Tokyo ( AsiaNews / Agencies) - For the 15th consecutive month Japan 's trade balance showed a deficit of 932 billion yen ( $ 9.5 billion ) : This is an increase of 64 % compared to a year ago. The forecast deficit by economists and experts, however, was at a figure of around 919 billion .
The deficit stems from the aggressive economic measures undertaken by the government of Shinzo Abe nick-named "Abenomics". While this had given a much needed boost to exports - the main motor of the Japanese economy - it has effectively devalued the national currency which today is down by 25% against the U.S. dollar . The move has raised sales, up by 11 , 5%, but has affected import prices, which rose by 16.5 %.
According to analysts, imports grew mainly due to increased domestic demand for energy: the Fukushima disaster of 11 March 2011 forced the government to shut down nuclear power plants across the country , pushing the demand - and price - of other forms of energy up.
The prospects are not entirely negative. Last month, the data for the April-June period showed economic expansion of 0.9 %, which, in the long run, may turn into a +3.8% . Martin Schulz, from the Institute research Fujitsu, argues that "in the face of these factors, Japan could record new trade deficits for some time . But if this is accompanied by a recovery in domestic demand then it is a positive factor ."
