Also covered are the use of traveler's checks and credit cards., but no distinction is made between business and personal travel. Source data for communications are supplemented with data from surveys. Foreign construction activity is recorded under direct investment income as construction projects generally take several years to complete and are carried out by site offices. Insurance transactions are recorded on a net basis and defined as premiums net of claims. Reinvested earnings cover only capitalized earnings.
Data cover transfers of migrant's property and the value of freight on migrant's shipments.
In principle, portfolio investment data are reported net of fees and commissions, but some data reported by foreign exchange banks may on occasion include amounts for fees and commissions. The data are not seasonally adjusted.