The EU27 external current account recorded a deficit of €8.8 billion in the first quarter of 2012, compared with a deficit of €31.3 billion in the first quarter of 2011, according to estimates published by Eurostat, on 8 June. The EU27 external balance of trade in goods was in deficit by €28.6 billion, compared with a deficit of €47.3 billion in the first quarter of 2011. In the first quarter of 2012, the external balance of trade in services registered a surplus of €25.2 billion, compared with a surplus of €20.4 billion in the first quarter of 2011.