09/12/2004

UK trade deficit gap widens by 0.9bn

The UK’s deficit on trade in goods and services is estimated to have widened by around 0.9 billion in October up from a deficit of £2.9 billion in September to £3.8 billion in October.

According to the latest government figures, in the three months ending October the deficit on trade in goods and services was largely unchanged from the previous three months at £10.4 billion. But the latest figures have heightened concern that the UK trade deficit has increased in recent months.

In October, the UK's deficit on trade in goods was provisionally estimated at £5.3 billion compared with a deficit of £4.4 billion in September. The deficit with EU countries in October was £2.4 billion compared with £2.1 billion in September. The deficit with non-EU countries in October was £2.9 billion compared with £2.4 billion in September.

In October total exports of goods fell 2% to £16.2 billion while total imports of goods rose 2.5% to a record £21.5 billion. Exports to EU countries rose 2.5% while exports to non-EU countries fell 7%. Imports from EU countries rose 4.5% while imports from non-EU countries were little changed.

In the three months ending October the deficit on trade in goods widened by £0.1 billion to £14.9 billion.

The deficit with EU countries narrowed by £0.4 billion to £6.7 billion and the deficit with non-EU countries widened by £0.6 billion to reach £8.3 billion.

The latest estimate of the trend suggests that the whole world goods deficit is widening - the value of trade indicated that both exports and imports had risen in recent months.

In the three months ending October exports rose 1% while imports rose 2% compared with the previous three months.

(SP/MB)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

11 May 2006
UK trade gap narrows
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have revealed that the UK's trade gap has closed markedly. The trade deficit, the difference between exports and imports, of goods and services was £3.8 billion in March, compared with £5.4 billion in February. The surplus on trade in services was £1.6 billion in March, £0.
22 January 2004
Poor diet threatens health of two billion people: Unicef
Lack of vitamins and minerals in the diet is damaging the health of two billion people and holding back the economic development of "virtually every country in the southern hemisphere" despite inexpensive means of prevention, according to a new United Nations report.
09 September 2005
UK trade deficit unexpectedly widens
The UK’s deficit on trade in goods and services is provisionally estimated to have widened in July to £3.4 billion from a deficit of £2.2 billion in June according to a report produced by the Office of National Statistics. The surplus on trade and service was £1.6 billion in July, which was £0.3 billion less compared to June.
09 September 2003
UK trade gap narrows to £3.3bn
The UK economy has received a fillip today with the latest figures on global trade revealing that the trade deficit narrowed significantly in July. Economists forecast growth in the economy as a much hoped for rebound in the US economy and a recovery in the Eurozone countries is likely to fuel demand for UK goods and services.
06 October 2011
Cameron 'Shops At Waitrose'
The Prime Minister David Cameron has been 'shopping' at Waitrose where Managing Director Mark Price met the Conservative Leader to discuss plans for a new £35 million regional distribution centre (RDC) in Chorley, Lancashire that will create up to 600 jobs.