OCTOBER KEY FIGURES

		Aug 2013	Sep 2013	Oct 2013	Sep 13 to Oct 13
		$m	$m	$m	% change
BALANCE ON GOODS AND SERVICES
	Trend estimates	-749	-673	-547	19
	Seasonally adjusted	-784	-271	-529	-95
CREDITS (Exports of goods and services)
	Trend estimates	26 807	27 075	27 311	1
	Seasonally adjusted	27 125	27 299	27 273	-
DEBITS (Imports of goods and services)
	Trend estimates	27 556	27 748	27 858	-
	Seasonally adjusted	27 910	27 571	27 802	1
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)

Balance on Goods and Services

OCTOBER KEY POINTS


BALANCE ON GOODS AND SERVICES

• In trend terms, the balance on goods and services was a deficit of $547m in October 2013, a decrease of $126m (19%) on the deficit in September 2013.
• In seasonally adjusted terms, the balance on goods and services was a deficit of $529m in October 2013, an increase of $258m (95%) on the deficit in September 2013.

CREDITS (EXPORTS OF GOODS AND SERVICES)

• In seasonally adjusted terms, goods and services credits fell $26m to $27,273m. Rural goods fell $80m (3%) and non-rural goods fell $51m. Non-monetary gold rose $146m (12%) and net exports of goods under merchanting rose $15m (50%). Services credits fell $57m (1%).

DEBITS (IMPORTS OF GOODS AND SERVICES)

• In seasonally adjusted terms, goods and services debits rose $231m (1%) to $27,802m. Intermediate and other merchandise goods rose $83m (1%), consumption goods rose $78m (1%), capital goods rose $23m and non-monetary gold rose $1m. Services debits rose $48m (1%).

NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE	Release Date
November 2013	7 January 2014
December 2013	6 February 2014
January 2014	6 March 2014
February 2014	3 April 2014
March 2014	6 May 2014
April 2014	5 June 2014

REVISIONS

Since the previous issue of this publication revisions have been made to align with the data published in the September quarter 2013 issues of Balance of Payments and International Investment Position, Australia (cat. no. 5302.0) and Australian National Accounts: National Income, Expenditure and Product (cat. no. 5206.0). On an international merchandise trade basis, exports and imports have been revised back to April 2013. On a balance of payments basis goods and services have been revised back to July 2013.

See the Revisions section for details.


CHANGES IN THIS AND FORTHCOMING ISSUES

Changes in this issue:

• Australia's major trading partners
• Change to label for Australian port code.

Changes in forthcoming issues:

• Changes to export and import statistical codes.

See the Changes in this and forthcoming issues section for details.


VALUE ADJUSTMENTS

Adjustments have been made to the value of the 'metal ores and minerals' and 'capital goods n.e.s.' components in the balance of payments series.

See the Value adjustments section for details.


RELATED RELEASES

TRADE IN SERVICES DATA CUBES

The data cubes International Trade in Services by Country, by State and by Detailed Services Category, Financial Year, 2012-13 (cat. no. 5368.0.55.003) were released on 19 November 2013 and are accessible on the ABS website <www.abs.gov.au>.


INQUIRIES

For further information contact Val Tot on Canberra (02) 6252 5540 for Goods, and Ryan Oswin on Hobart (03) 6222 5898 for Services.