BRITAIN'S trade deficit widened in February due to a sharp decline in the export of goods.
Excluding oil and other erratic items from the figures, the trade deficit was the worst since records began.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that the deficit stood at £2.4bn for the month, compared with the £1.8bn registered in January.
Subtracting oil from the equation, the deficit would have hit an all-time low of £4bn. Data from the ONS showed that the deficit for the trade in goods widened to £3.7bn, up from £3.2bn in January and ahead of City forecasts of £3.3bn.
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