WIREDGOV

Main points for September 2015

• UK trade shows import and export activity and is a main contributor to the overall economic growth of the UK. All data are shown on a seasonally adjusted, balance of payments basis, at current prices unless otherwise stated.
• The UK’s deficit on trade in goods and services was estimated to have been £1.4 billion in September 2015, a narrowing of £1.6 billion from August 2015. The narrowing is attributed to trade in goods, where the deficit decreased from £10.8 billion in August 2015 to £9.4 billion in September 2015.
• Exports of goods increased by £0.6 billion to £24.0 billion in September 2015, this was attributed to an increase in chemicals of £0.6 billion. Imports of goods decreased by £0.9 billion to £33.3 billion over the same period, this was attributed to a decrease in unspecified goods of £1.0 billion.
• Despite the narrowing of the deficit on the month of September 2015, in quarter 3 (July to September) 2015, the UK’s deficit on trade in goods and services was estimated to have been £8.5 billion; widening by £5.1 billion when compared with quarter 2 (April to June) 2015.
• Between quarter 2 (April to June) 2015 and quarter 3 (July to September) 2015, the trade in goods deficit widened by £5.9 billion to £32.2 billion. The widening was as a result of a £6.0 billion decrease in exports to £70.1 billion, there were falls in exports of oil (£1.3 billion), chemicals (£1.1 billion) and finished manufactures (£1.7 billion). Over the same period imports decreased by £0.1 billion to £102.3 billion.
• Between quarter 2 (April to June) 2015 and quarter 3 (July to September) 2015, the trade in services surplus widened by £0.8 billion to £23.6 billion, as imports fell 2.4%.

Get all the tables for this publication in the data section of this publication.