TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s imports rose 45.9% in September from a year earlier to the highest on record, Ministry of Finance data showed on Thursday.
That compared with a 45.0% increase expected by economists in a Reuters poll and followed a 49.9% gain in August.
Exports rose 28.9% in the year to September, versus the median estimate for a 27.1% increase.
The trade balance came to a deficit of 2.094 trillion yen ($13.98 billion), versus the median estimate for a 2.167 trillion yen deficit.
To view full tables, go to the website of the Ministry of Finance at:
http://www.customs.go.jp/toukei/info/index_e.htm
($1 = 149.8000 yen)
(Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim)
