英國貿易拖累經濟增長 季度逆差創08年來最大

The gap between imports and exports for the first three months of 2016 stands at 13.3bn pounds, up from 12.2bn pounds in the fourth quarter of 2015, says the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

據英國國家統計署透露，英國2016年第一季度的進出口貿易差額達到了133億英鎊，較2015年第四季度的122億英鎊有大幅增長。

Analysts said this was more evidence of the weight of global economic weakness on the UK. One described the figures as "truly horrible"

分析人士表示，這更顯示了全球經濟疲軟對英國的不利影響。有人則形容這些經濟數據“實在是太可怕了”。

The ONS said the UK trade gap widened over the quarter because of a 1.9bn pounds rise in imports such as mechanical machinery, cars, clothing, jewellery and footwear. Meanwhile, exports increased by just 500m pounds, led by chemical products.

據英國國家統計署表示，逆差的擴大是因爲英國的進口增加了19億英鎊，包括機械、汽車、服裝、珠寶和鞋類等在內商品的進口量有較大增長。然而出口只增長了5億英鎊，主要是化工產品。

"A truly horrible first-quarter trade performance that clearly weighed down on GDP growth," said Howard Archer from IHS Global Insight. He added that UK exports had been hampered by moderate global demand as well as sterling's strength in 2015, particularly against the euro.

IHS環球透視的霍華德·阿切爾表示：“英國第一季度的貿易表現真是讓人感到害怕，這明顯地拖累了GDP的增長。” 他補充說道，平穩的國際需求阻礙了英國出口的增長，同時英鎊走高（尤其對於歐元）也加大了英國的出口壓力。

Within this period, there was a slight improvement in March's numbers, with the deficit narrowing by 0.5bn pounds to 3.8bn pounds. But the British Chambers of Commerce, a business group, said this was little cause for comfort.

在第一季度內，三月份的數據略有改善，貿易逆差減少了5億英鎊，下降到了38億英鎊。但是英國商會表示，這隻能起到一點安慰作用。

"In spite of the small improvement seen in March, the UK's trade deficit worsened over the quarter and remains unacceptably large," the group said.

該商會團體表示：“儘管在三月份有了小幅度的改善，但是第一季度英國貿易逆差在不斷擴大，並且造成了難以接受的巨大損失。”

Last week, the closely watched Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) added to those concerns by indicating that UK growth was "near stalling".

上週，受到各方關注的採購經理指數（PMI）顯示，英國經濟“幾乎快要停滯了”，這增加了社會各界的憂慮。