EUROZONE TRADE BALANCE SWINGS TO DEFICIT

What happened: The euro area trade balance posted a deficit in August, largely due to an increase in imports, Eurostat data showed Friday. Key numbers: August deficit EUR 16.1 billion versus a EUR 10.7 billion surplus in July and a EUR 1.7 billion deficit a year earlier. Exports rose 9.9 percent year on year, imports 16.7 percent. Why it matters: The swing from surplus to deficit was driven mainly by machinery and vehicles and a wider energy deficit, with import growth accelerating sharply from July.

The euro area trade balance posted a deficit in August, largely due to an increase in imports, Eurostat data showed Friday.

The swing from surplus to deficit was driven mainly by machinery and vehicles and a wider energy deficit, with import growth accelerating sharply from July.