Balance of Trade

Difference between a country's exports and imports of goods and services; the core of the current account.

Specifications & Metrics

type

Coincident

frequency

Monthly

publisher

National statistical offices under IMF BPM6 standards

Core Principles & Analysis

• The IMF's Balance of Payments Manual (BPM6) defines the recording conventions countries follow.
• By accounting identity, a current-account deficit is offset by a financial-account surplus.
• Mercantilist policy treated surpluses as wealth itself; classical economics reframed trade as mutual gain.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Balance of trade