Japan Government Keeps View on Gradual Economic Pickup Amid Brighter Consumer Sentiment, Sluggish Factory Output
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Wednesday maintained its economic assessment that the current gradual pickup remains intact on expectations that further reopening of the economy should support consumer spending while industrial production slowed on weaker global demand, according to its monthly report released by the Cabinet Office. In its March report, the government […]
BOJ March Meeting Summary: Continue Easing to Support Stable 2% inflation, Sustained Wage Growth
By Max Sato –Board Members Also Note Side-Effects of Easing on Market Functioning–Summary Shows No Specific Debate on How BOJ Should Prepare for Eventual Exit (MaceNews) – Bank of Japan board members agreed that large-scale monetary easing should continue to support structural reforms toward sustained wage growth as the bank inches closer to achieving its […]
Major Central Banks to Boost Dollar Liquidity to Calm Market Jitters over Bank Failures
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Six major central banks said on early Monday Tokyo time that they are enhancing their joint efforts to provide ample funds to the financial markets under the scheme launched in 2009 in the aftermath of a global credit crunch, as investor concerns are growing over the health of financial institutions […]
<strong>Japan February Exports Up After China Lunar New Year Holidays Distort Flows; Trade Deficit Narrows from Record High </strong>
–Japan Posts 19th Straight Month of Trade Deficit on High Oil, Gas Import Costs–Exports to China Mark 3rd Straight Y/Y Drop Amid Renewed Covid Spike By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese export values posted only modest growth in February amid slowing global demand but picked up from January, when lunar new year holidays distorted trade […]
<strong>Japan January Machine Orders Jump, Boding Well for Modest Q1 Rebound After Q4 Dip</strong>
–After Annual Revision, Cabinet Office Sees Core Orders Up 2.9% Q/Q in Q1, Revised Down from +4.3% –Cabinet Office Maintains View: Machinery Orders Pausing By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese machinery orders, the key leading indicator of business investment in equipment, jumped for a second straight monthly advance in January, after a modest gain and […]
<strong>BOJ Keeps Easing Stance to Pursue Stable 2% Inflation Target After Nearly a Decade of Flooding Markets with Cash</strong>
–March Meeting Last Scheduled One for Governor Kuroda Before His 2nd 5-Year Term Ends on April 8 –Kuroda’s 2 Deputies Will Also Retire at End of Their 5-Year Terms on March 19 –Incoming Governor, Ex-BOJ Board Member Kazuo Ueda Has Told Diet Current Easing Stance ‘Appropriate’ By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan […]
<strong>Japan February Producer Inflation Eases Further to 8.2% from 9.5% on Faster Drops in Fuels, Lumber Prices Amid Slower Global Growth </strong>
–December’s 10.5% Y/Y Rise Remains Highest in 42 Years By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Producer inflation in Japan continued to ease in February as the government is trying to cap sharp increases in energy costs for both households and businesses while fuel and lumber prices fell at a faster pace amid slowing global demand, data […]
<strong>Japan January Household Spending Dips Y/Y Amid High Costs, Jumps M/M as Economy Continues Reopening</strong>
–Slight Drop Led by Lower Spending on Telecommunications Charges–Spending on Hotels, Transport Continues Rising on Govt Tourism Support Program –January Real Household Income Posts 4th Straight Y/Y Drop on High Costs for Food, Utilities By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s real household spending posted an as-expected slight drop on the year in January, with more […]
<strong>Preview: Japan Q4 GDP Slight Rebound Seen Unrevised, Led by Consumption, Net Export Rise</strong>
–Sharp Drop in Private Inventories, Capex Pullback Behind Lackluster Q4 Growth –Consumption Solid on Eased Covid Rules, Travel Subsidies After Flat Growth in Q3 –Q4 Net Exports Rebound After Q3 Slump Caused by Surge in Service Payments –Q1 GDP Seen Supported by Consumption Amid Weaker Exports By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The slight rebound […]
Japan February Tokyo Core CPI Y/Y Rise Slows to 3.3% from 4.3% on Subsidies Aimed at Capping Utility Charges
–Total CPI Annual Rate Also Slows to 3.4%% after Hitting Over 41-Year High of 4.4% in January–Narrow CPI (Ex-Fresh Food, Energy) Annual Rate Rises to 3.2%, More Than 31-Year High By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Consumer prices in Tokyo, the leading indicator of the national average, posted year-on-year gains of above 3% in February in […]