TOKYO, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Japan logged a trade deficit of 223.4 billion yen in November as exports fell sharply, government data showed on Monday, reinforcing views that slowing global demand was hurting an economy already in recession.
The data compared with economists' median forecast of a deficit of 257.5 billion yen.
Following is a table of the main figures. Economists' median forecasts are in parentheses: ---------------------------------------------------------------- (Unadjusted, mln yen, y/y)
NOV YEAR AGO PCT CHANGE Trade balance -223,419 (-257,500) 784,393 -- ( -- )
Exports 5,326,601 7,268,584 -26.7 (-20.0)
Imports 5,550,020 6,484,191 -14.4 (-8.4) ---------------------------------------------------------------- To view full tables, go to the website of the Ministry of Finance -- http://www.customs.go.jp/toukei/latest/index_e.htm (Reporting by Leika Kihara; Editing by Chris Gallagher)