Britain’s trade-in-goods deficit widened in May from the level in April, official data showed yesterday. The deficit grew to £8.5 billion (€9.6 billion) in May, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement.

It stood at an upwardly-revised £7.6 billion in April, while analysts had forecast a deficit of £7.2 billion in May according to a survey by Dow Jones Newswires.

Total exports rose by 4.2 per cent and imports increased by 5.8 per cent in May, the ONS added.

However, car exports plunged by almost 10 per cent, as British-based car manufacturers were unable to source vital components from Japan, which was ravaged by a devastating earthquake and tsunami in March.

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