Japan August Tokyo Core CPI Annual Rate Slips to 11-Month Low of 2.8% from 3.0% in July as Utility Costs Slump, Processed Food Prices Show Signs of Easing
–Processed Food Prices Continue to Lead Consumer Inflation, Pushing Up CPI Annual Rate by Nearly 2 Percentage Points –Total CPI Annual Rate Also Moderates to 11-Month Low of 2.9% from 3.2% in July after Hitting 41-Year High of 4.4% in January –Narrow CPI (Ex-Fresh Food, Energy) Annual Rate Remains at 41-Year High of 4.0% By […]
Japan July Core CPI Annual Rate Cools Off to 3.1% from June’s 3.3% on Further Drops in Utilities, Shrinking Rise in Mobile Phone Prices
–Processed Food Prices Still 9% Above Year-Earlier Levels, Hotel Fees Up Sharply on Traveling Demand –Total CPI Steady at +3.3% Y/Y, in +3.2% to +3.5% Range After Hitting 41-Year High of +4.3% in January –Core-Core CPI (Ex-Fresh Food, Energy) Annual Rate Ticks Up Further to 4.3% from June’s 4.2% By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Consumer […]
Japan June Core Machine Orders Rebound Moderately but Slump in Q2; Official Forecast Points to Further Drop in Q3
–Cabinet Office Keeps View: Machine Orders Pausing –Q2 Core Machine Orders -3.2% Q/Q (Q1 +2.6%) Vs. Official Forecast of +4.6%; Q3 Seen Down 2.6% By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese machinery orders, the key leading indicator of business investment in equipment, chalked up a smaller-than-expected rebound on the month in June after slumping in May, […]
Japan July Exports Post 1st Y/Y Drop in 29 Months on Sluggish Silicon Market; Volumes Continue to Shrink on Slower Global Growth
–Imports Mark 4th Straight Y/Y Fall on Generally Easing Energy Prices –Japan Trade Balance Unexpectedly Slips Back into Deficit After 1st Surplus in 23 Months in June –Exports to China Record 8th Straight Y/Y Drop due to Declines in Autos, Semiconductors, Iron and Steel By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese export values posted their first […]
Japan July Producer Inflation Eases Further to Fresh 2-Year Low of 3.6% from June’s 4.3% on Energy Subsidies, Plunging Lumber Prices
–Producer Prices Post 1st M/M Rise in 3 Months on Rebound in Fuels, Non-Ferrous Metals –July’s 3.6% Y/Y Rise Lowest Since 1.0% in March 2021 –Corporate Goods Price Index’s 10.6% Surge in December 2022 Highest in 42 Years By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Producer inflation in Japan eased for the seventh straight month in July, […]
Preview: Japan Q2 GDP Growth Seen Accelerating to Above 3% Annualized Rate on Net Export Rebound
–Consumption Forecast to Be Nearly Flat Amid High Costs After Recent Gains –Business Investment Seen Up for 2nd Straight Quarter but at Slower Pace –Q3 GDP Expected to Be Led by Spending on Services, Exports Uncertain Amid Slowing Global Demand By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s gross domestic product for the April-June quarter is forecast […]
Japan June Household Spending Posts 4th Straight Y/Y Drop but Rebounds M/M Amid Recovering Auto Sales
–Drop Also Due to Continued Shift to Lower-Cost Mobile Phone Plans; Traveling, Eating Out Remain Strong –Real Household Income Posts 9th Straight Y/Y Drop on Elevated Costs By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s real household spending posted its fourth straight decline on the year in June as mobile phone users continued seeking discount plans and […]
BOJ July Meeting Summary: Sustained Wage Hikes, Flexible Use of Yield Curve Control Framework Key to Achieving 2% Inflation Target
–Ensuring Small Firms’ Health Also Important in Sustained Growth, Price Stability By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Bank of Japan board members stressed that substantial wage hikes must continue beyond his fiscal year and the bank’s yield curve control framework needs to become more flexible to achieve stable 2% inflation, according to the summary of […]
Japan June Jobless Rate 2.5%, Improving from May’s 2.6% as Fewer People Start Looking for Work; Solid Job Creation Continues
–No Change in Job Losses, Retirements or Number of Those Quit for Other Openings –Jobs Up Y/Y for 11th Straight Month, Led by Hotels, Restaurants, Factories, Construction, Sharp Rebound in Medical Services –Number of Unemployed Down Y/Y for 2nd Straight Month By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese payrolls posted their 11th straight month of year-over-year […]
Japan June Retail Sales Y/Y Rise Continue to Be Led by Autos amid Improved Supply Chains, Recovering Department Stores
–METI Keeps View: Retail Sales on Gradual Uptrend –Demand for Cosmetics, Drugs Remains Solid; Sales of Appliances Stay Sluggish By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese retail sales posted their 16th straight year-over-year increase in June, thanks to strong demand for automobiles amid improving supply chains, recovering department stores and higher prices for food and beverages, […]