POPULAR WORDS

In seasonally adjusted terms, Australia recorded a deficit of $358 million on international trade in goods and services in December, a $70 million increase on the previous month. Goods and services credits rose $18 million to $12.264 billion, with a $204 million rise in exports of non-rural and other goods and an $83 million increase in exports of services offset by an 11% ($269 million) decline in rural goods exports. On the other side of the ledger, imports of goods and services rose 1% ($88 million), mainly due to a 5% growth in intermediate and other goods ($215 million), a 5% rise in capital goods ($112 million) and a $2 million lift in services. Inflows of consumption goods fell 8% ($241 million).