TOKYO, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Japan booked a current account deficit in December 2021, the government said in a report on Tuesday.
According to the Finance Ministry, the deficit in the recording period stood at 370.8 billion yen (3.2 billion U.S. dollars), the Finance Ministry said.
The ministry's preliminary report showed that Japan had booked a trade deficit of 318.7 billion yen and a services trade deficit of 321.3 billion yen.
The report also showed that primary income, which reflects returns made on investments overseas, logged a surplus of 398.8 billion yen.
The ministry also said that for 2021, the country booked a current account surplus of 15.4 trillion yen.
Japan's current account is one of the widest gauges of international trade, helped by income from foreign investments.
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's and private payments are included in the calculation. (100 Japanese yen equals 0.87 U.S. dollars) ■