China's trade surplus expands in July

China's monthly trade surplus in July widened to its highest level so far this year and inflation quickened more than expected last month, according to media reports. The trade surplus in July hit US$10.4bn, its widest level this year and more than five times the US$2.03bn surplus recorded in the year-earlier period. For the first seven months of 2005, the country notched up a US$50bn surplus, almost double the US$32bn surplus recorded for all of last year. Boosting July's surplus was a 28.7% rise in exports from a year earlier to US$65.6bn. Imports expanded by 12.7% to US$55.2bn.