LONDON: The nation’s goods trade gap with the EU widened to a record, with exports in the last three months falling to the lowest in more than six years.
Data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) showed a deficit of £8.1 billion (US$11.7 billion) in January and £23 billion over the past three months.
Both figures are the highest since the data began in 1998. Exports to the 28-nation bloc in the quarter ended January declined to £32.7 billion, the least since 2009, data showed. In a separate report, the ONS said construction output fell 0.2 percent in January from December last year and was down 0.8 percent year on year.