Euro area external trade deficit 3.2 bn euro

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"Euro area external trade deficit 3.2 bn euro

15.7 bn euro deficit for EU25

The first estimate for the euro area1 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%.

The first estimate for May 2006 extra-EU25 trade was a 15.7 bn euro deficit, compared with -7.3 bn in May 2005. In April 20062, the balance was -14.5 bn euro, compared with -9.4 bn in April 2005. In May 2006 compared with April 2006, exports, seasonally adjusted, rose by 0.5% and imports by 1.8%.

These data are released by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities."