Canada runs large trade deficit as economy keeps spluttering on

By David Ljunggren OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada ran a near-record trade deficit of C$2.94 billion ($2.28 billion) in April as the economy continued to struggle with weak crude oil prices that have slashed the value of exports and curbed growth. The deficit, announced by Statistics Canada on Friday, was the 20th in a row and greater than the C$2.45 billion shortfall forecast by analysts in a Reuters poll. The shortfall narrowed from the previous month as exports rose 1.5 percent from March on a slig