Eurozone trade in deficit, exports outlook poor

A surge in imports pushed the euro zone into a trade deficit in September from a surplus a year earlier, data showed, and sharp economic slowdowns in its main trading partners bode ill for future eurozone exports.
The European Union's statistics office said the unadjusted external trade deficit of the 15 countries using the euro totalled 5.6 billion euros ($7.1 billion), compared to a 9.4 billion euro deficit in August and a surplus of 2.9 billion a year earlier. Economists polled by Reuters had expected a 7.3 billion euro deficit for September.
The eurozone swung to a deficit because imports jumped 16 percent year-on-year, which economists blamed on a delayed effect of the July oil price peak. Exports rose only 9 percent.