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The U.S. trade deficit widened more than forecast in September to a seven-month high as imports expanded and the merchandise gap with China hit a record amid an escalating tariff war.

Canada’s economy continued to show sluggish trade flows in September with both exports and imports recording back-to-back monthly drops. The statistics agency also revised away its previously reported surplus from August.

WASHINGTON — The final major economic report before the Nov. 6 congressional elections showed that U.S. employers added a stellar 250,000 jobs in October and raised average pay by the most in nearly a decade.

Encouraging spending on roads, bridges and other infrastructure could be one of the rare areas where a Democrat-controlled Congress finds common ground with the Trump administration. Private investors in such projects aren’t relying on any breakthroughs, regardless of how next week’s midterm elections shake out.

BANGKOK — Stock markets charged ahead Nov. 2 after President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, spoke by phone and reported progress in resolving trade tensions.

Schneider National Inc. reported higher revenue and profits in the third quarter, but not all of its business units shared in the bounty.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder recently announced that longtime Michigan Department of Transportation employee Mark Van Port Fleet will serve as the agency’s new director.

Mary Peters, the country’s secretary of transportation during the second half of the George W. Bush administration, will be honored with a lifetime achievement award at the Transportation Research Board’s annual meeting in Washington in January.

WASHINGTON — Spending on U.S. construction projects essentially was unchanged in September, the weakest showing since June, as an increase in home construction was offset by a slide in spending on government projects.