Australia posted a seasonally adjusted merchandise trade deficit of A$1.579 million in April, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday - marking a decrease of 20 percent on the deficit in March.
That beat forecasts for a shortfall of A$2.10 billion following the upwardly revised A$1.971 billion in March (originally a deficit of A$2.163 billion).
Exports added A$171 million or 1.0 percent on month to A$26.734 billion. Rural goods added A$157 million (5 percent) and non-monetary gold gained A$141 million (8 percent).
Non-rural goods fell A$224 million (1 percent) and net exports of goods under merchanting shed A$2 million (5 percent). Services credits added A$98 million (2 percent).
Imports dipped A$222 million or an annual 1.0 percent to A$28.313 billion. Capital goods lost A$299 million (6 percent) and non-monetary gold fell A$67 million (14 percent).
Consumption goods gained A$70 million (1 percent) and intermediate and other merchandise goods picked up A$64 million (1 percent). Services debits were up A$11 million.
Also on Thursday, the ABS said that retail sales in Australia added a seasonally adjusted 0.2 percent on month in April. That was shy of expectations for a gain of 0.3 percent, and it was down from 0.4 percent in March.
By region, there were rises in New South Wales (0.3 percent), Western Australia (0.6 percent), South Australia (0.5 percent), Tasmania (1.0 percent), the Australian Capital Territory (0.9 percent) and the Northern Territory (0.7 percent).
There were falls in Victoria (-0.3 percent) and Queensland (-0.1 percent).
By category, there were rises in cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (1.0 percent), household goods retailing (0.3 percent), clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (0.5 percent), other retailing (0.2 percent) and department stores (0.4 percent).
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