--UK Jun non-EU goods trade gap 3.130 bln stlg; May 2.448 bln
--UK May world goods trade gap 2.421 bln stlg; Apr 2.793 bln
--UK Jun non-EU goods trade gap ex-oil erratics 1.988 bln stlg
--ONS: Record UK Jun non-EU gap boosted by planes, precious stones
--UK May EU goods trade surplus 27 mln stlg; Apr deficit 137 mln
--UK May total trade deficit 1.749 bln stlg vs Apr 2.134 bln
--UK Jun non-EU goods trade gaps larger than expected
--UK Jun non-EU ex-oil trade in goods gap 2.991 bln stlg

London, July 19 (BridgeNews) - Big imports of aircraft and precious stones from the US helped push the U.K. visible trade deficit with non-EU countries to a record 3.130 billion sterling in June, the Office for National Statistics said on Thursday. The figure was above the 2.4 billion sterling deficit analysts had expected. The U.K. whole world goods trade gap in May was 2.421 billion sterling, in line with expectations.
The figures showed the impact of the continuing slowdown in the US economy on the UK trade position. UK exports to the US in the three months to May are down 7% compared with the previous quarter. The figures continue to underline the parlous state of the UK manufacturing sector, and the strength of consumer demand for imports fuelled by the high level of the pound.