A STRENGTHENING yen and fluctuating global currencies have been blamed by Honda for a 20.1% decrease in consolidated income before tax for the year ended March 31, 2000 compared with the previous year.

The total of Y426.2 billion (£2.56 billion) was against a background of rising sales - up 6% to 2,473,000 units - while revenue decreased by 0.6% to Y4,961 billion (£46.8 billion).