In order to make optimal use of the experimental data to determine the τ branching fractions,their uncertainties,and their correlations,we perform a global minimum x2 fit using the measured values,their uncertainties,their statistical correlations,their dependencies on external parameters and common systematics,and the relations that hold between the branching fractions,including a unitarity constraint on the sum of all the exclusive τ decay branching fractions.Starting with this edition,we use a new fit procedure,which has been elaborated by the Tau Physics Group within the Heavy Flavour Averaging Group (HFAG) [1].