NEW ZEALAND

Trade Deficit Widens to $664 Million: Sharply rising imports and lower exports pushed New Zealand’s trade deficit to a record $664 million in the September quarter, widening from $234.8 million in the June quarter, the Department of Statistics said. The figure was worse than expected. Analysts had predicted a figure of $461.52 million to $512 million. For the year ended Sept. 30, the trade deficit widened to $682 million, from $228.7 million a year earlier. Exports in the September quarter fell 13%, to $2.25 billion, and imports rose 14% to $2.05 billion. Peter Roche, a government statistician, said the large drop in exports was triggered by last winter’s electricity shortage, which sharply reduced the volume of manufactured goods and aluminum sold overseas.