First Flashes of Brexit Trade Trouble Appear in UK Data

A truck drives towards the entrance to the Port of Dover, following the end of the Brexit transition period, in Dover, Britain, on Jan. 15, 2021. John Sibley/Reuters

LONDON—Early signs of disruption caused by Britain’s shift to its new, less open trading relationship with the European Union are emerging in economic data.

Although the biggest problem for many companies remains the COVID-19 pandemic, details of recent surveys show that Brexit is adding to the strain on the economy.