Preview update: Bank of Japan Likely to End Yield Curve Control, Raise Rates Next Week as First Estimate from Union Group Points to High Pace of Wage Hikes
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan’s nine-member board is expected to decide in a majority vote at its March 18-19 meeting to end its seven-year-old yield curve control framework and lift the minus 0.1% short-term rate target to a range of zero to 0.1%, which would be the bank’s first rate increase […]
Preview: Bank of Japan Edging Closer to Ending Yield Curve Control Framework, Raising Rates amid Reduced Risk of Economy Slipping Back into Deflation
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan board appears ready to end its seven-year-old yield curve control framework and lift the negative short-term interest rate target, either this month or next, as widespread labor shortages are prompting major firms to accept higher wage hikes during their annual talks with unions, which the board […]
Japan February Producer Inflation Picks Up to +0.6% Y/Y from January’s +0.2% in Largely Flat Trend as Base Effect of Utility Subsides Wanes
—Producer Inflation Has Slowed from Recent Peak of +10.6% in December 2022 –Producer Prices +0.2% M/M on Utilities, Non-Ferrous Metals; Fuel Costs Still Down By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Producer prices in Japan rose 0.6% on the year in February, just above the consensus call of a 0.5% gain and accelerating from a 0.2% rise […]
Japan Q4 GDP Revised Up to Slight Growth from 2nd Straight Contraction, Led by Capex, but Consumption Remains Weak amid High Costs
–Upward Revision to Business Investment from Slight Drop Smaller Than Expected; Domestic Demand Still Down–Private Consumption Weaker, Private-Sector Inventories Revised Down–Net Exports Rebound Intact, Public Works Fall Revied Down as Expected–Q1 GDP Growth Seen Sluggish as Inflation Keeps Real Wages Down, Labor Shortages Linger By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s economy narrowly averted a second […]
Preview: Japan Q4 GDP to Be Revised Up to Growth from 2nd Straight Contraction After MOF Data Shows Robust Capex but Consumption Remains Sluggish
–Q4 Growth to Be Led by Sharp Upward Revision to Business Investment from Slight Drop–Net Exports Rebound Seen Intact, Public Works May See Sharper Decline–Q1 GDP Growth Expected to Be Weaker as Inflation Keeps Real Wages Down, Labor Shortages Linger By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s economy likely averted a second straight quarterly drop in […]
Japan January Household Spending Posts 11th Straight Y/Y Drop as Vehicle Purchases Slip After Recent Rebound, Consumers Remain Frugal
–Home Maintenance, Repairs Also Down; Pent-Up Demand for Travel Wanes–Eating Out Continues Growing; Tuition, Medical Costs Also Rise on Year–Real Household Income Posts 16th Straight Y/Y Drop on Elevated Costs but Up in Nominal Terms By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s real household spending posted its 11th straight drop on the year in January, down […]
Japan February Tokyo Core CPI Annual Rate Picks Up to 2.5% After Easing to 1.8% in January as Base Effect of Utility Subsidies Wanes
–Influx of Asian Visitors During Lunar New Year Holidays Also Boosts Hotel Fees–January Data Revised Up as New Data Collection Method for Overseas Package Tours Applied–Total CPI Annual Rate Accelerates to 2.6% from 1.8%–Core-Core CPI (Ex-Fresh Food, Energy) Y/Y Rise Slows to 3.1% from 3.3% By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Consumer inflation in Tokyo, the […]
White House and Other Schedules for Monday, March 3
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following are Monday’s schedules for the White House, Treasury, USTR, the State Department and Capitol Hill as well as U.S. economic data and Federal Reserve events: DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2024 In the morning, the President will receive the President’s Daily Brief. This meeting will be closed […]
Japan January Jobless Rate Dips to Nearly 4-Year Low of 2.4% from Upwardly Revised 2.5% in December Amid Lower Job Cuts, Quits for Other Openings
–Employment Up on Year for 18th Straight Month, Led by Surge in Communications Jobs, Rises at Hotels, Restaurants, Factories By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese payrolls posted an 18th straight rise on year amid lingering labor shortages at communications firms, hotels, restaurants and factories, while the unemployment rate fell to a nearly four-year low of […]
Japan January Industrial Production Index Sinks to Over 3-Year Low, Hit by Toyota Group Daihatsu Motor Suspension Over Crash Test Scandal
–METI Survey: Factory Output Likely to Rise Moderately in February, Gain Further in March–METI Downgrades View: Output Has Weakened While Taking One Step Forward, One Step Back–METI To Keep Watching Effects of Global Growth, Auto Output Suspension By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s industrial production plunged 7.5% on the month in January, hit by suspended […]