<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 […]
Japan December Producer Inflation Remains Elevated as Utilities Up Over 50% Y/Y, Steel, Paper Still Costly
By Max Sato –Annual Rate +10.3% in September 2022 Remains Highest in 41 Years–Weak Yen Continues Boosting Import Costs for Producers but at Slower Pace Amid Recent Dollar Pullback (MaceNews) – Producer inflation in Japan popped above 10% in December as utility charges stood over 50% above year-earlier levels and firms continued passing higher costs […]
<strong>Japan December Tokyo Core CPI Up Above-Forecast 4.0% Y/Y, Sets Another 40-Year High on Widespread Markups</strong>
–Total CPI Also Jumps 4.0% Y/Y, Highest in 41 Years With or Without Effects of 2014, 1997 Sales Tax Hikes –Narrow CPI (Ex-Fresh Food, Energy) +2.7%, 30-Year High, As Expected By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Consumer prices in Tokyo, the leading indicator of the national average, continued rising at the fastest pace in decades in […]
<strong>Japan November Household Spending Sluggish Amid Surging Costs for Daily Necessities, Mild Weather </strong>
–Govt Official: Household Spending Trend Flat If Special Factors Excluded –Spending on Hotels, Transport Stays Above Year-Earlier Levels –Real Household Income Dips but at Slower Pace; Real Wages Down Amid Retail Price Markups By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s real household spending was sluggish both on the month and year in November as many families […]
<strong>BOJ December Meeting Summary: Must Keep Easing Stance to Help Wage Hikes, Stable 2% Inflation</strong>
–Concerned About Weakened Bond Market Functions, Board Members Argue for Expanding JGB Yield Trading Range –Members See JGB Range Adjustment as Not Tightening –Members Also Discuss Eventual Exit from Easing in Future with No Specifics By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Bank of Japan board members argued that the bank should maintain its easing stance to […]
<strong>Japan November Retail Sales Slow Amid Concerns Over 8th Covid Wave, Lower Fuel Prices </strong>
–METI Keeps View: Retail Sales Picking Up; Sales Dip on Month but 3-Month Moving Average Up –Department Store Sales Recovery Pace Slows; Below Pre-Pandemic Levels –Demand for Cosmetics, Drugs Remains Strong; Auto Sales Pickup Slows By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese retail sales posted the ninth straight year-on-year increase in November, with the pace of […]
<strong>Japan November Jobless Rate Dips to 2.5% as Fewer People Look for Work; Jobs Up Y/Y on Eased Border Rules, Travel Subsidies </strong>
–More People Quit on Month to Seek Other Openings but Number of People Who Start Looking for Work Falls Faster –Employment Growth Posts 4th Y/Y Straight Gain, Let by Hotels, Restaurants –Unemployed Marks 17th Straight Y/Y Drop; Still Above January 2020 Level By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese payrolls posted their fourth straight year-on-year growth […]