Japan July Tokyo CPI Annual Rate Faster Than Expected as Firms Pass Higher Costs
–Energy, Food Prices Lead Inflation; BOJ Still Sees Commodities Spike Easing in FY23 –Gasoline Price Markups Smaller on Govt Subsidies; Utilities Pick Up Pace Again By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The year-on-year rise in consumer prices in Tokyo, the leading indicator of the national average, posted a slightly faster-than-expected pace in July, just above the […]
Japan June Jobless Rate Unchanged; Job Growth Continues Rising on Year
–Numbers of Lost Jobs, People Looking for Other Openings Both Drop in June –June Unemployment at 2.6% After Ticking Up from April’s 2-Year Low 2.5% By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese payrolls posted the third straight increase from year-earlier levels in June as Covid restrictions were eased in late March, while the unemployment rate was […]
Japan Government Upgrades View: Consumption, Jobs Leading Gradual Economic Pickup
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Tuesday upgraded its economic overview for the first time in three months in July as consumption is on a clearer pickup path, led by job creation and pent-up demand, but real wages are falling amid rising inflation and the weaker yen is eroding purchasing power, according to its […]
Japan June CPI Ticks Up Above 2% as Food, Appliance Price Hikes Spread; Energy Gains Slower 
–Core CPI +2.2% Y/Y Remains Largest in Over 13 Years If 2014 Sales Tax Hike Impact Excluded –BOJ’s Kuroda Says No Rate Hike in Cards, Japan Economy Still Needs Support–BOJ Board Revises Up CPI Forecasts But Stable 2% Inflation Still Far Ahead By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Consumer inflation in Japan ticked up above 2% […]
BOJ Kuroda Repeats No Plans for Rate Hike, Rapid Yen Drop Undesirable
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda made it clear once again that the bank’s policymakers are “not considering raising interest rates at all” given their latest outlook that domestic inflation is unlikely to be anchored around its 2% target in the next few years. He told a post-meeting news conference […]
BOJ Keeps Easing Stance; Revises Up CPI Forecast, Sees Slower FY22 GDP Growth
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan said Thursday it is maintaining its super-low interest rate targets along the yield curve and large asset purchases, as expected, to help the economy fully recover from the pandemic-caused slump and anchor inflation around its stable 2% target. To keep speculative market forces from pushing the […]
Japan June Exports Hit Record High, Shipments to China Rebound After Covid Lockdown
–Exports Hit Fresh Record High on Reopening Demand, Rising Costs –Imports Mark 4th Straight Month of Record High amid High Oil and Gas Prices –In 1H 2022, Exports, Imports Reach All-Time Highs, Trade Deficit Largest By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Solid reopening demand for mineral fuels, iron and steel, and semiconductors led Japanese export values […]
Japan June Producer Inflation Eases Slightly on Slower Lumber, Steel Gains; Fuels Pick Up Again
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Producer inflation in Japan eased slightly in June after hitting a 41-year high in April as year-on-year gains in the costs for lumber and wood products as well as iron and steel slowed, while the prices of gasoline and other fuels picked up the pace of increase again, data released […]
Japan May Machine Orders Dip as Expected After Sharp Gains; Capex Plans Seen Solid
–Japan Govt Keeps View After Upgrade: Machine Orders Showing Signs of Pickup By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese machinery orders, the key leading indicator of business investment in equipment, posted the first month-on-month drop in three months, taking a breather after sharp gains led by computer demand, but capital spending plans are expected to be […]
Analysis: After Abe’s Death, PM Kishida Still Has to Show How His New Capitalism Works for Japan
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – After Friday’s assassination of Shinzo Abe, architect of the reflationary economic policy mix dubbed Abenomics, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has yet to show whether his “new capitalism” is a better alternative in revitalizing Japan. During the ruling party leadership election campaign last year, Kishida floated the idea of shifting from […]