UK trade gap narrows but manufacturing slows

Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show the UK's deficit on trade in goods and services was £4.6bn in September, compared with £4.9bn in August. This is the second monthly improvement since July when the deficit hit a five-year high. The surplus on trade in services was £3.7bn in September, compared with a surplus of £3.6bn in August. But separate figures showing the manufacturing sector recorded its slowest growth for five months acted as a drag on the upbeat outlook. The sector's growth in September slowed to 0.1%, compared to 0.48% in August. Output increased in seven ...