UK trade recovering but picture is clouded by Covid and Brexit | Larry Elliott
by Larry Elliott from on (#5GGW2)
Government figures showing a bounceback in February rightly come with a health warning
The government's monthly trade figures come with a health warning - and rightly so. A combination of Covid-19 and Brexit means it is impossible to draw any firm conclusions about the trend from a single month's data.
Look at what has happened to the UK's exports to the EU. These collapsed by a revised record of 42% in January but, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), subsequently rose by more than 46% in February.
Related: UK heads for strong bounce back' after 0.4% growth in February; US inflation rises - business live
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