The trade deficit rose again to £4 billion in the final quarter of last year, reaching £34.7 billion for 2015. This pushed above the previous year’s total, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in February, outlining the vast amount by which imports exceed exports.
Sales of goods to nations within the EU fell £11.6 billion, while those to countries outside the EU rose by £3.5 billion.
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