Japan Q2 GDP Up on Eased Covid Rules, China Lockdown Limiting Gain
–Japan GDP Posts 3rd Straight Q/Q Growth as Slight Q2 Drop Revised to Slight Rise–People Dining Out, Traveling More Since Restrictions Lifted in Late March–Capex Makes Up for Q1 Drop on Solid Digitization, Greener Energy Demand–Q3 GDP Growth Faces Headwinds: Domestic Covid Spike, Slower Global Growth By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s gross domestic product […]
Preview: Japan Q2 GDP Rebound Seen on Eased Covid Rules but China Lockdown Limiting Gain
–People Dining Out, Traveling More Since Restrictions Lifted in Late March –Capex Seen Making Up for Q1 Drop on Solid Digitization, Greener Energy Demand –Q3 GDP Growth Sees Headwinds: Domestic Covid Spike, Slower Global Growth By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s gross domestic product for the April-June quarter is forecast by economists to post a […]
Japan PM Kishida Shuffles Cabinet as Support Sags Over Ruling Party Ties to Cult
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shuffled his cabinet Wednesday, seeking to shore up sagging voter support amid revelations that ruling party lawmakers have done little to counter what some lawyers say are illegal activities by the Unification Church, which has cultivated close ties with conservative politicians for over five decades. […]
Japan July Producer Inflation at Slowest Pace in 7 Months on Easing Lumber, Non-Ferrous Markets
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Producer inflation in Japan continued to ease in July to the slowest pace in seven months, after hitting a 41-year high in April, as year-on-year gains in costs for lumber and wood, chemicals and non-ferrous metals decelerated, while prices of gasoline and other fuels lost steam again after a slight […]
Japan June Household Spending Rebounds on Traveling, Dining Out Under Eased Covid Rules
–April-June Spending Up, Indicating Q2 GDP Rebound led by Consumption–Real Household Income Falls For 4th Straight Month on Rising Cost of Living By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s real household spending posted the first year-on-year rise in four months in June after falling unexpectedly in May as pent-up demand for eating out and traveling under […]
BOJ July Meeting Summary: Watch Covid Spike Impact Before Deciding to End Financing Scheme 
–Board Members Continue Calling for Supporting Wage Hikes With Easing By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Bank of Japan board members argued for monitoring the impact of the resurgence in new Covid cases for now before deciding whether to end the program to support pandemic-hit small businesses in September as scheduled, according to the summary of […]
Japan June Retail Sales Post 4th Straight Y/Y Rise but Pace Slows 
–METI Keeps View After May Upgrade: Retail Sales Picking Up Gradually –Department Store Sales Continue Recovering on Eased Covid Rules –High Fuel Costs Prop Up Retail Sales; Supply Delays Keep Auto Sales Weak By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese retail sales posted the fourth year-on-year rise in June, led by high fuel prices and recovering […]
Japan June Industrial Output Rebounds After China Ends Covid Lockdown 
–METI Upgrades View After Downgrades: 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 rebounded more strongly than expected in June as China ended its Covid lockdown of Shanghai but parts shortages and logistical bottlenecks continued to […]
Japan July Tokyo CPI Annual Rate Faster Than Expected as Firms Pass Higher Costs
–Energy, Food Prices Lead Inflation; BOJ Still Sees Commodities Spike Easing in FY23 –Gasoline Price Markups Smaller on Govt Subsidies; Utilities Pick Up Pace Again By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The year-on-year rise in consumer prices in Tokyo, the leading indicator of the national average, posted a slightly faster-than-expected pace in July, just above the […]
Japan June Jobless Rate Unchanged; Job Growth Continues Rising on Year
–Numbers of Lost Jobs, People Looking for Other Openings Both Drop in June –June Unemployment at 2.6% After Ticking Up from April’s 2-Year Low 2.5% By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese payrolls posted the third straight increase from year-earlier levels in June as Covid restrictions were eased in late March, while the unemployment rate was […]