–UK Aug Global Goods Trade Deficit Stg8.227bn vs Stg8.675bn Jul
–UK Aug Non-EU Goods Trade Deficit Stg4.694b vs Stg4.706b Jul
–UK Aug Total Trade Deficit Stg8.227b vs Stg8.675b Jul
–UK Aug Global Trade Gap Ex-oil/erratics Stg7.046b vs Stg7.493b Jul
–UK Aug EU-27 Trade Deficit Stg3.533b vs Stg3.969b Jul
LONDON (MNI) – UK trade activity declined markedly in August,
which adds to concerns over the deceleration in the economy in the third
quarter.
Figures released by National Statistics showed total August exports
fell 2.1% on the month and imports fell 2.7% on the month, resulting in
a narrowing of the trade deficit. Goods exports fell 1.8% on the month
and goods imports fell 2.7% on the month.
The total trade gap in August narrowed to Stg4.643 billion from
Stg4.991 billion in July, while the goods trade gap narrowed to Stg8.227
billion from July’s Stg8.675 billion.
The narrowing in both the global goods and total trade gaps was
less than analysts’ had predicted. The median forecast in a Market News
survey for the global goods trade gap was Stg8 billion, and Stg4.1
billion for the total trade gap.
UK exports to the EU picked up in August, but fell sharply outside
the EU. EU exports were up 1.3% on the month, with imports down 1.9%,
while non-EU export fell 4.9% and imports fell 3.5%.
–London newsroom: 44 20 7862 7491; email: drobinson@marketnews.com
[TOPICS: M$BDS$,M$B$$$,MT$$$$,MABDS$]
