The UK trade deficit narrowed to £1.5bn last month after jumping to a record level in the previous month, official figures showed yesterday. Exports of goods surged 9.3 per cent to £25.8bn in July, while imports were down by £700m or 2.1 per cent, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Economists welcomed the improvement but said the turnaround was partly due to the balancing of one-off factors seen in June, when trading was disrupted by the extra bank holiday for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Martin Beck, UK economist at Capital Economics, said yesterday's figure showed a surprisingly large improvement following June's ''awful'' figures, when the deficit rose to £4.3 billion. But he said it was unlikely to herald the rebalancing of the economy towards the external sector.

NEW JOB: Isos Housing have appointed Stewart Allan to lead the property and development team. The social landlord, which has a £51m turnover, has appointed Mr Allan as executive director of property and development as housing sector Government grants slashed. Mr Allan has experience in both the private and not-for-profit sectors, which the firm believe will be crucial as the organisation expands its work into different areas, and commercial income plays a larger role in subsidising Isos' core social housing business. The trained quantity surveyor and chartered builder was previously employed at Home Group, having previously held senior positions at Persimmon Homes, Lanson Developments and Taylor Woodrow. In his new role, Mr Allan will be responsible for driving growth by securing new development opportunities.

SUPER SALES: Superdry owner SuperGroup shook off the unseasonal weather to report resilient UK sales yesterday. The group, which has 81 UK retail stores, said total sales in the 13 weeks to July 29 were up 20 per cent to £40.2 million, while like-for-like sales rose by 1.7 [per cent. The company, which was founded in Cheltenham in 1985 by chief executive Julian Dunkerton, said its sales of jackets, gilets and sweatshirts proved that the Superdry range offered a degree of protection against the weather. The firm has endured a stormy period, in which its chief executive of wholesale and international stepped down, annual profits fell by 15 per cent and it was forced to slow expansion plans.

NEW GUIDE: Darlington Borough Council have printed their updated copy of the Business Information Guide for September 2012. It is the fourth annual refresh of this guide, which provides information of business support provision available from the council and other organisations. Changes in Government funding and the business support landscape has meant a number of changes have been made to this version. Initially produced in hard copy format in summer 2008 and hand delivered to businesses across the borough, the guide is now sent to companies as an electronic update. A limited number of the original Business Information Guide folders are available from the Town Hall, by prior arrangement. Businesses who would like more information, or have not received their electronic copy of the guide, can email business.support@darlington.gov.uk