The balance of payments is a statistical statement that summarises, for a specific period of time, the economic transactions of an economy with the rest of the world.
The international investment position is a statistical statement that shows, at a specific point in time, the value and composition of financial assets of residents of an economy and liabilities of residents of an economy to non-residents.
In addition to the official reserve assets, the international reserves statistics include the foreign currency liquidity of the monetary authorities of a country, as well as other balance-sheet and off-balance sheet activities such as forwards, futures and other financial derivatives, undrawn credit lines and loans guarantees. They present the foreign currency resources at a reference date and also inflows and outflows of foreign exchange over a future one-year period.
The external trade in goods statistics summarise on a monthly basis the exchange of goods across international borders.
The trade weights statistics are based on bilateral data on trade in manufactured goods.
The external debt of an economy represents, at any given time, the outstanding actual (rather than contingent) liabilities (and assets) vis-à-vis non-residents that require the payment of principal and/or interest by the debtor at a single or several points in the future.
