Preview: Japan Q1 GDP Solid Growth Seen Revised Up Slightly; Capex Appears to Be Firmer Than in Initial Estimate, Public Works Less Strong
–Consumer Spending on Services, Rebound in Business Investment Lead Economic Growth –Net Exports Drop Amid Slowing Global Demand –Q2 GDP Seen Supported by Consumption Without Covid Restrictions but High Prices Remain Headwind By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s solid economic growth led by resilient consumer spending in the January-March quarter is expected to be revised […]
Japan April Household Spending Slumps on Continued Shift to Lower Mobile Phone Plans; Traveling, Eating Out Remain Strong
–Spending Drop Also Due to Continued Cut in High School Supplementary Education; Housing Also Down –Spending on Packaged Tours, Train/Air Fares Continues Rising on Tourism Support Program –Real Household Income Posts 7th Straight Y/Y Drop on High Food Costs but Energy Subsidies Capping Utility Charges By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s real household spending […]
EXCLUSIVE: Ex-BOJ Momma Says BOJ May Raise Rates at Year End if Outlook for Sustained Wage Hikes Emerges; Initial Rate Move More Likely Next Spring or Summer
–Momma Sees 20% Chance of BOJ Achieving Stable 2% Inflation in A Year, Up from Zero 6 to 12 Months Ago –Momma: Cost-Push Inflation Prompting Wage Hikes Amid Labor Shortages By Max Sato TOKYO (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan is focused on riding the wave of wage hikes to achieve stable 2% inflation by […]
Japan April Retail Sales Up on Year Led by Department Stores, Autos but at Slower Pace; Down on Month
–METI Keeps View: Retail Sales on Gradual Uptrend; 3-Month Moving Average Still Up on Month –Department Store Sales on Recovery Track, Auto Sales Improving Further –Demand for Cosmetics, Drugs Remains Solid; Sales of Appliances Stay Sluggish By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese retail sales posted their 14th straight year-over-year increase in April amid a continued […]
Japan April Industrial Output Dips Unexpectedly on Weaker Demand for Production Equipment amid Global Slowdown
–METI Survey: Output Likely to Post 2nd Straight Dorp in May, Rise in June –METI Keeps View After Last Month’s Upgrade: Output Showing Gradual Pickup –METI Repeats: To Watch Effects of Parts Shortages, Inflation By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s industrial production unexpectedly fell on the month for the first drop in three months, hit […]
Japan April Jobless Rate 2.6% Vs. 2.8% in March on Fewer Job Cuts, Quits; Y/Y Job Creation Continues
–Fewer People Quit for Other Openings on Month, Job Losses, Retirements Also Fall –Jobs Up on Year for 9th Straight Month, Let by Manufacturing, Entertainment, Hotels/Restaurants –Number of Unemployed Marks 2nd Straight Y/Y Rise By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese payrolls posted their ninth straight year-over-year growth in April as the reopening of the economy […]
Japan May Tokyo Core CPI Y/Y +3.2% Vs. +3.5% in April; Processed Food Markups Lead Rise, Slower Pace Due to Energy Subsidies
–Total CPI Annual Rate Also Slows to 3.2% from 3.5% after Hitting 41-Year High of 4.4% in January –Narrow CPI (Ex-Fresh Food, Energy) Annual Rate Rises to 3.9% from 3.8%, Staying at 41-Year High By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Consumer prices in Tokyo, the leading indicator of the national average, decelerated in May to a […]
Japan Government Upgrades View on Economy from Pickup to Moderate Recovery, Condition Last Seen in February 2020
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Thursday upgraded its overall assessment for the first time in 10 months, saying the economy is improving to the state last seen in February 2020, when pandemic hadn’t had a full impact on economic activity, according to its monthly report released by the Cabinet Office. In its May […]
Japan March Machine Orders Down for 2nd Straight Month, Q1 Up; Q2 Seen Rising Faster Amid Solid Capex Demand
–Machine Orders Seen +4.6% in Q2 Vs. +2.6% in Q1, Led by Strong Demand from Non-Manufacturers –Cabinet Office Keeps View: Machine Orders Pausing By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese machinery orders, the key leading indicator of business investment in equipment, came in much weaker than expected in March, posting drops on the month and year, […]
Japan April Core CPI Up 3.4% Y/Y After Slowing to 3.1% Rise on Continued Markups in Process Food, Rebound in Hotel Fees
–Energy Subsidies, Softer Commodities Somewhat Easing Consumer Inflation –Total CPI +3.5% Y/Y V. +3.2% Y/Y in March, 41-Year High of +4.3% in January –Core-Core CPI (Ex-Fresh Food, Energy) Hits Fresh 41-Year High of +4.1% Y/Y, Largest Gain Since +4.2% in September 1981 By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Consumer inflation in Japan picked up to around […]