China Exports Decline for Fifth Month, Import Slump Moderates

China’s exports fell for a fifth month while a slump in imports moderated, as policy makers seek to spur domestic spending amid tepid global demand.

Overseas shipments dropped 6.8 percent in November in dollar terms from a year earlier, the customs administration said Tuesday. That compared to the median forecast of a 5 percent decline in a survey of economists and the 6.9 percent fall in October. Imports declined for a record 13th straight month, dropping 8.7 percent in dollar terms versus an 18.8 percent slump in October, leaving a trade surplus of $54.1 billion.