The Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) reported that Israel’s balance of payments for the third quarter of 2015 (July – September) looked positive, considering the current economic environment.

The data on the current account of Israel are a summary of the country’s balance of payments conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics at the end of the third quarter of 2015. The summary includes transactions of Israeli residents with foreign entities in four different accounts: the account of goods (exports imports), the services account (Exports Imports), the account of primary income (income from financial investments and wages per employee), and secondary income (current transfers of funds).

The current account surplus totaled $3.8 billion, following a surplus of $3.4 billion in the previous quarter. The balance of goods and services amounted to a surplus of $2.5 billion, following a surplus of $1.8 billion in the previous quarter.

Imports of goods and services decreased by 3.5% from the previous quarter to $20 billion. The Exports of goods and services remained at a level similar to that of the previous quarter, totaling $22.5 billion.

Israeli residents’ investments in foreign tradable securities decreased by $100 million following continued increases since 2012.