Australia AUD

Australia Current Account

Info

History

Chart

Impact:

Low

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Latest Release:

Date:

Surprise:

A$-2.7B

Actual:

A$-14.7B

Forecast: A$-12B

Previous/Revision:

A$-16.3B

Period: Q1

Next Release:

Date:

Forecast: A$-2.4B

Period: Q2

What Does It Measure?

The Current Account measures a country's balance of trade, specifically the difference between its exports and imports of goods and services, as well as net income from abroad and current transfers. It focuses on assessing trade flows, investment income, and transfers, which are crucial indicators of a nation's economic position relative to other countries.

Frequency

The Current Account data is released quarterly, typically as a final figure that reflects comprehensive estimates after the close of the reporting period.

Why Do Traders Care?

Traders watch the Current Account closely because it provides insights into the country's economic health and helps gauge currency strength. A surplus can strengthen the currency, while a deficit may lead to depreciation; thus, unexpected trends in this measure can significantly impact financial markets and influence economic forecasts.

What Is It Derived From?

The Current Account is derived from detailed national accounts data, which includes information gathered through surveys and reports from businesses involved in international trade, as well as financial institutions. It utilizes methodologies that track export and import levels, income flows, and transfers, often guided by international best practices for national accounting.

Description

Preliminary reports on the Current Account provide early estimates based on incomplete data, while final reports offer a more accurate and comprehensive picture after all data has been collected and reviewed. This indicator is primarily reported on a quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) basis to highlight economic trends over the medium term, identifying whether the country is moving towards a more favorable or unfavorable trade position.

Additional Notes

The Current Account is considered a lagging economic indicator, as it reflects previously realized economic transactions rather than predicting future activity. It is often analyzed alongside other economic measures, such as GDP and trade balances, to form a holistic view of the economy's performance and its trade relationships globally.

Bullish or Bearish for Currency and Stocks

Higher than expected: Bullish for AUD, Bearish for Stocks. Lower than expected: Bearish for AUD, Bullish for Stocks. No explicit hawkish or dovish tone applies here, as the Current Account does not directly influence monetary policy but can impact trader sentiment and economic forecasts.

Legend

High Potential Impact
This event has a strong potential to move markets significantly. If the 'Actual' value differs enough from the forecast or if the 'Previous' value is significantly revised, it signals new information that markets may rapidly adjust to.

Medium Potential Impact
This event may cause moderate market movement, especially if the 'Actual' deviates from the forecast or there's a notable revision to the 'Previous' value.

Low Potential Impact
This event is unlikely to affect market pricing unless there's an unexpected surprise or a major revision to prior data.

Surprise - Currency May Strengthen
Actual deviated from Forecast on a medium or high impact event and historically could strengthen the currency.

Surprise - Currency May Weaken
Actual deviated from Forcast on a medium or high impact event and historically could weaken the currency.

Big Surprise - Currency More Likely To Strengthen
'Actual' deviated from 'Forecast' more than 75% of historical deviations on a medium or high impact event and may likely strengthen the currency.

Big Surprise - Currency More Likely To Weaken
'Actual' deviated from 'Forecast' more than 75% of historical deviations on a medium or high impact event and may likely weaken the currency

Green Number	Better than forecast for the currency (or previous revise better)
Red Number	Worse than forecast for the currency (or previous revise better)
Hawkish	Supports higher interest rates to fight inflation, strengthening the currency but weighing on stocks.
Dovish	Favors lower rates to boost growth, weakening the currency but lifting stocks.

Date	Actual	Forecast	Previous	Surprise
Jun 03, 2025	A$-14.7B	A$-12B	A$-16.3B	A$-2.7B
Mar 04, 2025	A$-12.5B	A$-11.9B	A$-13.9B	A$-0.6B
Dec 03, 2024	A$-14.1B	A$-10B	A$-16.4B	A$-4.1B
Sep 03, 2024	A$-10.7B	A$-5.9B	A$-6.3B	A$-4.8B
Jun 04, 2024	A$-4.9B	A$5.9B	A$2.7B	A$-10.8B
Mar 05, 2024	A$11.8B	A$5.6B	A$1.3B	A$6.2B
Dec 05, 2023	A$-0.2B	A$3.1B	A$7.8B	A$-3.3B
Sep 05, 2023	A$7.7B	A$8B	A$12.5B	A$-0.3B
Jun 06, 2023	A$12.3B	A$15B	A$11.7B	A$-2.7B
Feb 28, 2023	A$14.1B	A$6.5B	A$0.8B	A$7.6B
Dec 06, 2022	A$-2.3B	A$6.2B	A$14.7B	A$-8.5B
Sep 06, 2022	A$18.3B	A$20.8B	A$2.8B	A$-2.5B
May 31, 2022	A$7.5B	A$13.4B	A$13.2B	A$-5.9B
Mar 01, 2022	A$12.7B	A$14.9B	A$22B	A$-2.2B
Nov 30, 2021	A$23.9B	A$27.8B	A$22.9B	A$-3.9B
Aug 31, 2021	A$20.5B	A$21B	A$18.9B	A$-0.5B
Jun 01, 2021	A$18.3B	A$17.9B	A$16B	A$0.4B
Mar 02, 2021	A$14.5B	A$13.1B	A$10.7B	A$1.4B
Dec 01, 2020	A$10B	A$7.1B	A$16.3B	A$2.9B
Sep 01, 2020	A$17.7B	A$13B	A$9B	A$4.7B
Jun 02, 2020	A$8.4B	A$6.3B	A$1.7B	A$2.1B
Mar 03, 2020	A$1B	A$2.3B	A$6.5B	A$-1.3B
Dec 03, 2019	A$7.86B	A$6.3B	A$4.7B	A$1.56B
Sep 03, 2019	A$5.9B	A$1.4B	A$-1.1B	A$4.5B
Jun 04, 2019	A$-2.9B	A$-2.5B	A$-6.3B	A$-0.4B
Mar 05, 2019	A$-7.2B	A$-9.2B	A$-10.8B	A$2B
Dec 04, 2018	A$-10.7B	A$-10.2B	A$-12B	A$-0.5B
Sep 04, 2018	A$-13.5B	A$-11.5B	A$-11.7B	A$-2B
Jun 05, 2018	A$-10.5B	A$-9.95B	A$-14.7B	A$-0.55B
Mar 06, 2018	A$-14B	A$-12.6B	A$-9.1B	A$-1.4B
Dec 05, 2017	A$-9.1B	A$-9.2B	A$-9.6B	A$0.1B
Sep 05, 2017	A$-9.6B	A$-8.05B	A$-4.8B	A$-1.55B
Jun 06, 2017	A$-3.1B	A$0.1B	A$-3.5B	A$-3.2B
Feb 28, 2017	A$-3.9B	A$-3.6B	A$-10.2B	A$-0.3B
Dec 06, 2016	A$-11.4B	A$-13.7B	A$-15.9B	A$2.3B
Sep 06, 2016	A$-15.5B	A$-19.75B	A$-14.9B	A$4.25B
May 31, 2016	A$-20.8B	A$-19.5B	A$-22.6B	A$-1.3B
Mar 01, 2016	A$-21.1B	A$-20B	A$-18.8B	A$-1.1B
Dec 01, 2015	A$-18.1B	A$-16.5B	A$-20.5B	A$-1.6B
Sep 01, 2015	A$-19B	A$-15.8B	A$-13.5B	A$-3.2B
Jun 02, 2015	A$-10.7B	A$-10.8B	A$-10.2B	A$0.1B