Italy Raises Pressure on EU To Cap Gas Import Prices, Ready to Adopt National Measures If EU Deal Is Delayed – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Rome’s government is raising pressure on European Union institutions to place a EU-wide cap on imported gas prices to shield families and business from an extraordinary spike in energy bills that is weakening the bloc’s economy, according to ruling coalition sources. The proposal faces opposition from Germany and Holland. […]
ISM: US March Service Sector Activity Picks Up on Easing Covid Rules But Headwinds Remain 
–ISM: US Service Providers Continue Facing Surging Costs, Supply Bottlenecks –ISM’s Nieves: Fed Has to Tighten To Keep Inflation From Hurting Economy –ISM: Supply Delivery Delays Ease in March; Inventories Up but Still Too Low –ISM: War in Ukraine Pushing Up Prices, Creating Uncertainty for Many Firms By Max Sato (MaceNews) – US service sector […]
BOC Q1 Survey: Business Sentiment Slips but Still High on Demand
–Firms See Rising Costs Amid Ukraine War, Higher Wages due to Tight Labor Markets — 70% of Firms in Canada See Above 3% Inflation Over 2 Years Vs. 67% in Q4 — BOC Consumer Survey: Prices Surge but Longer-Term Inflation Views Anchored By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Sentiment among companies in Canada dipped in the […]
<strong>Japan Govt Sees Economic Pickup Signs, Warns of Downside Risks from Inflation, Markets, War </strong>
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Friday maintained its overview that the economy is showing signs of a pickup amid some soft spots as Covid cases appear to have peaked, but also warned that rising prices, volatile financial markets, and the war in Ukraine could heighten downside risks, according to its monthly report released […]
BOJ January Meeting Minutes: Must See Underlying CPI Trend Amid Pickup on Rising Costs
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Bank of Japan policy board members argued that the central bank must capture the underlying trend in consumer inflation, with a focus on slow wage hikes, even though its annual rate may come close to the bank’s 2% target temporarily as energy and commodities prices rise and the base effects […]
<strong>St. Louis Fed’s Bullard: Get Funds Rate To Neutral Or Higher To Curb Inflation</strong>
– Fed Has ‘Long Ways To Go” To Hike Rates; Should Move Faster Than In Past – After Starting ‘Passive Runoff’ Of Balance Sheet May Need To Sell Assets – Despite Ukraine, U.S. Economy Will Grow Above Potential, Further Reduce Unemployment By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – With inflation “way over” the Federal Reserve’s 2% […]
Japan’s Eastern Areas Face Power Shortages After Quake Amid Winter Weather
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Japanese government issued a rare warning of power shortages in Tokyo and surrounding prefectures, urging businesses and households to cut electricity use by 10%, starting Tuesday, as heating demand is rising and supply is falling after last week’s major earthquake. The Japan Meteorological Agency is forecasting cold weather with […]
Japan February CPI Back on Gradual Rising Path, Led by Energy, Food
–Both Core and Total CPI Measures Mark 6th Straight Y/Y Gains –Utilities Continue Pushing Up Energy; Durable Goods on Downtrend –Hotel Fees Pick Up in February After Base Effects Fade in January –CPI Could Come Under Pressure Again If Govt Resumes Travel Subsidies By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Core and total consumer prices in Japan […]
Japan February Exports Post 12th Straight Y/Y Rise After Slower January Growth
–Imports Up on Rising Energy Prices, Leading to 7th Straight Trade Deficit –Exports to China Rebound After Irregular Shipments Around Lunar New Year –Auto Exports Rebound Amid Lingering Supply Constraints By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese exports rose from a year earlier for the 12th straight month in February, picking up from slower growth in […]
German Economic Sentiment Plunges on Ukraine, Sanctions, ZEW Reports
ZURICH (MaceNews) – Economic sentiment in Germany fell by a historic margin in March, as the war in Ukraine and resulting sanctions against Russia pushed the ZEW institute’s measure of economic sentiment into sharply negative territory. The ZEW measure of economic sentiment plunged 93.6 points in March to a reading of -39.3 from the February […]