Japan’s surplus on its current account, the...

Japan’s surplus on its current account, the broadest measure of trade, declined in August from both the previous month’s and previous year’s levels, the Finance Ministry announced. But it said the country’s trade surplus, a narrower measure, grew during August from the previous year’s level for the second month in a row, moving to $6.34 billion from $6.18 billion in August, 1987. The current account registered a $4.99-billion surplus during the month, down from $6.48 billion in July and $5.40 billion in August, 1987. The current account includes trade in goods and services and other monetary transfers and remittances.