21.   Some economists agreed that the trade surplus will continue to contract, shrinking the current account surplus with it.

22.   Still, demand for Japanese good remains strong in the U.S. and Europe, so the surplus will continue rising next year, economists said.

23.   Some traders took the report as a sign that the surplus will continue to grow for some time, contrary to what some Japanese officials have said.

24.   The system is so well funded that annual surpluses will continue for many years.

25.   While the coming months may remain volatile, the surplus will probably continue to shrink, he said.

26.   Whether the surplus will continue to grow has divided economists, investment bankers and executives.

27.   With consumer spending in Europe and the U.S. strong, economists expect the surplus to continue rising through the end of the year.

28.   With the surplus continuing to pile up, Republicans remain as committed as ever to tax cuts.

29.   Yet with demand for Japanese electronics, automobiles and machines still strong overseas, the account surplus will continue growing, economists said.

30.   -- Trade surplus continues to drop.