June 8, 2009 - 5:09am
Japanese current-account surplus decreased by 54.5% in April as compared with the previous year, the Ministry of Finance said Monday. The figure fell more than expected while exports slowed their decrease.
According to the latest data the current-account surplus, the broadest measure of Japan's trade with the rest of the world, made up 630.5 billion yen ($6.38 billion) in April which is much lower than the figure of the 806.6 billion yen surplus predicted by a Dow Jones Newswires and Nikkei survey of analysts.
The reports also show that exports dropped 40.6% on a year-over-year basis with imports down 37.8%. In March, the current-account surplus had dropped 48.8% to 1.49 trillion yen, as exports skidded 46.5%.
As is known the current account measures trade in goods, services, tourism and investment. It is calculated by determining the difference between Japan's income from foreign sources against payments on foreign obligations and excludes net capital investment.
According to the latest data the current-account surplus, the broadest measure of Japan's trade with the rest of the world, made up 630.5 billion yen ($6.38 billion) in April which is much lower than the figure of the 806.6 billion yen surplus predicted by a Dow Jones Newswires and Nikkei survey of analysts.
The reports also show that exports dropped 40.6% on a year-over-year basis with imports down 37.8%. In March, the current-account surplus had dropped 48.8% to 1.49 trillion yen, as exports skidded 46.5%.
As is known the current account measures trade in goods, services, tourism and investment. It is calculated by determining the difference between Japan's income from foreign sources against payments on foreign obligations and excludes net capital investment.