How’s the UK Doing?UK economic statistics, explained
How’s the UK Doing?

How large is the trade gap next to the economy?

Exports minus imports, as a share of the economy

−0.5%

April to June 2026

Up from −1.2% in January to March 2026

Where this sits in the last 10 years
10-year low −3.0%10-year high 2.6%
Published
Next update
in 2 months

Recent figures may be revised.

Trade share of GDP

April to June 2026 · −0.5%, up 0.2 percentage points on a year earlier

Usual range (middle 80% of the last 10 years)

Each quarter is already set against the economy. The quarters are not added up. 2026 so far covers January to June.

Source: Office for National Statistics

What this means for people

A negative share means the UK bought more from abroad than it sold, set against the size of the economy.

Exports minus imports are set against gross domestic product. Precious metals are left out, so the share matches the pound trade balance.

Latest figures

See the figures as a table
PeriodValue
April to June 2026−0.5%
January to March 2026−1.2%
October to December 2025−0.4%
July to September 2025−0.9%
April to June 2025−0.7%
January to March 2025−0.4%
October to December 2024−1.0%
July to September 2024−0.2%
April to June 2024−0.5%
January to March 2024−0.6%
October to December 2023−1.3%
July to September 2023−1.0%
Each quarter
Period2023202420252026 so far
January to March−1.3%−0.6%−0.4%−1.2%
April to June−1.6%−0.5%−0.7%−0.5%
July to September−1.0%−0.2%−0.9%
October to December−1.3%−1.0%−0.4%

CSVJSON

How to read this

A minus is a deficit

A negative figure means imports were larger than exports. A positive figure means exports were larger.

Precious metals are left out

Gold and other precious metals can swing the total. This share leaves them out, as the pound figure does.

Adjusted for the time of year

The quarters are adjusted for the time of year, so one quarter can be compared with the one before.

A share, not pounds

This is the gap as a share of the economy. The pound figure can grow just because prices and trade grow. This share takes that out.

Source

Publisher
Office for National Statistics
Official title
Trade in goods and services excluding precious metals, balance as a percentage of GDP, seasonally adjusted
Series
FUT9
Geography
United Kingdom
Status
Accredited official statistics
Cite this

Office for National Statistics (2026) Trade in goods and services excluding precious metals, balance as a percentage of GDP, seasonally adjusted, April to June 2026 (series FUT9).