Japan’s trade deficit ballooned to a record ¥12.8 trillion last year, as a weakening yen pushed the cost of imports higher despite a moderate recovery in exports.
Preliminary data from the Finance Ministry released Jan. 26 showed exports rose 4.8 percent to ¥73.1 trillion in 2014 while imports climbed 5.7 percent to ¥85.9 trillion.
The trade deficit rose by 11.4 percent from the yen11.5 trillion gap in 2013.
The yen weakened to about ¥117 to the dollar. (AP)
財務省が1月26日に発表した2014年の貿易統計によると、貿易赤字額は12兆8千億円に膨らんだ。円安で輸入経費がかさんだことが原因の1つだ。
The Japan Times ST: February 6, 2015