Japan Weekahead: Feeling Drag from Trump Tariffs, High Costs of Living in Key Economic Data
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese economic events later this week. There is optimism in financial markets that the global trade war may be resolved through negotiations, but protectionist U.S. trade policy remains unpredictable and geopolitical risks have been heightened. Japanese automakers have lowered prices for their U.S. customers to cover […]
Preview: Japan Q1 GDP’s 0.7% Annualized Drop Seen Unrevised, 1st Contraction in 4 Quarters Caused by High Costs of Living, Falling Real Wages
–Q1 Slump Led by Technical Pullback in Net Exports, Flat Consumption Despite Solid Capex Gain–Q2 GDP Likely to Post 2nd Straight Drop as High Costs for Food, Energy Linger, Exports Sluggish amid Trade Rows By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The second reading of Japan’s GDP data is expected to confirm that the wobbly domestic economy […]
Japan Keeps Gradual Economic Recovery Outlook Against Global Trade War, Domestic Inflation Headwinds
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government continued to put on a brave face on the global trade war and politically explosive food price inflation, maintaining its cautiously optimistic domestic economic outlook for the ninth straight month, saying the economy is expected stay on a “modest recovery” track. In its monthly report for May released […]
Preview: Japan Q1 GDP to Post 1st Contraction in 4 Quarters as High Costs Keep Consumers Wary, Exports Remain Flat amid Uncertain Global Growth Prospects
–Global Trade War May Lead to 2nd Straight GDP Slump in Q2 By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s gross domestic product for the January-March quarter is forecast to post its first contraction in four quarters, down a slight 0.1% on quarter, or an annualized 0.4%, in payback for a technical jump in net exports in […]
US ISM Manufacturing Slips Back into Contraction in March as Firms Sit on Sidelines, Trim Payrolls Ahead of More Trump Tariffs Expected This Week
–ISM Manufacturing Index at 49.0 Vs. 50.3 in February, Below Consensus (49.6)–ISM’s Fiore: Activity ‘Overshadowed’ by US Import Tariffs; So Many Unknowns, More Confusion–Fiore: Still Think Lower New Orders, Higher Inventories, Slower Supply Deliveries Will Clear Up–Fiore: Tariffs Could Prompt Workers Hit by Higher Costs of Living to Demand Wage Hikes, Triggering Wage-Price Cycle By […]
Preview: Japan’s Wobbly 3rd Straight Economic Growth Seen Intact in Revised Q4 GDP Data but Sluggish Consumption, Exports Point to Flat Q1 Performance
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Lukewarm economic growth lingered during much of 2024 in Japan after three quarters of drops but consumption is chilled by high living costs and the outlook for the world’s top two economies is clouded by Trump tariffs, pointing to a flat performance in the first quarter of 2025, with the […]
Preview: Japan’s Goldilocks Economy to Post Modest 0.3% Q/Q GDP Growth in Q4 as Consumers Stay Frugal amid High Costs, Exports Sluggish in Face of Struggling China, Slowing US
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s gross domestic product for the October-December quarter is forecast to post its third consecutive growth but a sluggish 0.3% rise on quarter, or an annualized 1.3%. The main growth driver came from a rebound in net exports that was caused by a fall in imports and masks weak exports […]
Japan Still Sees Modest Economic Recovery but Warns It Now Needs to Watch Future US Policy amid Headwinds of Inflation, Middle East Tensions, Weak Yen
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government maintained its overall assessment that the economy’s “modest recovery” is set to continue thanks to wage hikes amid widespread labor shortages, but urged a close watch on the future U.S. government policy as well as lingering high costs for necessities, geopolitical risks and the weak yen. In its […]
Preview: Japan Q3 GDP Growth to Show Sharp Slowdown as Consumers Remain Wary amid High Costs, Capex Seen Down
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s gross domestic product for the July-September quarter is forecast to post a sharp slowdown, up just 0.2% on quarter, or an annualized 0.6%, as consumers remained frugal amid high costs for necessities that were aggravated by a rare, acute rice supply shortage and business investment is believed to have […]
Japan Q2 GDP Rebounds on Resumed Auto Output, Wage Hikes; Heat Wave Also Boosts Consumer Demand for Air Conditioners, Summer Goods
–Q2 GDP +0.8% Q/Q, +3.1% Annualized, Above Median Forecasts of +0.6%, +2.3%–Domestic Demand Pushes Up GDP by 0.9 Point, Net Exports Trim Growth by 0.1 Point By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s gross domestic product for the April-June quarter posted a stronger-than-expected rebound after suffering its first contraction in two quarters in January-March, up a […]