P. M. BRIEFING : Japan Posts $636-Million Trade Deficit, Its First in Six Years

Japan reported a trade deficit for the first time in six years today with a current account shortfall for the month of January, but economists said Tokyo is expected to return to a trade surplus soon.

The current account, the broadest measure of trade in goods and services, was $636 million in deficit after a $2.51-billion surplus a year earlier, the Finance Ministry said.

Japan’s last deficit, of $562 million, was recorded in January, 1984.

Analysts said factors involved in the decrease, such as the initial depressing effects of a weaker yen on trade, higher oil prices and slowing auto exports, will continue at least for the first quarter of 1990. But they saw no cause for alarm.

“The drop was largely due to seasonal factors,” said Nobuyuki Saji, senior economist at Nikko Securities Research Centre. “It’s nothing to get excited about.”