The total UK trade deficit widened £5.0 billion to £8.3 billion in the three months to May 2018, mainly due to falling goods exports and rising goods imports.

Falling exports of cars and rising imports of unspecified goods were mostly responsible for the £5.0 billion widening of the total trade deficit in the three months to May 2018.

Removing the effect of inflation, the total trade deficit widened £4.7 billion in the three months to May 2018; falling goods export volumes was the main factor as prices generally increased.

Excluding erratic commodities (mainly unspecified goods), the deficit widened £2.9 billion to £8.7 billion in the three months to May 2018.