FEBRUARY KEY FIGURES
| | December 2007 | January 2008 | February 2008 | Jan 08 to Feb 08 | |
| | $m | $m | $m | % change | |
| |
BALANCE ON GOODS AND SERVICES | | | | | |
| Trend estimates | -2 405 | -2 582 | -2 723 | -5 | |
| Seasonally adjusted | -1 792 | -2 535 | -3 289 | -30 | |
CREDITS (Exports of goods & services) | | | | | |
| Trend estimates | 18 446 | 18 572 | 18 663 | - | |
| Seasonally adjusted | 18 756 | 19 050 | 18 260 | -4 | |
DEBITS (Imports of goods & services) | | | | | |
| Trend estimates | 20 851 | 21 155 | 21 386 | 1 | |
| Seasonally adjusted | 20 548 | 21 585 | 21 548 | - | |
| |
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
Balance on Goods and Services
| |
FEBRUARY KEY POINTS
BALANCE ON GOODS AND SERVICES
- The trend estimate of the balance on goods and services was a deficit of $2,723m in February 2008, an increase of $141m (5%) on the revised deficit in January 2008.
- In seasonally adjusted terms, the balance on goods and services was a deficit of $3,289m in February 2008, an increase of $754m (30%) on the revised deficit in January 2008.
- The increase in the seasonally adjusted deficit was due to the fall in goods and services credits, mainly non-rural and other goods, outweighing the fall in goods and services debits, mainly intermediate and other goods.
CREDITS (EXPORTS OF GOODS & SERVICES)
- Seasonally adjusted, goods and services credits fell $790m (4%) to $18,260m. Non-rural and other goods fell $774m (6%) and rural goods rose $23m (1%). Services credits fell $40m (1%).
- The fall in non-rural and other goods was driven by metal ores and minerals, which fell $624m (18%) and coal, coke and briquettes, which fell $281m (16%).
DEBITS (IMPORTS OF GOODS & SERVICES)
- Seasonally adjusted, goods and services debits fell $37m to $21,548m. Intermediate and other goods fell $125m (1%) and consumption goods fell $93m (2%) while capital goods rose $269m (7%). Services debits fell $89m (2%).
- The fall in intermediate and other goods was driven mainly by processed industrial supplies n.e.s., which fell $108m (6%) and fuels and lubricants, which fell $78m (3%).
NOTES
FORTHCOMING ISSUES
ISSUE | Release Date |
March 2008 | 6 May 2008 |
April 2008 | 5 June 2008 |
May 2008 | 3 July 2008 |
June 2008 | 31 July 2008 |
July 2008 | 4 September 2008 |
August 2008 | 2 October 2008 |
REVISIONS
Revisions were made to the previous seven months to incorporate the latest available data relating to merchandise trade and international trade in services.
In original terms, these revisions have:
- decreased the deficit on goods and services for January 2008 by $216m
- increased the deficit on goods and services for 2006-07 by $204m.
AVAILABILITY OF DETAILED SERVICES DATA
The trade in services data cubes, listed under Time Series Data on page 4, for data on a calendar year basis to 2007 will be updated in March 2008 issue.
INQUIRIES
For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Selvi Sekhar on Canberra (02) 6252 5540.