Many moons have passed since anyone paid any attention to the UK s monthly trade figures. These days it is gross domestic product, the total output of the economy, which is seen as the barometer of economic performance.
Britain outside the EU is changing that. As the country seeks to assess the effect of Brexit, it is impossible to ignore the impact on trade flows.
After nearly 50 years as part of a trading bloc, being outside is going to make a big difference. January s data is truly shocking. UK goods exports to the EU tumbled by 41.7 per cent and imports dropped by 28.7 per cent.
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