Euro area external trade deficit 3.2 bn euro

The first estimate for the euro area trade balance with the rest of the world in May 2006 gave a 3.2 bn euro deficit against a 2.3 bn surplus in May 2005. The April 20062 balance was -1.9 bn euro, compared with +1.6 bn in April 2005. In May 2006 compared with April 2006, exports, seasonally adjusted, rose by 1.2% and imports by 1.4%.