Japan Warns Mideast War Top Risk to Its Gradual Economic Recovery Outlook as Jitters Over Trade Rows Have Eased, Downgrades View on U.S. Economy
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese government leaders remain cautiously optimistic about their gradual economic recovery scenario but warned that the Mideast war is now the biggest source of global uncertainty while downgrading its view on the U.S. economy for the first time in 10 months. In its monthly report for March released Friday by […]
Preview: Forecasters See Slower Japan CPI for February on Lower Energy Prices, Utilities
(Nationwide CPI) Tuesday, March 24, 20260830 JST (2330 GMT/1930 EDT Thursday, March 23) The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications releases February CPI.Mace News median: total CPI +1.5% y/y (range: +1.3% to +1.5%) vs. Jan +1.5%; core CPI (ex-fresh food) +1.7% y/y (range: +1.6% to +1.8%) vs. Jan +2.0%; core-core CPI (ex-fresh food, energy) +2.7% […]
Japan Week Ahead: PM Takaichi Back to Inflation Fighting after Performing in Trump Diplomatic Theater; February Core CPI Seen Drifting Below BOJ’s 2%, Calm Before Iran War Storm
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. Following last week’s majority decision by the Bank of Japan’s board to pause in its gradual rate hike process, CPI data for February is forecast to show core inflation moderated to an annual rate below the bank’s 2% target as […]
Preview: Forecasters See Drop in Japanese Capex Spending in January Report
0850 JST (2350 GMT/1950 EDT Wednesday, March 18) The Cabinet Office releases January machinery orders.Mace News median: core orders -11.0% m/m (range: -13.9% to -5.5%) vs. Dec +19.1%; +9.7% y/y (range: +6.2% to +16.0%) vs. Dec +16.8% By Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO (MaceNews) – Japan’s core machinery orders, a key leading indicator of business investment in […]
Preview: Forecasters See Slower Japanese Export Growth in February Report
0850 JST (2350 GMT/1950 EDT Tuesday, March 17) The Ministry of Finance releases February trade.Mace News median: exports +1.6% y/y (range: -3.5% to +4.0%) vs. January +16.8%; imports +12.5% y/y (range: +9.1% to +16.2%) vs. a revised -2.4% in January from -2.5%; trade deficit ¥516.95 billion (range: a deficit of ¥660.00 billion to a surplus […]
Japan Week Ahead: BOJ Set to Hold Policy Rate amid Uncertainty over Mideast War’s Impact on Inflation, Growth; PM Takaischi Pushing for Swift Budget Approval
–Board Expected to Repeat BOJ Needs to Raise Rates Further After December Hike, 4th in Normalization Process That Ueda Launched in March 2024 By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. The government is pushing its record-high annual budget through the Diet to keep the economy afloat while […]
Japan Week Ahead: National Wealth Eroded by High Import Costs, Exports Weathering Trump Tariffs Thanks to Demand from Europe, Asia
–Bank of Japan in No Hurry to Raise Interest Rates to Counter Any Reversal in Easing Inflation amid Mideast War By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. Parliamentary debate on the fiscal 2026 budget continues at the key lower house budget committee. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is […]
Preview: Japan’s Revised Q4 GDP Seen Supported by Capex and Domestic Demand, Public Spending to Improve
Tuesday, March 10 0850 JST (2350 GMT/1850 EST Monday, March 9) Cabinet Office releases the revised GDP for October-December 2025.Mace News median: +0.3% q/q (range +0.2% to +0.4%) vs. Q4 prelim +0.1%; +1.3% annualized (range +0.8% to +1.5%) vs. Q4 prelim +0.2%; +0.3% y/y (range +0.2% to +0.4%) vs. Q4 prelim +0.1% By Chikafumi Hodo […]
Preview: Forecasters See Wide-Ranging Recovery in Japanese Household Spending
Tuesday, March 10, 20260830 JST (2350 GMT/1830 EST Monday, March 9) The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications releases the January average household spending.Mace News median forecasts: +1.8% y/y (range: +0.6% to +5.2%) vs. Dec -2.6%; +0.6% m/m (range: -0.4% to +2.9%) vs. Dec -2.9% By Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO (MaceNews) – Japan’s real household spending […]
Japan Week Ahead: PM Takaichi Faces Biggest Challenge in Office as Nation Braces for Major Crude Oil Supply Disruption, Return of Higher Energy Costs
–Japan Expected to Tide Over Impact of Temporary Iranian Blockade of Strait of Hormuz Despite Its Heavy Reliance on Middel East Oil, Gas By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. Just as parliamentary debate on the fiscal 2026 budget has shifted to the key budget committee of […]