing the U.S. trade deficit unexpectedly narrowed in the month of September.

The Commerce Department said the trade deficit shrank to $52.8 billion in September from a revised $59.3 billion in August.

The unexpectedly narrower trade deficit came as the value of exports jumped by 3.0 percent to $289.3 billion in September after slipping by 0.2 percent to $280.9 billion in August.

The report showed significant increases in exports of non-monetary gold and pharmaceuticals, which more than offset a decrease in exports of computers.

Meanwhile, the Commerce Department said the value of imports climbed by 0.6 percent to $342.1 billion in September after plunging by 5.2 percent to $340.2 billion in August.

A sharp increase in imports of pharmaceuticals was partly offset by a slump in imports of capital goods, particularly computers.

The report also said the goods deficit shrank to $79.0 billion in September from $86.1 billion in August, while the services surplus narrowed to $26.2 billion in September from $26.8 billion in August.

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