In the 12-month period to October 2018, the current account recorded a surplus of €345 billion (3.0% of euro area GDP), compared with one of €350 billion (3.1% of euro area GDP) in the 12-month period to October 2017.

In the financial account, euro area residents made net acquisitions of foreign portfolio investment securities of €265 billion in the 12-month period to October 2018 (decreasing from €587 billion in the 12 months to October 2017). Non-residents’ net purchases of euro area portfolio investment securities amounted to €117 billion (down from €275 billion in the 12-month period to October 2017).