The current account deficit increased by
739 million euros in September, to nearly 4bn euros for the first nine months, provisional data from the National Bank of Romania reveal. The growth is significant, considering that the deficit had increased by only 180 million euros in September 2004. Although the current account deficit is now at a record high, its growth has been constantly slowing down since the beginning of the year. The deficit growth rate slowed down from over 60% in the first half to just 28% in the first nine months. Trade in goods and services registers 4.8bn euro deficit for goods, while transport sees a 305 million euro deficit and
tourism posted a slight surplus of 133 million euros. NBR statistics show foreign tourists spent
almost twice as much in the first nine months compared with the same period in 2004, a total
of 605 million euros, which led to a surplus for Romanian tourism services. In the first nine months
of 2004, Romania posted a 20 million euro deficit in this respect. ZF