The U.S. goods-trade gap widened sharply in July as a surge in imports eclipsed largely flat exports, according to advance data from the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau. The deficit rose to $103.6 billion from a revised $84.9 billion in June, far exceeding the $90.2 billion shortfall economists had expected. Imports climbed 7.1% from the prior month to $281.5 billion, an $18.6 billion increase led by consumer goods and industrial supplies. Exports slipped 0.1% to $178.0 billion, shaving $0.1 billion off the total. The 22% month-on-month jump in the gap signals trade could weigh on third-quarter GDP growth after having boosted output in the previous quarter.