The current account deficit rose to 2 per cent of the GDP at $13.5 billion in the December quarter, up from $8 billion or 1.4 per cent in the year-ago period, on the back of higher trade deficit, shows the Reserve Bank data. The CAD, which shows the difference between foreign exchange earned and spent, stood at $7.2 billion or 1.1 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in the preceding September quarter, according to data released by the central bank today.