Skip to content
How’s the UK Doing?UK economic statistics, explained
GrowthPricesJobsPayBusinessTradePublic financesMoneyHousingSearch
How’s the UK Doing?
  • Is the economy growing?Growth
  • How fast are prices rising?Prices
  • Can people find work?Jobs
  • Are incomes keeping up?Pay
  • How are firms doing?Business
  • What do we buy and sell abroad?Trade
  • What does the government borrow and owe?Public finances
  • What does borrowing cost?Money
  • Can people afford a home?Housing
  • Search
  • Releases
  • About
  1. Home
  2. Trade

What do we buy and sell abroad?

The UK bought £3.9bn more from abroad than it sold in the latest month.

  • Is the UK selling more abroad than it buys?

    −£3.9bn

    July 2026

    Down from −£3.6bn in June 2026

    ONS · Next update 15 Oct 2026

  • How large is the trade gap next to the economy?

    −0.5%

    April to June 2026

    Up from −1.2% in January to March 2026

    ONS · Next update 22 Dec 2026

How’s the UK Doing?

Official figures on the UK economy, explained in plain English. Independent, and not affiliated with the ONS or any government department.

  • Releases
  • How signals work
  • Our sources
  • How the figures fit
  • Corrections
  • Accessibility statement
  • About
Theme

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.