BOJ Q3 Tankan Business Sentiment: Manufacturers Weaker, Services Up
–Manufacturers Cautious Amid Dimmer Global Growth Outlook –Services Upbeat as Govt Refrains from Imposing Strict Covid Rules –Business Confidence Seen Mostly Lower in December Amid Uncertainty –Firms, Large and Small, Further Revise Up Their Combined FY22 Capex Plans By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Confidence among major manufacturers in Japan unexpectedly slipped for the third straight […]
Japan’s Government Still Sees Gradual Economic Pickup Amid Global Tightening, High Costs, Weak Yen 
Japan August Retail Sales Post 6th Straight Y/Y Gain as Economy Reopens Despite Covid Spike
–METI Repeats Retail Sales Picking Up Gradually –Department Store Sales Continue Recovering on Eased Covid Rules –Sales of Cars, Appliances Remain Weak; Demand for Cosmetics, Drugs Strong By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese retail sales posted their sixth year-on-year rise in August, led by high fuel prices and solid demand for summer clothing, cosmetics and […]
Japan August Jobless Rate Eases Slightly to 2.5% as Government Reopens Economy Amid Covid Spike
–Unemployment at 2.6% from May to July Vs. April’s 2-Year Low 2.5% –Job Losses Flat M/M in August While Fewer People Seek Other Openings –Employment Picks Up After Posting 1st Y/Y Drop in 4 months in July –Number of Unemployed Marks 14th Straight Y/Y Drop; Still Above January 2020 Level By Max Sato (MaceNews) – […]
Japan August Industrial Output Rises in Many Sectors on Easing Supply Constraints
–METI Survey Points to Possible Output Dip in September, Solid Gain in October –METI Upgrades View: Output Showing Signs of Moderate Rise Vs. Marking Time –METI Repeats: To Watch Effects of a Rise in Covid Cases, Parts Shortages, Inflation By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s industrial production surged in August, well above forecasts, as easing […]
Preview: BOJ Tankan Manufacturers’ Sentiment Seen Up in September, Services Down
–End to Covid Lockdown in Shanghai Supports Factory Operations –Downside Risks Arise from Global Slowdown amid Tightening by US, Others –Spike in Japan Covid Cases, High Import Costs Hit Services Sector –Business Confidence in December Projected to Be Mixed –Smaller Firms Expected to Revise Up Their Combined FY22 Capex Plans Further By Max […]
Japan August Inflation Hits 3-Decade High on Widespread Markups; More Price Hikes Coming
–Utilities Lead Rising Energy Costs; Gasoline Price Rise Slows on Subsidies, Softer Market –Core CPI +2.8% Y/Y Nearly 31-Year High Excluding 2014, 1997 Sales Tax Hikes Impact–Total CPI +3.0% Y/Y Also Nearly 31-Year High, Excluding Booster Effects of Sales Tax Hikes –Even Narrow CPI (Ex-Fresh Food, Energy) Up 1.6% Y/Y, More than 29-Year High By […]
Japan Aug Export Values Up but Volumes Down on Slower Global Growth 
–Imports Hit Fresh Record High on Energy, Leading to Highest Trade Deficit By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese exports posted a higher year-on-year rise in August after hitting a record high value in July on global reopening demand for automobiles, fuels and semiconductor-producing equipment and their rising prices, data released Thursday by the Ministry of […]
Japan July Machine Orders Unexpectedly Jump but Flat in 3-Month Average
–Japan Capex Demand Solid, Leading Upward Revision to Q2 GDP Growth–Japan July Core Orders’ Value Hit 3-Year High, Led by Non-Manufacturers–Japan Govt Keeps View: Machine Orders Showing Signs of Pickup–Cabinet Office Official: Machine Orders Not So Strong Yet to Prompt View Upgrade By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese machinery orders, the key leading indicator of […]
Japan Producer Price Inflation Steadies at Relatively High Pace; Lumber, Steel Prices Ease
–Export, Import Producer Prices Down on Month Amid Slower Global Demand By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Producer inflation in Japan steadied at a relatively high level in August after easing in July to the slowest pace in seven months and hitting a 41-year high in April, as slightly faster year-on-year gains in the costs for […]