The euro zone's current account was back in deficit in October after the 17-country bloc notched up its first surplus for almost two years in September, the European Central Bank said today.
The current account showed a deficit of €7.5 billion in October, compared with a surplus of €2.2 billion the previous month, the ECB said.
The current account on the balance of payments, which includes imports and exports in both goods and services plus all other current transfers, is a closely tracked indicator of a country or area's ability to pay its way in the world. It is crucial for the long-term confidence of investors and trading partners.
The data, which have historically been subject to large revisions, showed however that the euro zone's deficit has widened sharply in the past year.
Over the last 12 months, the deficit total amounted to €58.7 billion, or 0.6% of gross domestic product. That is far bigger than in the previous year, when the accumulated deficit came to €29.5 billion.
