MEDIA RELEASE
1 December 2015	Embargoed: 11:30 am (Canberra time)	134/2015

Latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures show that in seasonally adjusted, current price terms, the current account deficit decreased $2,402 million (12 per cent) to $18,104 million in the September quarter 2015. Exports of goods and services rose $3,814 million (five per cent) and imports of goods and services rose $307 million. The primary income deficit rose $1,106 million (12 per cent).

In seasonally adjusted, chain volume terms, the net goods and services surplus rose $6,109 million to $8,287 million in the September quarter 2015. This is expected to contribute 1.5 percentage points to growth in the September quarter 2015 volume measure of Gross Domestic Product.

Australia's net International Investment Position was a liability of $922.8 billion at 30 September 2015, an increase of $18.2 billion (two per cent) on the 30 June 2015 position of $904.6 billion. Australia's net foreign debt liabilities increased $25.5 billion (three per cent) to a net liability position of $993.8 billion. Australia's net foreign equity assets increased $7.4 billion (12 per cent) to a net asset position of $71.0 billion at 30 September 2015.

Further details can be found in Balance of Payments and International Investment Position, Australia (cat. no. 5302.0) available for download from www.abs.gov.au.

Media notes:

• When reporting ABS data you must attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) as the source.
• September quarter 2015, Australian National Accounts: National Income, Expenditure and Product (cat. no. 5206.0) will be released on 2 December 2015.