IN BRIEF : Bonn Reports Record Trade Surplus

t Germany today announced a record trade surplus for 1988, but economists said the European Community is not likely to be pleased with the excess and predictions of future export growth.

West Germany recorded a trade surplus of 128 billion marks ($69 billion) last year, versus the then-record of 117.7 billion marks ($63 billion) in 1987, the Federal Statistics Office reported.

Economists estimate a surplus as high as 142 billion marks ($76 billion) this year. Exports should continue to boom, they said, although higher consumer taxes are expected to dampen economic growth to 2.5% from 3.4% in 1988.

“They’re bound to complain,” Richard Reid, international economist at London brokers Phillips & Drew, said of the EC members. “West Germany’s surplus with countries like France, Britain and Italy is increasing most rapidly.”

Bonn’s bulging surpluses have provoked frequent criticism from Washington the last two years, but the emphasis is now shifting to EC countries--who are buying more than half of the country’s exports, economists said.