Just because GO says things are getting better, doesn't mean they necessarily are. From the Guardian article linked by Buctootim:
"
The recent rise in manufacturing has been welcomed by George Osborne as a sign that his economic policies are bearing fruit. But he is likely to be dismayed by trade figures from the ONS showing that the UK's recent growth has pulled in a record volume of imports and more than doubled the trade deficit to £3.1bn.
Imports rose to £104.2bn in the three months to July, a 3.1% increase, while exports to the EU remained flat and the trade in goods to countries outside the bloc fell sharply."
I think Ed Balls may be keeping quiet whilst GO runs out 'enough rope to hang himself'.