TOKYO- Japan's current account surplus fell 64.3 percent in August from a year earlier to 407.5 billion yen, the government said Tuesday.

The balance of international payments, the broadest gauge of trade for a country, shrank for the sixth straight month, the Finance Ministry said in a preliminary report.

The balance of trade in goods logged a deficit of 694.7 billion yen, partly due to the rising yen increased import cost. ($1 is equivalent to 76.65 yen)