UK trade, manufacturing disappoint in second quarter

London

THE UK economy ended the second quarter on a disappointing note as manufacturing stagnated and the trade deficit unexpectedly widened, figures published on Thursday show.

Total industrial production rose 0.5 per cent in June, more than economists forecast, but the gain was due to higher oil production as summer maintenance shutdowns failed to materialise.

Manufacturing was unchanged as production of vehicles plunged by 6.7 per cent, the most since …