The UK’s trade in goods and services deficit widened by £3.0 billion to £9.5 billion in September figures as imports continue to increase according to figures released by the Office of National Statistics.
The increase was largely due to an increase in imports of goods, primarily due to increased imports of machinery, unspecified goods and fuels, and was partially offset by a decrease in imports of aircraft.
Imports of goods from both EU and non-EU countries increased between the three months to June 2017 and the three months to September 2017; exports to EU countries increased by £0.9 billion, while exports to non-EU countries fell by £1.7 billion in the same period.
The UK’s total trade deficit narrowed by £0.7 billion between August and September 2017; this was primarily due to increased exports of unspecified goods
The UK’s total trade deficit (goods and services) excluding erratic commodities narrowed by £0.1 billion to £3.8 billion between August 2017 and September 2017; mainly due to an increase in goods exports excluding erratic commodities.
