Japan April Exports Rise Less-Than-Forecast 7.9%

Japan’s exports rose a less-than-estimated 7.9 percent in April from a year earlier, underscoring the risk that weakness in global demand may limit the rebound in the world’s third-biggest economy.

Imports gained 8 percent, leaving a trade deficit of 520.3 billion yen ($6.5 billion), the finance ministry said in Tokyo today. The median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey of 27 analysts was for exports to increase 11.8 percent after rising 5.9 percent in March.