The provisional trend estimate of the balance on goods and services was a deficit of $1,307 million in March 2006, a decrease of $104 million on the revised deficit in February.
Goods and services credits rose $161 million (1 percent) to $16,434 million. Goods and services debits rose $57 million to $17,741m.
Seasonally Adjusted Estimates
In seasonally adjusted terms, the balance on goods and services was a deficit of $1,545 million in March, an increase of $1,130 million on the revised deficit in February.
Goods and services credits fell $886 million (5 percent) to $16,072 million. Non-rural and other goods fell $1,009m (9 percent) while rural goods rose $153 million (7 percent). Services credits fell $30m (1 percent).
Goods and services debits rose $244m (1 percent) to $17,617m. Capital goods rose $410m (13 percent), consumption goods rose $46m (1 percent), while intermediate and other goods fell $176m (3 percent). Services debits fell $36m (1 percent).
Original Estimates
In original terms, the March balance on goods and services was a deficit of $1,158m, a turnaround of $1,165m on the revised surplus of $7m in February. Goods and services credits rose $931m (6 percent) and goods and services debits rose $2,096m (13 percent).
In the nine months to March, exports of non-rural and other goods were up $19.9b (27 percent) while rural goods were down $0.6b (3 percent) on the corresponding period in 2004-05.