Fed: Trade deficit improves to $3.9 billion

AAP General News (Australia)
02-22-2000
Fed: Trade deficit improves to $3.9 billion

CANBERRA, Feb 22 AAP - Australia's trade deficit fell $195 million in the December
quarter to $3.9 billion, the first improvement for 12 months.

The upgrade was due to a surge in exports, which rose nearly $3 billion, or 13.5 per
cent, to $24.9 billion.

This more than offset a 10.6 per cent rise in imports, which were up $2.8 billion to
$28.8 billion.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures show welcome improvements in exports
to all of Australia's markets - particularly Japan.

The end of the Japanese recession has seen …