The French Current Account is the sum of the trade balance on goods and services, net income payments, and net current transfers. The trade balance on goods and services is the value of exports minus the value of imports. Net income payments is the amount of income generated for French nationals from foreign assets, like stocks and bonds, minus the amount paid to foreign nationals who own French assets. Lastly, transfer payments represent unilateral payments to and from the country, such as foreign aid donations and foreign worker salaries being sent home. Current account is one of the three components (Financial Account, Capital Account and Current Account) that make up a country's Balance of Payments.

The flow of goods and services (trade balance) usually makes up most of the Current Account. Hence, a trade surplus is likely to contribute to a Current Account surplus while a trade deficit will likely cause a Current Account deficit. Generally the French current account is a useful measure of international trade flows that directly affect the value of Euro. A French current account surplus means that more Euros are flowing into France and this puts upward pressure on the value of the Euro. On the contrary a current account deficit reflects Euros leaking out of France ; this can exert downward pressure on value of the Euro.

The headline number is the Current Account balance and the percentage change in the Current Account from the previous month.

Relevance: Tends to move markets on release
Release schedule: 6:45 (GMT); monthly, during the third week of the following month
Source of report: National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies
Web Address: http://www.insee.fr/en/home/home_page.asp
Address of release:
http://www.insee.fr/en/indicateur/tableau_de_bord/fiche_tableau_de_bord.asp?id_tbc_the=9
AKA: Current Account Surplus/ Deficit, CA