Japan Current Account

Japan reported a current account surplus equivalent to 1589 Billion Yen in March of 2012. Historically, from 1985 until 2012, Japan Current Account averaged 1121.2200 Billion JPY reaching an all time high of 3287.9000 Billion JPY in March of 2007 and a record low of -437.3000 Billion JPY in January of 2012. 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). This page includes a chart with historical data for Japan Current Account.

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Current Account
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). The balance of trade is typically the most important part of the current account. This means that changes in the patterns of trade are key drivers in the current accounts of most of the world's economies. However, for the few countries with substantial overseas assets or liabilities, net factor payments may be significant. Positive net sales to abroad generally contributes to a current account surplus; negative net sales to abroad generally contributes to a current account deficit. Because exports generate positive net sales, and because the trade balance is typically the largest component of the current account, a current account surplus is usually associated with positive net exports. The net factor income or income account, a sub-account of the current account, is usually presented under the headings income payments as outflows, and income receipts as inflows. Income refers not only to the money received from investments made abroad (note: investments are recorded in the capital account but income from investments is recorded in the current account) but also to the money sent by individuals working abroad, known as remittances, to their families back home. If the income account is negative, the country is paying more than it is taking in interest, dividends, etc. For example, the United States' net income has been declining exponentially since it has allowed the dollar's price relative to other currencies to be determined by the market to a point where income payments and receipts are roughly equal of trade forms part of the current account, which also includes other transactions such as income from the international investment position as well as international aid. If the current account is in surplus, the country's net international asset position increases correspondingly. Equally, a deficit decreases the net international asset position.

JAPAN NEWS

Japan Annual Inflation Rate Down to 0.4% in April
Published: 5/25/2012 12:11:48 PM By: TradingEconomics.com, Ministry of Finance Japan
The consumer price index for Japan in April 2012 was 100.4(2010=100), up 0.1% from the previous month, and up 0.4% over the year.

Japan's Trade Deficit Widens in April
Published: 5/23/2012 1:18:40 PM By: TradingEconomics.com, Ministry of Finance Japan
Japan posted a larger-than-expected trade deficit in April, widening from shortfalls in the previous month and a year earlier as exports of steel and plastic declined on reduced demand from China and imports of fossil fuels increased.

Bank of Japan Keeps Monetary Policy Unchanged
Published: 5/23/2012 12:57:08 PM By: TradingEconomics.com, Bank of Japan
At the Monetary Policy Meeting held on May 23rd, the Policy Board of the Bank of Japan decided, by a unanimous vote, to keep the uncollateralized overnight call rate at around 0 to 0.1 percent.

Japanese GDP Grows 1% in Q1
Published: 5/17/2012 11:20:34 AM By: TradingEconomics.com, Cabinet Office
Japan's gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 1.0 percent in January-March from the previous quarter after a revised 0.0 percent result for October-December last year. The recovery was mostly due to solid consumer spending, post-quake rebuilding and rising exports.

Japan Reports Trade Deficit in March
Published: 4/19/2012 11:32:08 AM By: TradingEconomics.com, Ministry of Finance Japan
Japan swung back into a trade deficit in March as a steady rise in energy imports outweighed a rebound in automobile exports after last year's flooding in Thailand.

Bank of Japan Holds off Easing Measures
Published: 4/10/2012 11:08:43 AM By: TradingEconomics.com, Bank of Japan
At the Monetary Policy Meeting held on April 10th, the Policy Board of the Bank of Japan decided to encourage the uncollateralized overnight call rate to remain at around 0 to 0.1 percent.

Japan Reports Trade Surplus in February
Published: 3/22/2012 11:23:41 AM By: TradingEconomics.com
Japan posted a ¥32.9 billion trade surplus in February after four-straight months in deficit, the Ministry of Finance said on March 22nd, boding well for an economy that needs a boost from international trade to solidify its still-fragile recovery.

Bank of Japan Adds New Loan Program
Published: 3/13/2012 6:53:42 PM By: TradingEconomics.com, Bank of Japan
The Bank of Japan left on March 13th its key monetary policy unchanged to check the effects of last month's easing steps, but decided to expand a loan program to ¥5.5trn for potentially high-growth sectors in a bid to stimulate the economy.

Japan Annual Inflation Rate Up 0.1% in January
Published: 3/2/2012 12:14:45 PM By: TradingEconomics.com, Statistics Japan
The consumer price index for Japan in January 2012 was 99.6(2010=100), up 0.2% from the previous month, and up 0.1% over the year.

Japan Unemployment Rate up to 4.6% in January
Published: 3/2/2012 12:10:30 PM By: TradingEconomics.com, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
Japan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 4.6 percent in January from a downwardly revised 4.5 percent in December, with the data pointing to already employed people seeking higher-paid positions.

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