In September 2018 the current account of the euro area recorded a surplus of €17 billion, compared with a surplus of €24 billion in August 2018.

In the 12-month period to September 2018, the current account recorded a surplus of €357 billion (3.1% of euro area GDP), compared with one of €339 billion (3.1% of euro area GDP) in the 12-month period to September 2017.

In the financial account, euro area residents made net acquisitions of foreign portfolio investment securities of €324 billion in the 12-month period to September 2018 (decreasing from €572 billion in the 12 months to September 2017). Non-residents’ net purchases of euro area portfolio investment securities amounted to €98 billion (down from €267 billion in the 12-month period to September 2017).