Japan Q4 GDP Growth Unexpectedly Revised Down on Softer Consumption 
— Capex Shows Slight Downward Revision Vs. Projected Upward Revision — Public Works Revised Down As Expected, Its Negative Contribution Unrevised — Q1 GDP Growth Seen Slower Amid Covid Restrictions, Rising Costs, Ukraine By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s economic rebound in the October-December quarter was unexpectedly revised down slightly as consumer spending turned out […]
Preview: Japan Q4 GDP Rebound Seen Revised Up Slightly on Capex
— Private Consumption To Remain Key Growth Driver in Revised Data — Forecasts for Firmer Capex, Weaker Public Works Based on MOF Survey — Q1 GDP Growth Expected To Slow; BOJ January Consumption Index Slumps By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s economic rebound in the October-December quarter is likely to be revised up slightly as […]
Japan January Unemployment Edges Up To 2.8% Amid Covid Restrictions
— Job Cuts Y/Y Deeper in Wholesale, Retail, Education— Hospitality Jobs Up on January 2021, When Covid State of Emergency Imposed By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Job creation in Japan remained weak in January compared to a year earlier and the unemployment rate edged up from December as more people either lost their jobs or […]
Italy Government May Revise Fiscal Outlook, Cut Growth Forecasts Due to Ukraine Crisis – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy’s government could cut growth forecasts for this year and potentially raise deficit targets in the wake of the Ukraine crisis and its repercussions on the Italian economy, according to ruling coalition sources. “The extent of such impact is still to be fully weighed, but we might need to […]
US ISM Manufacturing Index Rebounds in February on New Orders
–ISM: Conflict in Ukraine Unlikely To Hurt US Manufacturing Expansion –ISM Concerned Rising Energy Prices To Provide Headwinds To US Economy –ISM Survey Shows Supply Chain Constraints Remain, Backlogs Grow By Max Sato (MaceNews) – US manufacturing activity rebounded in February after Covid restrictions caused by the Omicron variant slowed the sector’s growth in January, […]
Toyota To Suspend Japanese Domestic Factory Operations as Suspected Cyberattack Hits Supplier
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Toyota Motor said Monday that it will suspend all domestic factory operations on Tuesday after one of its parts suppliers was hit by a suspected cyberattack, adding to challenges for the auto industry that is already suffering from global chip shortages and pandemic-caused supply bottlenecks. It is unknown who staged […]
Japan January Industrial Output Dips As Covid Infections Hit Auto Factories
–METI Keeps View Output Shows Signs of Pickup As Firms See Rebound in Feb –METI To Watch Effects of Spread of Pandemic, Parts Shortages, Ukraine By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s industrial production posted the second straight drop in January, slipping after a surge in November, as a spike in Omicron-led coronavirus cases caused some […]
Japan January Retail Sales Up on Year But Dip on Month As Covid Cases Spike 
–METI Reverses View: Retail Sales Are Flat Vs. Showing Signs of Pickup –Y/Y Rise Led by Higher Fuel Prices, Less Strict Covid Rules Vs. January 2021 By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese retail sales posted the fourth straight year-on-year rise in January, led by higher fuel prices and solid department store sales, as resumed restrictions […]
Japan February Tokyo Core CPI Rise Picks Up From January on Utilities, Processed Food
–Hotel Fees Slower After 2021 Double-Digit Gains Over 2020 Subsidized Discounts–Utilities Leading Energy Higher; Durable Goods Down As Stay-at-Home Demand Wanes–Most of Base Effect in Mobile Phone User Fee Cuts To Last Through March By Mas Sato (MaceNews) – The year-on-year rise in consumer prices in Tokyo, the leading indicator of the national average, picked […]
Analysis: Japan Economy Faces Headwind in Light of Russian Invasion of Ukraine
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s wobbly economic recovery faces downside risks from high energy and commodities prices, which have surged on tensions over Ukraine between Russia and the West and could rise further on supply concerns now that Russia has invaded its neighbour. The direct impact of economic sanctions against Moscow on Japan’s trade […]