Japan March Household Spending Slumps on Continued Shift to Lower Mobile Phone Plans; Traveling, Eating Out Remain Solid
–Spending on Hotels, Packaged Tours Continues Rising on Tourism Support Program –Real Household Income Posts 6th Straight Y/Y Drop on High Food Costs but Energy Subsidies Capping Utility Charges By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s real household spending came in much weaker than expected in March, posting drops both on the year and month, as […]
US April ISM Manufacturing in Contraction for 6th Straight Month as New Orders Remain Sluggish Amid Uncertainty
–ISM’s Fiore: Main Index in 47 to 51 Range, Don’t See Any Change in Near Term –Fiore: Output Side Positive, Input Side Weak; Future Is Uncertain –Fiore: Firms Managing Output to Prepare for Pickup in Late Summer, Early Fall –Fiore: Customers Inventories at Low End of ‘Too High’ By Max Sato (MaceNews) – U.S. manufacturing […]
BOJ Under Governor Ueda Keeps Easing Stance to Pursue Stable 2% Inflation but Also Decides to Review Prolonged Easing
–No Longer Expects Short-, Long-Term Rates to Go Lower Than Now –Ueda Has Told Diet, Reporters: ‘Appropriate’ to Continue Current Policy Framework; Underlying Inflation Has Not Reached 2% By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan said Friday its policy board decided unanimously to maintain its monetary easing stance, keeping its zero to slightly […]
Japan’s Economy Shows Some Resilience in March Data Amid Slowing Global Growth; Inflation Hurts Purchasing Power
–Industrial Output Posts 2nd Straight Rise on Month, Prompting METI to Upgrade its View –Retail Sales Up on Recovery at Department Stores, Demand for Autos –Payroll Growth Continues but Unemployment Rate Rises Unexpectedly –April Tokyo CPI, Leading Indicator of National Data, Accelerates at Fast Pace By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s manufacturing sector is weathering […]
Japan’s Government Continues to See Gradual Economic Pickup, Upgrades View on China for 2nd Straight Month
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Tuesday maintained its overall economic assessment that the gradual pickup will continue as widely eased Covid public health rules are seen propping up domestic consumer spending amid slowing global demand, according to its monthly report released by the Cabinet Office. The Japanese economy is showing resilience, thanks to […]
Japan March Core CPI Capped at +3.1% Y/Y by Energy Subsidies After February’s 3.1%, January’s 41-Year High of 4.2%
–Total CPI +3.2% Y/Y Vs. +3.3% in February, 41-Year High of +4.3% in January –Core-Core CPI (Ex-Fresh Food, Energy) Hits 42-Year High of +3.8% Y/Y, Largest Gain Since +3.9% in December 1981–Fiscal 2022 Core CPI +3.0% Vs. +0.1% in Fiscal 2021, as Projected by BOJ Board By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Consumer inflation in Japan […]
Japan March Exports, Imports Slower; Trade Deficit Narrows Further from Record High in January
–Japan Posts 20th Straight Month of Trade Deficit on High Energy Import Costs–Exports to China Mark 4th Straight Y/Y Drop Amid Reopening Since Zero-Covid Policy Lifted in December –Fiscal 2022 Trade Deficit Record High Due to Spike in Energy Prices, Weak Yen By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese export values rose on the year at […]
Japan February Machine Orders Slip in Reaction to January Surge but Post 2nd Straight Y/Y Rise
–Cabinet Office Keeps View: Machine Orders Pausing By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese machinery orders, the key leading indicator of business investment in equipment, posted the first drop in three months in reaction to a surge in January as some firms have turned cautious amid slowing global demand, data released Wednesday by the Cabinet Office […]
BOJ’s New Governor Ueda Sees No Need to Change Yield Curve Control Policy Framework or Accord with Government
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said it is “appropriate” to continue seeking stable and sustainable 2% inflation under the bank’s yield curve control policy framework, indicating that there will be no major change to the current monetary easing stance at the April 27-28 meeting. He told an inaugural news […]
Japan February Household Spending Posts Modest Y/Y Rebound on Eating Out, Travel After Public Health Rules Eased
–Govt Official: Household Spending Recovering Despite M/M Drop; Still Below Pre-Pandemic Level –Spending on Hotels, Package Tours Continues Rising on Tourism Support Program –February’s Y/Y Rise Led Also by Higher Electric Heating Use during Freezing Weather in Late January–Real Household Income Posts 5th Straight Y/Y Drop on High Costs for Food and Despite Energy Subsidies […]