US ISM Manufacturing PMI Expands for 7th Straight Month in July but Lingering Iran War, Global AI Boom Causing Longer Supply Delivery Lead Times, Memory Chip Shortages
–ISM’s Spence: Sentiment Trending Up in Right Direction; Slower Deliveries Could Get Worse but Orders Still Flowing By Max Sato (MaceNews) – U.S. manufacturing activity expanded for the seventh straight month in July to the highest level in more than four years but the Mideast conflict and the global AI boom have made delivery times […]
Preview: Forecasters See Japan Industrial Production Hit by Input Disruption from Mideast War
Friday, May 29, 2026 0850 JST (2350 GMT/1950 EDT Wednesday, May 28) The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry releases April, and the outlook for May and June. Mace News median: -1.0% m/m (range: -2.2% to -0.4%) vs. Mar. revised to -0.4% from -0.5%; +0.6% y/y (range: -0.5% to +2.3%) vs. Mar. revised to +2.4% […]
Japan Week Ahead: Consumer Inflation in Capital, Jobless Rate Seen Tame, Iran War Squeezing Factory Output, Retail Sales Sluggish on Falling Real Wages
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. The preliminary GDP data for the January-March quarter released last week showed the economy has overcome a temporary contraction recorded in July-September last year, thanks to rebounds in net exports and public works as well as sluggish but resilient private […]
Forecast: Japan Q1 GDP Seen Extending Growth Streak as Public Investment, Exports Support Economy
By Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO (MaceNews) – Japan’s real gross domestic product is projected to post a second consecutive quarter of growth in January-March, supported by firmer exports despite ongoing U.S. tariffs, while solid public investment, modest gains in private consumption and steady capital expenditure likely also contributed to growth. The economy is expected to expand […]
Preview: Forecasters See Japanese Industrial Output Bouncing Back in March with Rising Exports
Thursday, April 30, 2026 0850 JST (2350 GMT/1950 EDT Wednesday, Apr 29) The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry releases March and January-March industrial production, outlook for April and May. Mace News median: +0.7% m/m (range: -1.0% to +2.5%) vs. Feb. revised to -2.0% from -2.1%; +3.0% y/y (range: +0.0% to +5.3%) vs. Feb. revised […]
Japan Keeps Cautiously Optimistic Economic Outlook as Bulls Drive Tokyo Stocks Higher on Hopes of End to Mideast Conflict, Resumed Gulf Shipping
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government continues to expect a gradual economic recovery, backed by strong demand for investment in artificial intelligence, while Tokyo stock markets keep flirting with record highs on hopes of an end to the Iran war that would allow reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, crucial for oil and gas […]
Japan Week Ahead: BOJ Branch Managers Update on Regional Economies at Quarterly Meeting Ahead of April 27-28 Policy Decision
–February Household Spending Seen Sluggish amid Falling Real Wages; March Producer Inflation to Tick Up on Higher Energy Costs By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week in the new fiscal year that began on April 1. Bank of Japan branch managers will provide their latest assessments of […]
US ISM Manufacturing PMI in Expansion for 3rd Straight Month but Mideast War Compounds Uncertainty Already Heightened by New Trump Tariffs
–ISM’s Spence: New Orders Creeping Back Down Toward Neutral, Widespread Price Hikes ‘Very Concerning’ By Max Sato (MaceNews) – U.S. manufacturing activity expanded for the third straight month in March, emerging from the tariff-triggered doldrums of 2025, but the outlook has been clouded further by the lingering Mideast conflict, prompting firms to shelve investment and […]
Preview: Forecasters See Sharp Rebound for Japanese Industrial Production
Friday, Feb. 27, 20260850 JST (2350 GMT/1850 EST Thursday, Feb. 26) The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry releases January industrial production, outlook for February and March. Mace News median: +5.3% m/m (range: +4.0% to +7.0%) vs. Dec. -0.1%; +5.2% y/y (range: +4.2% to +7.2%) vs. Dec. +2.6% By Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO (MaceNews) – Japan’s […]
Preview: Japan Q4 GDP to Rebound on Gains in Capex, Consumption, Exports, but Momentum Remains Weak
By Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO (MaceNews) – Backed by gains in capital investment, gradual rises in exports, and continuing modest recovery in private consumption, Japan’s real gross domestic product is expected to rebound and post its first positive growth in two quarters in the October–December period, following a sharp contraction in the previous quarter. Still, the […]