The European Central Bank published euro area balance of payments data showing that the current account surplus fell to EUR 28 billion in July 2026 from EUR 35 billion in June. Surpluses of EUR 36 billion for goods and EUR 12 billion for services were partly offset by deficits of EUR 18 billion for secondary income and EUR 2 billion for primary income. Over the 12 months to July, the current account surplus declined to EUR 282 billion, or 1.7% of euro area gross domestic product, from EUR 298 billion, or 1.9%, a year earlier. A smaller goods surplus and a wider secondary income deficit outweighed a larger services surplus and a shift in primary income from deficit to surplus. In the financial account, euro area residents made net purchases of EUR 815 billion in non-euro area portfolio securities over the 12-month period, while non-residents purchased EUR 1,156 billion in euro area portfolio securities. The Eurosystem’s reserve assets decreased to EUR 1,752.5 billion in July, mainly because of negative price and exchange rate changes.
2026-09-18European Central Bank
European Central Bank reports euro area current account surplus narrowed to EUR 28 billion in July 2026
The European Central Bank reported that the euro area current account surplus fell to EUR 28 billion in July 2026 from EUR 35 billion in June. The 12-month surplus declined to EUR 282 billion, or 1.7% of GDP, mainly because of a smaller goods surplus and a wider secondary income deficit.