Japan's current account surplus fell 5.9 percent from a year earlier to ¥1.65 trillion ($14.5 billion) in May, logging the first decrease in four months as higher crude oil prices pushed up imports, government data showed Monday.

The country posted a current account surplus for the 35th straight month. But goods trade registered a deficit of ¥115.1 billion — the first red ink in four months — a preliminary report from the Finance Ministry showed.

Overall imports rose 15.8 percent, to ¥5.83 trillion, as a production cut by oil-rich countries raised the price of crude oil, more than offsetting a 12.9 percent rise in exports to ¥5.71 trillion.