The Board of Trade Returns for May were issued on
Friday week, and show, as compared with May, 1906, an increase in exports of 25,200,000. On the import side a slight decline in volume is noticeable, raw materials increasing by 22,000,000, while manufactures fell by 2800,000. The rise in'exports is all the more remarkable as Whit-Monday fell in May, thus involving the loss of a working day. Of the total increase, 24,500,000 is accounted for by manufactured articles, the chief rises being in iron and steel 2937,000, machinery ' 2450,000, ships 2986,000, and cottons 2600,000. The main figures are shown in the following table (in millions of pounds):—
FOR THE MONTH OF MAY.
1906, 1907. Increase.
Importa 51.4 536 10 Exports 31/ 361
5-2
Re-exports 71
8.4
11 FOR THE FIVE MONTHS JANUARY TO MAY.
1908. 1937. Increase.
Imports — 2521 2901 271 Export. 149.9 1731 231
Re.exports 371 44.4 71
