21.   Sawano said the expansion of the services deficit was fuelled by am increase in the number of Japanese travelling abroad in November.

22.   The finance ministry said the sustained fall reflected the continued rise of imports, along with the steady expansion of the services deficit.

23.   The finance said the current-account deficit reflected the continued decline in the trade surplus along with significant rises in the services deficit.

24.   The ministry said the current-account deficit reflected the continued decline in the trade surplus along with significant rises in the services deficit.

25.   The January gain was due to a rise in the trade surplus and a decline in the services account deficit, the Bank of Korea said.

26.   The ministry said the continued rise in the services deficit also supported the decline in the current account surplus.