Brasília – The Brazilian current transactions deficit (all of the operations with foreign countries) reached US$ 1.645 billion in March this year, a lower figure than the US$ 4.343 billion recorded in the same period of 2008. The negative result was higher than the figure forecasted by the Central Bank of Brazil for last month, which was US$ 1 billion.
According to data supplied by the Central Bank, in the first three months of this year, the deficit amounted to US$ 5.02 billion, nearly half the figure recorded from January to March 2008 (US$ 10.26 billion).
The balance of trade ran a surplus of US$ 1.772 billion in March, and of US$ 3.01 billion in the accumulated result for the year.
The balance of services and income (interest, profits and dividends, and foreign trips) posted results of minus US$ 3.674 billion in March and minus US$ 8.87 billion in the first quarter this year.
Net unilateral transfers totalled to US$ 258 million last month and US$ 841 million thus far this year. Foreign direct investment reached US$ 1.444 billion in March and US$ 5.342 billion in the first quarter.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
