The U.S. trade deficit narrowed sharply in January as exports surged to a record high and imports fell, a trend that if sustained, could see trade contributing to economic growth in the first quarter. The trade gap contracted 25.3% to $54.5 billion, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis and Census Bureau said on Thursday. Data for December was revised to show the deficit widening to $72.9 billion instead of $70.3 billion as previously estimated. Economists polled by Reuters forecast the trade deficit shrinking to $66.6 billion in January.