UK trade deficit narrows as exports rise

Economists said the narrowing boded well for overall growth after net trade was a drag on the economy in a slow first quarter to 2015

A jump in exports helped Britain's trade gap narrow to its smallest for a year in April, raising hopes that overall economic growth has rebounded from its slump at the start of 2015.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said goods exports rose and imports fell in April, helping the trade deficit to shrink by more than City economists had forecast and by the biggest amount since June 2013. At 8.6bn after 10.7bn the month before, it was the lowest deficit since March 2014.