TOKYO, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Japan posted a current account surplus of 2.27 trillion yen (19.93 billion U.S. dollars) in September, the Finance Ministry said in a preliminary report Thursday.
According to the ministry, the reading in September marked the 36th successive month of surplus, with goods trade notably logging a surplus of 852.2 billion yen in the recording period.
Japan's current account surplus is one of the broadest measure of its trade with the rest of the world and the data is keenly eyed by the Bank of Japan (BOJ) and the finance ministry ahead of new potential policy changes or monetary easing or tapering measures.
In Japan, the current account surplus increases the nation's net foreign assets by the corresponding amount, and a current account deficit does the reverse.
Both the Japanese government and private payments are included in the calculation and it is called the current account because goods and services are generally consumed in the current period.
