OTHER NEWS - July 9, 1992

Japan’s Trade Surplus Widens: Japan’s merchandise trade surplus widened to $10.09 billion in May, the government said, and experts predicted that Tokyo will show a record surplus for the year. The May surplus, which reflects an excess of exports over imports, widened from $9.99 billion in April and was nearly double the May, 1991, surplus of $5.47 billion. The Ministry of Finance figures were not adjusted for seasonal factors. Economists attributed the surplus to a decline in imports as Japan’s economy falls on hard times and domestic demand slackens.