US Data Preview Commentary: Retail Sales, Housing Starts, and More Angst About Threats of Partisan Violence
By Denny Gulino WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – A week of ordinary and not too consequential economic data, like October retail sales and housing starts, a US-China summit chat, the signing of BIF (Amtrak fans rejoice) and more socioeconomic angst reflected in a flurry of essays about America’s threatened civil war. No one needs to be told […]
Japan Q3 GDP Slump Deeper Than Expected on Weaker Consumption, Capex
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s economy plunged at a much faster pace than expected in the July-September quarter, after a modest rebound in April-June, as a Covid resurgence dampened shopping and dining out while supply chain disruptions hampered business investment, Cabinet Office data released Monday showed. The gross domestic product slumped a preliminary 0.8% […]
PREVIEW: Japan Q3 GDP Seen Down as Covid Spreads, Supply Squeeze Lingers
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s gross domestic product for the July-September quarter is forecast by economists to show a 0.2% slump on quarter, or an annualized 0.8% drop, as consumers were cautious amid a resurgence in coronavirus infections and global supply chain disruptions slowed business investment and exports. The median forecast for Q3 […]
Japan October Producer Price Rise Fastest in 4 Decades on Energy, Commodities, Yen
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Producer prices in Japan surged at the fastest annual pace in four decades, as the pandemic-caused global supply chain disruptions, labor shortages and reopening demand have pushed up the costs for production and shipments, data released Thursday by the Bank of Japan showed. The depreciation of the yen has also […]
Germany’s Current Economic Situation Negatively Impacted by Supply Bottlenecks and Inflation Concerns
ZURICH (MaceNews) – While the economic outlook for Germany improved for six months hence, current conditions are being negatively impacted by supply bottlenecks and concerns over inflation, according to the latest survey data from the ZEW Institute in Mannheim. Current conditions fell more than expected in November, with the index shedding 9.1 points to 12.5, […]
Italy’s Parliament Battle Against the ‘Citizenship Wage’ Will Open Further Cracks in Ruling Majority – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy’s parliament attempt to ‘dismantle’ the controversial citizenship wage will open further cracks in the governing coalition and is likely to raise political instability, according to ruling party sources. The citizenship wage – a monthly income granted to the jobless as long as they have an Italian passport – […]
US House-Passed Infrastructure Bill Gets Presidential Signature in Coming Days
By Eric Ham WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – After months of wrangling and tense back-and-forth negotiations, the House of Representatives finally passed the $1.2 trillion infrastructure spending bill shortly before midnight Friday. Saturday morning President Biden hailed it as an inflection point toward winning “the competition of the 21st century., The legislation passed 228-206 with 13 Republicans […]
Japan Sept Household Spending Dips Y/Y; Q3 Drop Points to GDP Slump 
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s household spending posted the second straight year-on-year drop in September as restrictions on economic activity remained in place until the end of the month in light of a resurgence in coronavirus cases in August, data released Friday by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed. As the number […]
Japan Oct Tokyo Core CPI Posts Only Small Gain, Led by Higher Energy Costs
— Electricity Charges, Gasoline Prices Pick Up Pace of Y/Y Gains— Mobile Communication Fees Show Deeper Drop, Limiting CPI Rise By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The core reading of consumer prices in Tokyo, a leading indicator of the national average, posted the second consecutive but small year-over-year gain in October as higher electricity bills and […]
Japan Sept Factory Output Slumps; Autos, Others Hit by Supply Delays
–Output Posts Larger-than-Expected M/M Drop, 1st Y/Y Fall in 7 Months–METI Keeps View After Downgrade Last Month: Factory Output Pausing–METI Repeats: Watch Effects of Rising COVID Cases, Global Chip Shortages By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s industrial production posted the third straight monthly decline in September, coming in weaker than expected, as protracted global semiconductor […]