Japan posts current account surplus of $17.7B in May

TOKYO ― Japan's current account surplus grew for the 15th straight month in May as a record primary income surplus more than offset the trade deficit, the Ministry of Finance said on Monday, reflecting an ongoing shift of the country's sources of earnings.

The current account grew to 2.85 trillion yen ($17.74 billion) in May, compared with a median forecast from economists for a surplus of 2.45 trillion yen and the prior month's 2.05 trillion yen surplus.