Balance of payments statistics adapted to internation standard

The statistics for the balance of payments are being modified by the Riksbank as of October 1st. The changes affect approximately 40,000 companies and 30,000 persons who make cross-border payments in the course of a year. They constitute an adaptation to the requirements of the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.

The rearrangements involve new current account definitions. Some development aid items that are included in the current account at present will be transferred to a new heading, capital transfers. Trade in services, moreover, will be reported in more detail.

As a result of the new accounting arrangements, the presentation of the balance of payments for October 1997 is postponed until 22nd January 1998. When the adaptation is complete, the statistics will be presented with a time lag of 7-8 weeks.


For further information please contact the Financial Statistics Department:
Gunnar Blomberg, Deputy Head of Department,
telephone +46 8 787 01 46
Ingvar Karlsson, Head of Division, Current Account Statistics,
telephone +46 8 787 02 10