British official trade deficit increases in February

(LONDON) - Britain's trade-in-goods deficit widened in February by more than expected, as exports to countries outside the European Union fell, official figures showed on Thursday.

The deficit grew to GBP 8.8 billion (10.7 billion euros, $14.0 billion), the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a statement. That compared with a revised shortfall of GBP 7.9 billion in January.

Market expectations had been for a smaller February deficit of GBP 7.6 billion, according to economists polled by Dow Jones Newswires.

Exports of goods to non-EU countries fell 8.8 percent to GBP 11.7 billion, while British imports rose 1.0 percent to GBP 16.7 billion, leading to a trade deficit with countries outside the European single market of GBP 5.0 billion.