Oct. 10 (Dow Jones) -- Japan posted its largest current account surplus for the month of August since 2007, the finance ministry said Tuesday, as an improvement in the trade balance on lower import prices inflated the overall figure.
The surplus in the current account, the broadest measure of Japan’s trade with the rest of the world, stood at Y2.001 trillion in August before seasonal adjustment, the data showed, up 23% from a year earlier. That was wider than a Y1.558 trillion surplus forecast by economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal and the Nikkei, and marked the 26th consecutive month in the black.
The goods and services balance returned to black in August, logging a surplus of Y190.7 billion. The trade balance also returned to a surplus of Y243.2 billion as the value of imports fell 18.3% on year, helped by a strengthening of the yen.
The primary income surplus fell 2.8% on year to Y1.985 trillion as income from investment in overseas securities fell.
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.
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Fecha de publicación: 10/10/2016