Britain's trade-in-goods deficit ballooned to a record amount in September on the back of surging imports, official data showed today.
The deficit soared to £9.8 billion last month, compared with a revised shortfall of £8.6 billion in August, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. Market expectations had been for a smaller deficit of £8 billion in September, according to analysts.
Exports edged ahead by 0.2% to £24.5 billion. However, imports jumped 3.8% to £34.3 billion, led by demand for industrial chemicals and drugs, silver and works of art, the ONS added.
