The goods account swung to a EUR 2,466 million gap from a EUR 1,211 million surplus a year ago and the services surplus narrowed to EUR 2,236 million from EUR 2,302 million.

At the same time, the primary income deficit rose to EUR 2,844 million from EUR 2,150 million while the secondary income shortfall widened to EUR 850 million from EUR 81 million.