Preview: Forecasters See Japan’s Industrial Output Down 0.4% on Month in December
Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 0850 JST (2350 GMT/1850 EST Thursday, Jan. 29) The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry releases December industrial production, outlook for January and February. Mace News median: -0.4% m/m (range: -1.5% to +0.3%) vs. Nov. revised down to -2.7% from -2.6%; +2.3 y/y (range: +1.2% to +3.0%) vs. Nov. revised down […]
Japan Week Ahead: Lower House Election Campaign Underway Before Feb. 8 Vote as PM Takaichi Seeks Dual Fiscal Mandate, Stable Dollar/Yen
–December Factory Output to Show Slight Dip but Solid Q4, Sign for GDP Rebound; January Tokyo CPI Seen Tamer on Energy Price Drop, Erasing Food Pressures By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. Currency traders are on alert for a possible market intervention by the Ministry of […]
Japan Week Ahead: Inflation Easing Toward Bank of Japan’s 2% Target; Factory Output to Slip Back but Has Firm Undertone, Bucking US Tariff Damper
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese economic events for the coming week following the Bank of Japan board’s unanimous decision to raise the overnight interest rate target by 25 basis points to a 30-year high of 0.75% in light of easing uncertainties over global trade rows initiated by the Trump administration. […]
Japan Weekahead: Government Likely to Keep Modest Economic Recovery View, Another BOJ Board Member Speaks amid Rate Hike Expectations
–US Tariffs Seen Denting Factory Output, Retail Sales Remain Weak By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese economic events for the coming week. In the final quarter of 2025, the drag from the protectionist U.S. trade policy is becoming more pronounced in some data including international trade, compared to the previous quarter. […]
Japan Weekahead: Factory Output to Slip Back amid Lingering Trade Woes; Retail Sales Sluggish on Waning Inbound Spending Magic, Front-Loaded Air Conditioner Demand
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese economic events for the coming week. The world trade uncertainty has been reduced somewhat by accords between Washington and some U.S. allies, except for Canada, but President Trump’s erratic policymaking is leaving firms wary of making plans. Trump tariffs are taking their toll on Japanese […]
Japan Weekahead: Export Values Set to Post 3rd Straight Y/Y Drop as Trump Tariffs Forcing Carmakers to Cut Prices for US Customers; Inflation to Ease Further on Fuel Subsidies
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese economic events for the coming week. President Trump’s high import duties have prompted Toyota and other carmakers to trim sales prices for U.S. buyers in a bid to protect their market share in the world’s largest economy. This has led to a fall in overall […]
Japan Expects Gradual Economic Recovery in Light of Trade Accord with US but Warns Drag from Trump Tariffs Still Needs Close Watch
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government is looking at the bright side of trade rows in the wake of a bilateral deal with the Trump administration, sticking to its long-held conviction that the economy is expected stay on a “modest recovery” track but also warned that uncertainty remains. In its monthly report for July […]
Japan Weekahead: Machinery Orders, Exports Seen Down as Trump Tariffs Hit Auto, Steel Makers; Inflation to Ease on Fuel Subsidies but Still Above 3% amid High Rice Prices
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese economic events for the coming week. Stiff U.S. tariffs on imports are having some cooling effects on the auto and steel industries as seen in recent production and trade data but not pushing the global or domestic economy into a tailspin. Inflation in Japan, now […]
US ISM Manufacturing Stays in Contraction in June as Uncertainty Over Trade Conflicts Keeps Firms on Sidelines, Leading to Weak Demand, More Layoffs
–ISM Manufacturing Index at 49.0 Vs. 48.5 in May, Consensus at 48.8–ISM’s Spence: Production Up but Still Fragile, New Orders Falling–Spence: Orders Unlikely to Pick Up Until Trade, Geopolitical Risks Wane By Max Sato (MaceNews) – U.S. manufacturing activity was in contraction for the fourth straight month in June as the uncertainty over protectionist U.S. […]
Preview: Bank of Japan Q2 Tankan to Show Business Sentiment Slipped as Trump Tariffs Hit Auto, Metal Industries, High Costs Slow Consumers Spending
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan’s quarterly Tankan business survey is forecast to show confidence was flat or deteriorated in most categories in the June quarter, hit by Trump tariffs on vehicles, metals and other goods, with automakers lowering export prices to pay for higher import costs for U.S. customers, according to […]