Japan's Trade Deficit Expands to Record High in Jan.

Japan's trade balance was in the red for the fourth straight month in January, registering a record trade deficit of 952.6 billion yen (9.97 billion U.S. dollars) in January, the finance ministry said Wednesday.

In a preliminary report, the ministry said that imports were down 31.7 percent to 4,435.2 billion yen (46.68 billion dollars) while exports plunged 45.7 percent to 3,482.6 billion yen (36.65 billion dollars).

In terms of regions, Japan's trade surplus with the United States, in particular, dived 75.3 percent.

The trade data, measured on a customs-cleared basis, have yet to be adjusted for seasonal factors.