The U.K. trade deficit came in at GBP 8.6 billion in March, unchanged compared with February, the Office for National Statistics said Tuesday. The expected shortfall was GBP 8.4 billion.
The visible trade deficit with EU nations widened to GBP 4.5 billion, while the shortfall with non-EU countries fell to GBP 4.1 billion.
Exports of goods rose by 5.8 percent to GBP 26.4 billion in March. At the same time, imports grew 4.2 percent to GBP 34.9 billion. Exports of goods and imports of goods were at record levels in March, the statistical office said.
The deficit on trade in goods and services narrowed to GBP 2.7 billion in March from GBP 2.9 billion in February. The surplus on trade in services was estimated at GBP 5.8 billion compared with the surplus of GBP 5.6 billion in the prior month.
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