Japan December Core Machine Orders Rebound on Higher Demand from Manufacturers; Computer Orders Remain Mixed
–Core Orders Dip in Q4 as Largely Expected, Seen Up in Q1 for 1st Rise in 4 Quarters–Core Orders Mark 10th Straight Y/Y Drop Despite Solid Capex Plans–Cabinet Office Keeps View: Machine Orders Pausing By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese core machinery orders, the key leading indicator of business investment in equipment, rebounded 2.7% in […]
Japan Q4 GDP Unexpectedly Slips for 2nd Straight Contraction, Hit by Weaker Consumption, Business Investment, Public Works Spending
–Q4 GDP Annualized 0.4% Drop Below Median Forecast of 1.6% Growth–Consumption, Capex Both Post 3rd Straight Drop as Real Wages Keep Falling–In 2023, Japan’s Nominal GDP in Dollar Terms Falls Behind Germany’s Amid Weak Yen By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s gross domestic product for the October-December quarter unexpectedly posted a slight contraction of 0.1% […]
White House and Other Schedules for Wednesday, Feb 14
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following are Wednesday’s schedules for the White House, Treasury, USTR, the State Department and Capitol Hill as well as U.S. economic data and Federal Reserve events: DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2024 In the afternoon, the President and the Secretary of State will have lunch. This meeting in the President’s […]
Japan January Producer Inflation Remains Tame with 0.2% Y/Y Rise as Subsidies Trim Utility Costs, Global Demand for Lumber, Steel Remains Soft
—Producer Prices Mark 35th Straight Y/Y Gain but Recent Figures Stay Lowest Since 0.9% Drop in February 2021–Producer Prices Flat Month on Month; Firmer Prices for Utilities, Electric Machines Offset Lower Costs for Farm Produce, Fuels By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Producer inflation in Japan rose 0.2% on the year in January, coming in higher […]
IMF: BOJ Should Consider Unwinding Monetary Easing Under Yield Curve Control Framework Now
–IMF: BOJ Then Should Gradually Raise Interest Rates–IMF Critical of Kishida Government’s ‘Untargeted’ Economic Stimulus Package By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan should consider unwinding its large-scale monetary easing now by exiting the seven-year-old yield curve control framework, the International Monetary Fund said Friday, noting that easing in the past decade has […]
Preview: Japan Q4 GDP Modest Rebound Expected, Led by Capex, Net Exports but Consumption Seen Weak Amid High Costs
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s gross domestic product for the October-December quarter is forecast by economists to rebound a modest 0.4 percent on quarter, or an annualized 1.6 percent, after suffering its first contraction in four quarters in July-September, led by a slight pickup in business investment and a temporary jump in service exports, […]
Japan December Household Spending Posts 10th Straight Y/Y Drop as Inflation Bites, Milder Weather Dampens Demand for Winter Clothing, Heaters
–Households Seeking Savings by Switching to Low-Cost Mobile Phone Plans–Eating Out Continues Growing, Vehicle Purchases, Car Services Rebound–Real Household Income Posts 15th Straight Y/Y Drop on Elevated Costs By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s real household spending posted its 10th straight drop on the year in December, down a deeper-than-expected 2.5%, following a 2.9% dip […]
Bank of Japan January Meeting Summary Shows Shift Toward More Specific Debate About Exit from Large Monetary Easing
–Members Continue to Link Timing of Exit to Clearer Signs of Sustained Wage Growth–A Few Members Warn About Falling Behind Curve in Unwinding Stimulus By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Bank of Japan board members continued to discuss the need to carefully unwind the bank’s monetary easing measures, with many linking the timing of an exit […]
Japan December Retail Sales Turn Weaker as Pent-up Demand Wanes, Upward Price Pressures on Food, Fuels Ease
–METI Downgrades View: Retail Sales Taking One Step Forward, One Step Back Vs. on Uptrend–Department Store Sales Up but at Slower Pace after Already Recovering from Pandemic Slump By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese retail sales turned weaker in December, rising just 2.1% on the year, below the consensus forecast of a 5.3% rise and […]
Japan December Industrial Production Rebounds on General Machinery; Daihatsu Halt amid Crash Test Scandal Seen Hurting January Vehicle Output
–METI Survey: Factory Output Likely to Plunge in January, Rise Moderately in February–METI Keeps View: Output Taking One Step Forward, One Step Back–METI To Watch Effects of Global Growth, Auto Output Suspension, Drops Risk from High Costs Amid Easing Inflation By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s industrial production rebounded by a solid but lower-than-expected 1.8% […]