The nation's current account rebounded into surplus in February from a record deficit the previous month as income from overseas investments outweighed deficits in trade and services.
The ¥613 billion surplus was the first in five months, the Finance Ministry reported Tuesday. The median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey of 29 economists was for an excess of ¥618.1 billion.
Officials are assessing the strength of the economy after the consumption-tax increase on April 1 that is projected to trigger a contraction this quarter. The Bank of Japan is forecast to refrain from adding to its unprecedented monetary easing at a two-day meeting ending Tuesday, waiting to see the extent of the blow to consumption.