Japan Week Ahead: MOF Business Survey to Set the Tone for Revised Q1 GDP, Household Data to Show Sluggish but Resilient Consumer Spending Amid Slow Real Wage Growth
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. Lukewarm growth has been lingering in Japan for the past couple of years as the economy has largely weathered the drag from global shocks like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and protectionist U.S. trade policy but it could finally slip on […]
Preview: Forecasters See Japan Unemployment Stable in April Data with Job Market Firm
Friday, May 29, 2026 0830 JST (2330 GMT/1930 EDT Thursday, May 28) The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications releases April jobs. Mace News median: 2.7% (range: 2.6% to 2.7%)vs. 2.7% in March after posting 2.6% in February. By Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO (MaceNews) – Japan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is expected to be little changed […]
Preview: Forecasters See Japan Tokyo CPI Restrained Again in May
Friday, May 29, 2026 0830 JST (2330 GMT/1930 EDT Thursday, May 28) The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications releases May Tokyo CPI.Mace News median: total CPI +1.6% y/y (range: +1.5% to +1.7%) vs. Apr +1.5%; core CPI (ex-fresh food) +1.5% (range: +1.4% to +1.7%) vs. Apr +1.5%; core-core CPI (ex-fresh food, energy) +1.9% (range: […]
Preview: Forecasters See Japan Industrial Production Hit by Input Disruption from Mideast War
Friday, May 29, 2026 0850 JST (2350 GMT/1950 EDT Wednesday, May 28) The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry releases April, and the outlook for May and June. Mace News median: -1.0% m/m (range: -2.2% to -0.4%) vs. Mar. revised to -0.4% from -0.5%; +0.6% y/y (range: -0.5% to +2.3%) vs. Mar. revised to +2.4% […]
Preview: Forecasters See Japan Retail Sales Momentum Continuing in April Report
Friday, May 29, 2026 0850 JST (2350 GMT/1950 EDT Thursday, May 28) The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry releases April retail sales. Mace News median: +1.7% y/y (range: +0.2% to +3.1%) vs. Mar. revised to +1.4% from +1.7%; +1.3% m/m (range: -0.7% to +2.2%) vs. Mar. revised to +1.0% from 1.3% By Chikafumi Hodo […]
Japan Government Still Sees Gradual Economic Recovery but Also Warns that High Import Costs, Tight Materials Supply to Weigh on Growth
–Some Economists Project Q2 GDP Dip as Effects of Mideast Conflict on Consumption, Capex to Become More Pronounced By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government is sticking to its gradual economic recovery scenario after the January-March GDP data confirmed a steady recovery from a mild slump two quarters earlier but officials continued to warn about […]
Japan Week Ahead: Consumer Inflation in Capital, Jobless Rate Seen Tame, Iran War Squeezing Factory Output, Retail Sales Sluggish on Falling Real Wages
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. The preliminary GDP data for the January-March quarter released last week showed the economy has overcome a temporary contraction recorded in July-September last year, thanks to rebounds in net exports and public works as well as sluggish but resilient private […]
Preview: Forecasters See Japan CPI Slowing in April as Government Softens Gas Price Blow
0830 JST (2330 GMT/1930 EDT Thursday, May 21) The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications releases April CPI.Mace News median: total CPI +1.8% y/y (range: +1.6% to +1.9%) vs. Mar +1.5%; core CPI (ex-fresh food) +1.7% y/y (range: +1.5% to +1.8%) vs. Mar +1.8%; core-core CPI (ex-fresh food, energy) +2.2% y/y (range +1.9% to +2.3%) […]
Preview: Forecasters See Japanese Machinery Orders Falling Back in March
0850 JST (2350 GMT/1950 EDT Wednesday, May 20) The Cabinet Office releases March and January-March machinery orders.Mace News median: core orders -13.2% m/m (range: -20.0% to -3.1%) vs. Feb +13.6%; +4.5% y/y (range: -9.8% to +8.2%) vs. Feb +24.7% By Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO (MaceNews) – Japan’s core machinery orders, a key leading indicator of business […]
Preview: Japan Exports Expected Up Sharply Again on Year in April Report but Return to Deficit Seen
0850 JST (2350 GMT/1950 EDT Wednesday, May 21) The Ministry of Finance releases April trade.Mace News median: exports +9.4% y/y (range: +8.5% to +10.0%) vs. a revised +11.5% March from +11.7%; imports +8.8% y/y (range: +7.1% to +9.4%) vs. 10.9% in March; trade deficit ¥96.25 billion (range: a deficit of ¥200.70 billion to a surplus […]