TRADE BALANCE

Hokitika Guardian, 25 November 1929, Page 8

TRADE BALANCE

BIG INCREASE IN IMPORTS

WELLINGTON, Nov. 21

The upward trend of imports, which lias been very marked this year, shows no signs of easing. The overseas trade returns for October supplied by the'Customs Department to-day show that while the exports for the month are nearly £300,000 less, the imports are £736,024 greater than those for October, 1928. The imports last month are £627,500 less than for September, 1929, but the total for that month was a record one. The position for the month is set out in the following table, which affords a comparison with the figures for October, 1929:—■ Oct., 1t)29. Oct. 1928. Exports ... £2,479,310 £2,776,703 £297,393 (decrease) Imports ... £4,409,812 £3,673,788 £736,024 (increase) Excess of imports ... £1,930,502 £897,085 It will be seen that the excess of imports last month was considerably more than double that for October. 1928. Figures for the ten months of the current year disclose a decrease of over £311,500, compared with the corresponding period of last year, while the imports show an increase of over £4,000,000. The position is set out in the folllowing table:— 1929. 1928. 10 months. 10 months. £ £ Exports ... 48,134,089 48,445,630 Decrease ... 331,541 Imports ... 40,764,226 36,715,283 Lncrease .. 4,048,912 E x cess of exports ... 7,369,863 13,730,347 The above figures show that the shrinkage in the value of exports and the great increase in imports has produced a reduction of £4,360,484 in tlie favourable trade balance for the ton months of this year, compared with the corresponding period of 1928.