The US trade deficit in goods contracted in April as a surge in exports more than offset rising imports, a trend that if sustained could result in trade contributing to economic growth in the second quarter.

The goods trade gap narrowed 3.4 per cent to $US82.4 billion ($A115.2 billion) last month, the Commerce Department's Census Bureau said on Friday.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the goods trade deficit at $US86.5 billion.

Goods exports increased $US8.5 billion to $US219.7 billion.

Imports of goods rose $US5.6 billion to $US302.1 billion.

The trade deficit subtracted 1.25 percentage points from gross domestic product in the first quarter.

The economy of the United States grew at a 1.6 per cent annualised rate last quarter after expanding at a 0.5 per cent pace in the October-December quarter.