Britain's goods trade deficit hit a record high in December as imports of aircraft jumped ahead of a change in VAT sales tax, and bad weather caused disruption at airports and ports.
The figures chime with a sharp fall in UK GDP at the end of 2010 and may raise concern among economists that Britain's recovery will not be as swift as hoped.
The Office for National Statistics said that Britain's goods trade gap widened to £9.247 billion from £8.460 billion in November. Economists had forecast a broadly steady reading of £8.6 billion.
December was Britain's coldest in at least one hundred years and heavy snow and ice closed many airports, though the ONS said they may have recovered some business later in the month.
Even excluding volatile trade in oil and goods such as aircraft, Britain's goods trade deficit rose to £8.175 billion from £7.382 billion, also its highest since monthly records began in 1980.
The total trade deficit, which includes services, deteriorated to its worst level since August 2005, increasing to £4.831 billion from £3.947 billion.
Reuters
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