FOUR MONTHS' TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 112, 15 May 1939, Page 12

FOUR MONTHS' TRADE

BRITISH EXPORTS AT LOW POINT

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, May 13,

At £70,074,789, imports into the United Kingdom, in April were the lowest, with the exception of February, for any month since 1936. Exports of United Kingdom goods at £35,148,691 were also the lowest for a considerable time. For the first four months of 1939, exports of United Kingdom goods were valued at £154,250,686, a decrease of £3,885,024 on the previous year, and of £9,395,448 on the figures for 1937. Imports totalled £288,261,578, a decrease of £30,290,739, and £24.283,640 respectively. Re-exports at £18,745,463 showed decreases of £1,955.062 and £7,184,339 respectively. The large fall in the value of imports was chiefly in respect of raw materials, particularly cotton and iron ore. The principal heads under which there was a decline in value in exports were cotton yarns and manufactures thereof, but there was an increase of £2,747,287 in the value of vehicle exports. The total trade of Great Britain for 1938 was as follows: — Decrease in 1938. 1937. £ & Imports .... 920,437,556 107,386,842 Exports 470,883,489 50,508,005 Re-exports ... 61,607,985 13.52">,6XK Invisible exports, 1938, based on Board of Trade estimates, £200,000,000, against £210,000,000 for 1937. Shipping represented £100,000,000 against £130,----000,000 for 1937.