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August 31, 2015
CANADA'S BALANCE OF INTERNATIONAL PAYMENTS 2015 Q2

Canada's balance of payments reported a current account deficit of $17.4 billion in the second quarter (seasonally adjusted).  This was an improvement of $0.7 billion over the revised deficit reported for the first quarter.  

Since 2014, Canada's balance of payments has been primarily eroded by an increasing deficit in goods trade as goods exports slipped.  However, the slide in goods exports stopped in Q2, with a gain of 0.5 per cent ($0.7 billion).  Gains were led by the auto sector and to a lesser extent by energy.  Imports of goods and services grew by 0.3 per cent ($0.4 billion), particularly for motor vehicles/parts, consumer goods and energy.  

Canada's deficit on primary income flows (the other major component of the current account) narrowed to $4.5 billion, mainly as a result of higher Canadian earnings on holdings of foreign portfolio securities.   

Statistics Canada: CANSIM table 376-0105