Mexico's merchandise trade surplus decreased from last year in April, data released by statistical office INEGI showed Friday.
The trade surplus decreased to $560 million in April from $607 million in the same month last year. Economists were looking for a surplus of $873 million.
Export of goods increased 11.6 percent year-on-year to $31.04 billion in April. Shipments of oil products edged up 1.4 percent annually, while dispatches of non-oil products climbed 13.7 percent.
The value of imports advanced 12.1 percent on an annual basis to $30.48 billion during the month. Arrivals of petroleum products advanced 4.8 percent year-on-year, while imports of non-oil commodities rose 13.1 percent.
In the January-April period, Mexico's trade balance was a surplus of $2.33 billion, down by 7.6 percent compared to the same period a year earlier. Exports and imports increased 10.1 percent and 10.5 percent respectively during the four-month period, data showed.
Separately, the agency said Mexico's unemployment rate increased to 4.86 percent in April from 4.62 percent in March. Economists expected the jobless rate to rise to 4.9 percent. In April 2011, the unemployment rate was 5.1 percent.
by RTT Staff Writer
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