The U.S. trade deficit edged up in January, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

The total trade deficit rose to 44.4 billion U.S. dollars in January, from a revised 38.1 billion dollars last December.

Exports fell 1.2 percent from the previous month to 184.5 billion dollars in January. Imports rose 1.8 percent 228.9 billion dollars due to a gain of oil imports.

The trade deficit has been a drag on the U.S. economic growth for many years. Last year, the trade deficit declined 3.6 percent from the previous year to 539.5 billion dollars, according to revised figures. Endi