According to the report from European Central Bank, the current account of the euro area recorded a surplus of €37 billion in January 2019, increasing by €21 billion compared with December 2018. Surpluses were recorded for goods (€25 billion), services (€8 billion) and primary income (€15 billion). These were partly offset by a deficit for secondary income (€11 billion).

In the 12-month period to January 2019, the current account recorded a surplus of €345 billion (3.0% of euro area GDP), compared with a surplus of €380 billion (3.4% of euro area GDP) in the 12 months to January 2018.

In the financial account, euro area residents made net acquisitions of foreign portfolio investment securities totalling €45 billion in the 12-month period to January 2019 (decreasing from €702 billion in the 12 months to January 2018). Non-residents made net sales of euro area portfolio investment securities totalling €18 billion (following net purchases of €416 billion in the 12 months to January 2018).