Japan March CPI Rise Accelerates on Energy, Food; Subsidies Cap Gasoline Prices 
–Both Core and Total CPI Measures Mark 7th Straight Y/Y Gains –Utilities Continue Pushing Up Energy; Durable Goods Price Drop Eases –Most of Base Effects of Sharp Mobile Phone Fee Discounts To Fade in April –Fiscal 2021 Total, Core Inch Up, Core-Core (Ex-Fresh Food, Energy) Posts 1st Drop in 9 Years By Max Sato (MaceNews) […]
Japan March, Fiscal 2021 Exports Hit Record Highs, Imports Surge at Faster Pace
–Imports Also at Record High on Energy, Leading to 8th Straight Trade Deficit –Exports to China Slower in March, Volumes Down on Year –Auto Exports Slip in March After February Rebound Amid Supply Bottlenecks By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese exports hit a record high in March, marking the 13th straight year-on-year increase, on reopening […]
BofA Global Research Fund Manager Survey: Global Recession Top Tail Risk in April
By Vicki Schmelzer NEW YORK (MaceNews) – Global recession became the top “tail risk” for world investors in April, according to BofA Global Research’s monthly fund manager survey, released Tuesday. Recession concerns overshadowed other fears including “hawkish central banks” and “Russia-Ukraine conflict” and clouded the investment outlook, the survey said. In April, a net 71% […]
Japan March Producer Prices Up 9.5% Vs. 9.7% in February, Crude Oil Cost Rise Moderates 
–Japan Producer Prices +0.8% M/M, Led by Electric Power, Chemicals –Japan Producer Prices Rebound 7.3% in Fiscal 2021 After 1.4% Drop By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Producer inflation moderated slightly in March but remained high above 9%, close to a 41-year high, as global supply bottlenecks and high energy costs continued amid uncertainty over the […]
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% […]