United States sees surge in consumer‑sector M&A as trade deficit narrows

Deutsche Bank executives say the United States continues to be the top priority for cross‑border acquisitions in the consumer sector, despite broader economic uncertainty. Siddharth Malik, Global Head of Consumer and Retail Investment Banking, noted that deals such as McCormick’s purchase of Unilever’s food operations and Keurig Dr Pepper’s acquisition of JDE Peet’s illustrate the accelerating pace of U.S.–focused M&A. Industry leaders at the bank’s global consumer conference, including Coca‑Cola and L’Oréal, emphasized the importance of sustainable sales growth, AI‑driven transformation, and shifting consumer preferences.

U.S. trade data for April 2026 showed the trade deficit narrowed to $55.9 billion, slightly better than the $56.1 billion forecast. Exports rose 2.6 % to $327.1 billion, outpacing a 2 % increase in imports to $383 billion. The goods deficit fell by $2.4 billion to $83.7 billion, while the services surplus improved. Year‑to‑date, the deficit is down 49.1 % versus the prior year, driven by strong export gains in capital goods, computers, civil aircraft and oil products.