United Kingdom Current Account

The United Kingdom reported a current account deficit equivalent to 8.45 Billion of GBP in the fourth quarter of 2011. Historically, from 1946 until 2011, the United Kingdom Current Account averaged -1.0500 Billion GBP reaching an all time high of 338.0000 Billion GBP in December of 1950 and a record low of -330.0000 Billion GBP in December of 1951. Current Account is the sum of the balance of trade (exports minus imports of goods and services), net factor income (such as interest and dividends) and net transfer payments (such as foreign aid). This page includes a chart with historical data for the United Kingdom Current Account.

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Current Account
Current Account is the sum of the balance of trade (exports minus imports of goods and services), net factor income (such as interest and dividends) and net transfer payments (such as foreign aid). The balance of trade is typically the most important part of the current account. This means that changes in the patterns of trade are key drivers in the current accounts of most of the world's economies. However, for the few countries with substantial overseas assets or liabilities, net factor payments may be significant. Positive net sales to abroad generally contributes to a current account surplus; negative net sales to abroad generally contributes to a current account deficit. Because exports generate positive net sales, and because the trade balance is typically the largest component of the current account, a current account surplus is usually associated with positive net exports. The net factor income or income account, a sub-account of the current account, is usually presented under the headings income payments as outflows, and income receipts as inflows. Income refers not only to the money received from investments made abroad (note: investments are recorded in the capital account but income from investments is recorded in the current account) but also to the money sent by individuals working abroad, known as remittances, to their families back home. If the income account is negative, the country is paying more than it is taking in interest, dividends, etc. For example, the United States' net income has been declining exponentially since it has allowed the dollar's price relative to other currencies to be determined by the market to a point where income payments and receipts are roughly equal of trade forms part of the current account, which also includes other transactions such as income from the international investment position as well as international aid. If the current account is in surplus, the country's net international asset position increases correspondingly. Equally, a deficit decreases the net international asset position.

UNITED KINGDOM NEWS

UK Inflation Down to 3% in April
Published: 5/22/2012 11:17:34 AM By: TradingEconomics.com, UK Statistics
UK CPI annual inflation stands at 3.0 per cent in April 2012, down from 3.5 per cent in March. The timing of Easter had a significant impact on the April data.

U.K. Unemployment Rate Down to 8.2 in March
Published: 5/16/2012 4:26:31 PM By: TradingEconomics.com, ONS
The unemployment rate was 8.2 per cent of the economically active population for January-March 2012, down 0.2 on the quarter. There were 2.63 million unemployed people, down 45,000 on the quarter.

U.K. Trade Deficit Narrows in March
Published: 5/15/2012 12:47:10 PM By: TradingEconomics.com, ONS
The UK’s deficit in Trade in Goods and Services narrowed to £2.7 billion in March, down £0.2 billion from £2.9 billion in February.

Bank of England Keeps Monetary Policy Unchanged
Published: 5/10/2012 12:10:23 PM By: TradingEconomics.com, Bank of England
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted on May 10th to maintain the official Bank Rate paid on commercial bank reserves at 0.5%. The Committee also voted to maintain the stock of asset purchases financed by the issuance of central bank reserves at £325 billion.

U.K. Economy Contracts 0.2% in Q1
Published: 5/7/2012 4:50:36 PM By: TradingEconomics.com, UK Office for National Statistics
U.K. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) decreased by 0.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2012, driven by weakness in the construction sector and the production sector.

UK Inflation Up to 3.5% in March
Published: 4/18/2012 11:28:58 AM By: TradingEconomics.com, UK Statistics
UK CPI annual inflation stands at 3.5 per cent in March 2012, up from 3.4 per cent in February. The CPI stands at 122.2 in March 2012 based on 2005 = 100.

UK Trade Deficit Widens in February
Published: 4/12/2012 11:27:42 AM By: TradingEconomics.com, UK Office for National Statistics
The UK’s deficit in Trade in Goods and Services increased to £3.4 billion in February, up £0.9 billion from £2.5 billion in January.

Bank of England Leaves Policy Unchanged
Published: 4/5/2012 12:35:17 PM By: TradingEconomics.com, Bank of England
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted on April 5th, to maintain the official Bank Rate paid on commercial bank reserves at 0.5%. The Committee also voted to continue with its programme of asset purchases totalling £325 billion financed by the issuance of central bank reserves.

UK GDP Contracts 0.3% in Q4
Published: 3/28/2012 2:47:44 PM By: TradingEconomics.com, UK Office for National Statistics
UK gross domestic product (GDP) in volume terms decreased by 0.3 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2011, revised from a decline of 0.2 per cent previously estimated. For the year 2011, GDP in volume terms increased by 0.7 per cent.

UK Annual Inflation Rate Down to 3.4% in February
Published: 3/20/2012 10:41:22 AM By: TradingEconomics.com, UK Office for National Statistics
UK annual inflation stands at 3.4 per cent in February 2012, down from 3.6 per cent in January. The annual rate for February is the lowest since November 2010. The CPI stands at 121.8 in February 2012 based on 2005 = 100

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