<strong>Japan January Producer Inflation Eases to Below 10% as Fuels, Lumber Prices Drop, Firmer Yen Lowers Import Costs</strong>
–Upwardly Revised +10.5% Y/Y in December 2022 Now 42-Year High By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Producer inflation in Japan eased in January as energy and commodity markets turned softer on slowing global demand and the recent rebound in the yen helped lower import costs, but the annual rate just under 10% indicates firms are still […]
<strong>Japan December Household Spending Slips on Discount Mobile Phone Plans; Covid Spike, Inflation Spoil Yearend Parties </strong>
–Spending on Hotels, Transport Continues Rising on Govt Tourism Support –October-December Household Spending Rebounds, Indicating Consumption Supported Expected Q4 GDP Solid Growth –Spending in 2022 Marks 2nd Straight Annual Rise, Showing Pickup from Pandemic Slump –December Real Household Income Posts 3rd Straight Y/Y Drop as Inflation Bites By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s real household […]
Japan December Retail Sales Post Solid Gain; Freezing Weather Boosts Clothing Demand
–METI Keeps View: Retail Sales Picking Up; Sales Rebound on Month–Retail Sales Continue Rising Q/Q in Q4, Annual Pace Accelerates in 2022–Department Store Sales on Recovery Track, Shrinking Drop from Pre-Pandemic Levels–Demand for Cosmetics, Drugs Remains Strong; Auto Sales Dip After Recent Pickup By Max Satp (MaceNews) – Japanese retail sales posted the 10th straight […]
Japan December Industrial Output Nearly Flat on Slower Global Demand; Decline Smaller Than Expected
–METI Survey: Output Likely to Slump in January, Rebound in February–METI Keeps View After 2nd Straight Downgrade: Output Has Weakened–METI Repeats: To Watch Effects of a Rise in Covid Cases, Parts Shortages, Inflation By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s industrial production was nearly flat in December on cooling global demand, but down by a smaller-than-expected […]
<strong>Japan December Tokyo Core CPI Up 4.3% Y/Y, A Fresh 41-Year High on Soaring City Gas Charges, Smaller Hotel Fee Drop</strong>
–Total CPI Jumps 4.4% Y/Y, Highest in Over 41 Years With or Without Effects of 2014, 1997 Sales Tax Hikes –Narrow CPI (Ex-Fresh Food, Energy) Also Surges 3.0%, More Than 30-Year High By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Consumer prices in Tokyo, the leading indicator of the national average, continued their relentless surge above 4% in […]
Japan Government Sees Soft Spots in Economy in its 1st Downgrade of Overview in 11 Months as Global Demand Cools
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Wednesday downgraded its economic assessment for the first in 11 months, citing slower growth in exports amid weaker global demand, while maintaining its view that modest recovery is in place, according to its monthly report released by the Cabinet Office. In its January report, the government said the […]
<strong>Japan December Core CPI Up 4.0% Y/Y, 41-Year High on Continued Food Markups, Higher Utility Costs </strong>
–Core CPI (Ex-Fresh Food) Y/Y Rise Highest Since +4.0% in December 1981 –Core-Core CPI (Ex-Fresh Food, Energy) +3.0% Y/Y, 31-Year High Since +3.0% in August 1991 –Total CPI +4.0% Y/Y, Nearly 32-Year High; Largest Since +4.0% in January 1991 in Wake of 1990-1991 Gulf War By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Consumer inflation in Japan accelerated […]
<strong>Japan December Exports Continue Slowing Amid Lower Global Demand; Trade Deficit Hits Record in 2022 </strong>
–Japan Posts 17th Straight Month of Trade Deficit on Oil, Gas Import Costs–Exports to US Remain High After Hitting Record High in October –Exports to China Mark 1st Y/Y Drop in 7 Months Amid Renewed Covid Spike in China By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Growth in Japanese export values lost more steam in December on […]
<strong>BOJ Keeps Easing Stance Amid Slowing Global Growth, Expects Cost-Push Inflation to Lose Steam in FY23</strong>
–Board Sees 3% Core CPI Rise in FY22 to Slow to 1.6% in FY23, 1.8% in FY24 –Board Revises Down GDP Forecasts to 1.9% in FY22, 1.7% in FY23, 1.1% in FY24 By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan said Wednesday its policy board decided unanimously to maintain its basic monetary easing stance, […]
<strong>Japan November Machine Orders Plunge After Rebound in October, on Slowing Global Demand </strong>
–Govt Downgrades View: Machine Orders Pausing Vs. Pickup in Machine Orders Pausing By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese machinery orders, the key leading indicator of business investment in equipment, plunged in November in reaction to a rebound October and amid slowing global demand, although capex plans among many sectors appear to remain solid in fiscal […]