Haver Analytics
Haver Analytics
Global| Sep 11 2007

UK Exports and Imports Accelerate Again – Deficit Slips

Summary

UK trade deficit widens in July as worsening trend stays in place. Trade flows in capital goods and autos are strengthening. But imports are generally holding their lead forcing the deficit deeper into red ink. Export and import flows [...]


UK trade deficit widens in July as worsening trend stays in place.

Trade flows in capital goods and autos are strengthening. But imports are generally holding their lead forcing the deficit deeper into red ink. Export and import flows generally have accelerated in the last 3 months and 6 months compared to earlier periods in terms of the sequential growth rates in the table below. The UK trade deficit has sunk to -7 billion sterling in July from -6.5 billions sterling in June. UK trade flows are just starting to get back into a normal swing after a huge surge in early 2006.

UK Trade Trends for Goods
  m/m% % SAAR
  Jul-07 Jun-07 3M 6M 12M
Balance* -££ 7.07 -££ 6.54 -££ 6.76 -££ 6.93 -££ 6.78
Exports          
All Exports 2.6% 3.1% 48.6% 12.1% 1.4%
Capital Goods 7.3% 4.8% 89.7% 13.0% -17.8%
Road Vehicles 2.7% 4.6% 28.9% 11.8% 14.7%
Basic Materials -5.1% -1.0% -2.5% 34.8% 13.6%
Food Feed Beverages & Tobacco 1.2% -4.5% 24.9% 2.7% 8.8%
Imports          
All Improts 4.0% 1.6% 31.8% 14.2% 3.6%
Capital Goods 1.6% 3.2% 18.2% 2.2% -17.5%
Road Vehicles 1.3% 2.2% 51.0% 9.2% 20.6%
Basic Materials 7.1% 2.7% 62.9% 76.7% 46.1%
Food Feed Beverages & Tobacco 4.7% -2.2% 7.5% 6.2% 10.0%
*Bil Sterling; monthly or period average
  • Robert A. Brusca is Chief Economist of Fact and Opinion Economics, a consulting firm he founded in Manhattan. He has been an economist on Wall Street for over 25 years. He has visited central banking and large institutional clients in over 30 countries in his career as an economist. Mr. Brusca was a Divisional Research Chief at the Federal Reserve Bank of NY (Chief of the International Financial markets Division), a Fed Watcher at Irving Trust and Chief Economist at Nikko Securities International. He is widely quoted and appears in various media.   Mr. Brusca holds an MA and Ph.D. in economics from Michigan State University and a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan. His research pursues his strong interests in non aligned policy economics as well as international economics. FAO Economics’ research targets investors to assist them in making better investment decisions in stocks, bonds and in a variety of international assets. The company does not manage money and has no conflicts in giving economic advice.

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