Japan's trade deficit shows surprise increase

LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch)
Japan's trade deficit unexpectedly widened in December, with exports growing less than forecast
Exports rose 15.3% from a year earlier, missing a Wall Street Journal forecast for a 17.7% increase, while imports grew by 24.7% from December 2012
The resulting trade deficit was 1.302 trillion yen ($12.8 billion), widening from ¥1.293 trillion and above a projected ¥1.256 trillion trade gap predicted in the Wall Street Journal survey
The deficit was the 18th in a row for Japan
Shipments most of Japan's top trading partners all rose when compared with the year-earlier period, including a 34% rise for China, a 13% increase for U.S.-bound exports, and 23% growth for those to the European Union