Germany’s Consumer Prices Rose 5.2% From a Year-Ago; Energy Costs up 22.1%

ZURICH (MaceNews) – Consumer prices in Germany increased 5.2 percent in November from a year ago, up from 4.5 percent in October and exceeding economists’ expectations, according to preliminary data released by the Federal Statistics Office Destatis. Prices were driven higher by a 22.1 percent annual increase in energy costs, but Destatis also noted a […]

ECB’S Schnabel: Forecasts Show November is High Point of Inflation

ZURICH (MaceNews) – Currently surging inflation is seen peaking in November and then moving lower to once again fall below two percent, ECB governing council member Isabel Schnabel said in an interview Monday with Germany’s ZDF broadcaster. Inflation in the coming year will recede in direction of the ECB’s goal of 2 percent and many […]

Japan Oct Retail Sales Rebound on Fuel Price Spike, Eased Covid Restrictions

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese retail sales posted the first year-on-year rise in three months in October as fuel prices continued going up and the government lifted its Covid-19 state of emergency restrictions on Oct. 1, data released Monday by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed. The METI maintained its assessment that […]

Japan Nov Tokyo CPI Y/Y Rise Hits 16-Month High on Surging Energy, Food

— Utility Charges Following Lead of Soaring Gasoline, Heating Oil Costs— CPI Remains Under Pressure From Mobile Communication Fee Discounts By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The year-on-year rise in the core reading of consumer prices in Tokyo, the leading indicator of the national average, accelerated in November amid double-digit percentage gains in utility and fuel […]

Japan Govt Still Sees Economic Pickup But Notes Slower Exports, Output

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Thursday maintained its economic overview but pointed to a mixed bag of data showing a pickup in consumption on eased Covid restrictions against flat exports and stalling recovery in factory output amid protracted supply bottlenecks, according to its monthly report released by the Cabinet Office. The government said […]

FOMC Minutes: No Wage-Price Spiral But Ready to Accelerate Taper if Inflation More Persistent, Aggressive

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The minutes of the Nov 2-3 Federal Open Market Committee meeting released Wednesday repeated familiar themes about pandemic-caused inflation factors, labor supply issues and so far, the absence of a wage-price spiral. Members advocated contninued vigilance about the intensity of price pressures. Fears that inflation expectations were being elevated beyond previous ranges […]

Covid and Supply Bottlenecks Dampen German Business Sentiment in November

ZURICH (MaceNews) – Business sentiment in Germany fell in November as concerns over a fourth Covid wave and continued supply chain bottlenecks dampened both current conditions and expectations according to the latest report from the Munich-based Ifo Institute. The Business Climate Index median fell to 96.5 in November, slightly below the median of 96.7 in […]

Japan’s October Energy-Led CPI Rise Capped by Deeper Mobile Phone Discounts

— Gasoline, Heating Oil, Utilities Costs Up Sharply Amid Rising Energy Markets — Total CPI Marks 2nd Straight Y/Y Gain; Slower on Fresh Food Price Drop — Producer Price Spike Has Limited Impact on CPI But BOJ Sees Gradual Pickup By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Core consumer prices in Japan maintained a small step upward […]