Preview: Japan Q2 GDP Seen Revised Up on Firmer Capex, Smaller Private Inventory Drop
–Japan GDP’s 3rd Straight Q/Q Growth Supported by Consumption –Sharp Capex Rebound Seen on Solid Digitalization, Greener Energy Demand –Q3 GDP Growth Faces Headwinds: Covid Spike, Slower Global Growth, China Lockdowns By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s consumption-led economic growth in the April-June quarter is likely to be revised up as business investment in […]
Japan July Household Spending Up Y/Y on Travel, Dining Out but Down M/M Amid Covid Spike
–Real Household Income Falls For 4th Straight Month on Rising Cost of Living By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s real household spending posted the second straight year-on-year rise in July as people continued traveling and dining out more freely but fell from June in light of record numbers of new coronavirus infections triggered by the […]
Japan July Retail Sales Mark 5th Straight Y/Y Gain on High Fuel Prices, Hot Weather
–METI Repeats Retail Sales Picking Up Gradually Despite Another Covid Spike–Department Store Sales Continue Recovering on Eased Covid Rules–Auto Sales Remain Weak but Pace of Y/Y Drop Slowing Amid Easing Supply Constraints By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese retail sales posted the fifth year-on-year rise in July, led by high fuel prices and demand for […]
Japan July Industrial Output Up Slightly on Easing Supply Bottlenecks for Autos
–METI Survey Points to Possible Dip in August Output, Small Gain in September–METI Keeps View: Output Making One Step Forward, One Step Back–METI: To Watch Effects of Rising Covid Cases, Parts Shortages, Inflation By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s industrial production posted a slight gain in July in light of easing supply constraints for automakers, […]
Japan July Jobless Rate Unchanged as Govt Avoids Covid Restrictions Amid Case Spike
–Employment Posts 1st Y/Y Drop in 4 Months, Led by Wholesalers, Retailers, Manufacturing–Number of Unemployed Marks 13th Straight Y/Y Drop But Still Above January 2020 Level–Unemployment at 2.6% from May to July Vs. April’s 2-Year Low 2.5%–Fewer Job Losses M/M in July While More People Seek Other Openings By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese payrolls […]
Japan August Tokyo CPI Jumps on Utilities, Food, Hotels on High Producer Costs, Reopening Demand 
–Electricity Leads Higher Energy Bills; Gasoline Price Rise Continues to Shrink –Core CPI +2.6% Y/Y Hits 30-Year High Excluding 2014, 1997 Sales Tax Hikes –Total CPI +2.9% Y/Y Over 30-Year High Excluding Sales Tax Hikes’ Direct Impact –BOJ to Keep Easing Stance Until Stable 2% Inflation Anchored with Real Wage Gains By Max Sato (MaceNews) […]
Japan Government Keeps Economic View on Gradual Pickup but Warns of Global Tightening, Rising Prices
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Thursday maintained its economic overview after upgrading it last month, indicating consumption is leading a pickup in domestic demand amid a spike in Covid cases while firms are keen to invest in equipment for streamlined and greener operations, according to its monthly report released by the Cabinet Office. […]
Japan July Core, Total CPI Annual Rates Stay Above 2% on High Food, Utilities Costs 
–Core CPI +2.4% Y/Y Largest in 14 Years Excluding 2014 Sales Tax Hike Impact–Total CPI +2.6% Y/Y Remains Fastest in Over 30 Years, Excluding Direct Impact of 2014, 1997 Sales Tax Hikes –Gasoline Price Rise Slower on Govt Subsidies, Easing Crude Oil Market By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Consumer inflation in Japan continued moving up […]
Japan June Machine Orders Post Modest Rise, Rebound Sharply in April-June
–Japan Capex Demand Seen Solid, as Seen in Q2 GDP Growth–Japan Govt Keeps View: Machine Orders Showing Signs of Pickup By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese machinery orders, the key leading indicator of business investment in equipment, rebounded slightly in June, reflecting a cautious sentiment against the backdrop of solid needs to upgrade computer networks, […]
Japan July Exports, Imports Hit Record Highs as Producer Costs Remain Elevated
–Exports to U.S., Asia, China All Hit Highest Values on Semiconductors –Overall Export Volumes Continue to Drop Y/Y After Recovering from Covid Slump By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese exports maintained a high pace of growth from a year earlier in July, hitting a record high value for the second straight month on solid global […]