German trade surplus surges in June

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FRANKFURT, Aug 7 (AFP): Germany's trade surplus surged in June, data released today showed, offering some relief after a bleak series of figures pointing to a severe economic slowdown.

The trade surplus grew to 19.7 billion euros (30.4 billion dollars), from a revised 14.3 billion in May, the federal statistics office Destatis said in a statement.

Germany's current account, the widest measure of trade and financial transactions with other countries, showed a surplus of 18.5 billion euros, more than double the May level of 7.7 billion, Destatis said.

Analysts polled by Dow Jones Newswires had forecast a trade surplus of 15.0 billion euros and a current account surplus of 12.0 billion.

German exports jumped by an unadjusted 7.9 per cent in June from the same month a year earlier, while imports increased by 5.3 per cent.