EEF NW comment on trade data

Darrell Matthews, EEF North West Region Director

Commenting on yesterday’s trade data, Darrell Matthews, North West Region Director of EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, said: “While today’s figures show an overall improvement in the trade deficit there is more of a mixed picture underneath.

"While trade in goods and export figures worsened, exports to the EU improved and trade with China reached record highs in the three months to November.

"Overall, the outlook for trade gives us more reasons to be positive given opportunities for growth in overseas markets and we expect export sales to pick up on balance in the year ahead.”