There is little merchandise trade because technology permits small-scale manufacturing.

The surplus in merchandise trade alone decreased 27.8 percent, to 566.70 billion yen, or $5.10 billion, from a year earlier.

Previous reports on retail sales and merchandise trade also provided information that the pace of growth might be easing.

Trade in services has grown faster than merchandise trade for 20 years.

There is some concern, however, centered on this week's economic reports, which include the important but unpredictable monthly merchandise trade figures.

Figures on merchandise trade are also reported with a greater lag than most other economic indicators, many of which have already been published for February.

Many economists predicted a deficit for merchandise trade of between $14 billion and $15 billion.

The Whittlesey family was involved in farming, the merchandise trade, and shipbuilding.

The imbalance in the current account, which includes merchandise trade and other financial flows, was up from $3.39 billion in May.

In 2007, two-way merchandise trade was valued at A$3.88 billion.