Econintersect: After four consecutive months in deficit Japan recorded a ¥612.7 billion ($5.95 billion) current account surplus in February. For the last six months the current account is still slightly in deficit (approximately ¥60 billion) but for the last 12 months in surplus by about ¥1.7 trillion (approximately $100 billion). Part of the improvement came as imports declined sharply in February while exports were nearly unchanged, creating the smallest balance of trade deficit in nine months.
Current Account is the sum of the balance of trade (exports minus imports of goods and services), net factor income (such as interest and dividends) and net transfer payments (such as foreign aid).
Sources:
- Japan’s current account: back in surplus (Fast FT, 08 April 2014)
- Japan: Exports Falter Again (GEI News, 20 march 2014)
- Japan Current Account (Trading Economics, 08 April 2014)
