British trade deficit widens to 2.5 bln pounds in June

LONDON, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The British trade deficit in goods and services was estimated to have been 2.5 billion pounds (4.2 billion U.S. dollars) in June 2014, up from 2.4 billion pounds a month earlier, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Friday.

Britain registered a 9.4 billion pounds deficit in goods trade, and an estimated surplus of 7 billion pounds in services in June. Trade in goods deficit widened by 0.3 billion pounds compared with May 2014.

Exports of goods decreased by 0.5 billion pounds between May and June 2014 to 23.5 billion pounds, as oil and manufactured goods fell over the period.

Imports of goods decreased by 0.1 billion pounds to 32.9 billion pounds in June, said ONS.

In the three months to June 2014, British exports of goods decreased by 0.5 billion pounds to 71.3 billion pounds, and imports increased by 0.4 billion pounds to 98.7 billion pounds.

The deficit in trade over the same period was 27.4 billion pounds. (1 pound = 1.68 U.S. dollars)