LONDON, Oct 9 (Reuters) - British factory output fell more than expected in August and the country's trade deficit widened sharply, data showed on Tuesday, dampening prospects of a sustained recovery in the second half of 2012.
Following is a summary of the data and economists' reactions.
ANALYST VIEWS BRIAN HILLIARD, SOCIETE GENERALE:
"I am not surprised to see a dip in the manufacturing numbers given that we had an exaggerated bounce the previous month. It's heartening to see a little bit of continuing growth in North Sea oil and gas output, which I think is still on a downward trend."
******************************************************* MANUFACTURING OUTPUT AUG JULY (PRV JULY) FCAST Mth-on-mth change in pct -1.1 3.1 (3.2) -0.6 Yr-on-yr change -1.2 -0.7 (-0.5) -0.6 3-mth/3-mth change -0.7 0.1 (0.2) INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION Mth-on-mth change in pct -0.5 2.8 (2.9) -0.5 Yr-on-yr change -1.2 -0.8 (-0.8) -1.1 3-mth/3-mth change -0.1 UNCH (UNCH) TRADE FIGURES AUG JULY FCAST Goods balance -9.844 -7.337 (-7.149) -8.50 Non-EU goods balance -4.972 -2.929 (-2.877) -4.00 EU 27 goods balance -4.872 -4.408 (-4.272)
- Biggest total goods and services trade deficit since April 2012, second-highest on record
(Reporting by Olesya Dmitracova)
((olesya.dmitracova@thomsonreuters.com; +44 20 7542 8051; Reuters Messaging: olesya.dmitracova.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
Keywords: BRITAIN ECONOMY/
