The total UK trade deficit (goods and services) narrowed £4.7 billion to £2.8 billion in the three months to August 2018.

Removing the effect of inflation, the total trade deficit narrowed £6.1 billion to £0.8 billion in the three months to August 2018.

A £3.5 billion narrowing of the goods deficit plus a £1.1 billion widening of the services surplus led to the £4.7 billion narrowing of the trade deficit in the three months to August 2018.

The narrowing goods deficit was due mostly to falling imports of unspecified goods (including non-monetary gold) and rising fuels exports in the three months to August 2018.

The trade in goods deficit narrowed £2.4 billion with the EU and £1.1 billion with countries outside the EU in the three months to August 2018.

In the 12 months to August 2018, the total trade deficit narrowed £13.5 billion due to rises in exports for goods and services that were partially offset by corresponding rises in imports.