Record exports and lower oil prices unexpectedly helped narrow the U.S. trade deficit, easing concern that the economy is faltering, Bloomberg reported.

The gap shrank 6.7 percent to $43.7 billion in April, its lowest level since December, U.S. Department of Commerce figures showed today.

“Our exports continue to perk along,” said Samuel Coffin, an economist at UBS Securities LLC. “Foreign growth is still moving along at an OK pace, and the dollar is helping out exports to some degree.”

Another economic indicator, applications for unemployment insurance benefits, increased by 1,000 to 427,000 in the week ended June 4, the Labor Department said. Economists had projected a drop to 419,000.

Consumer confidence, meanwhile, improved as gasoline prices ebbed. The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index climbed to minus 45.9 in the period that ended June 5, the best showing since the end of April. A reading of 100 signals full confidence in all categories of the index.