(MENAFN) The Japanese government said that the country registered a trade deficit in goods of USD7.99 billion in April, remaining in the red but shrinking for the first time in 20 months, Xinhua reported.
According to Japan's Finance Ministry, the narrowing deficit, which declined 7.8 percent from a year earlier, was led by the consumption tax hike which weighed on domestic demand and reduced the pace of import growth.
Imports increased for the 18th consecutive month, which were up 3.4 percent to USD67.92 billion compared with an 18.1 percent surge in March.
Meanwhile, the value of exports rose for the 14th consecutive month, up 5.1 percent to USD59.93 billion, but still failed to surpass imports.
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