Japan October Producer Inflation Higher Than Expected at 9.1%, Led by Utilities, Iron and Steel
–September’s Annal Rate Revised Up to 10.2%, Highest in 41 Years –Weak Yen Continues Boosting Import Costs for Producers By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Producer inflation in Japan came in higher than expected in October as utility charges surged above 40%, iron and steel prices remained high, up over 20%, and a faster pace of […]
Preview: Japan Q3 GDP to Post 4th Straight Quarterly Growth; Pace Slower on Covid Spike, High Prices
–Modest Q3 Growth Seen Led by Solid Capex Demand, No Strict Public Health Rules –Net Exports Seen Down amid Global Slowdown, Rising Import Costs –Q4 GDP Growth Likely Backed by Govt Subsidies for Tourism, Eased Border Restrictions By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s gross domestic product for the July-September quarter is forecast by economists […]
Japan Sept Household Spending Posts 4th Straight Y/Y Rise, Rebounds M/M as Covid Spike Eases
–Spending on Travel, Dining Stays Above Sept 2021 When Covid State of Emergency Was in Place –Real Household Income Edges Up but Real Wages Still Down Amid Rising Cost of Living –July-Sept Household Spending Dips Q/Q, Indicating Only Limited Consumption Boost in Q3 GDP Growth By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s real household spending posted […]
Japan October Tokyo Core CPI Surges to 40-Year High of 3.4% as Widespread Markups Continue 
–Total CPI +3.5%, Narrow CPI (Ex-Fresh Food, Energy) +2.2% for 3-Deacde Highs By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Consumer prices in Tokyo, the leading indicator of the national average, surged in all three key measures, with the core CPI annual rate hitting a 40-year high of 3.4%, as processed food and natural gas suppliers continued passing […]
Japan September Jobless Rate Inches Up to 2.6% As More People Quit for Other Opportunities 
–Unemployment at 2.5% in August, 2.6% from May to July Vs. April’s 2-Year Low 2.5% –More People Quit to Seek Other Openings Vs. August, Last September –Employment Growth Up Sharply Y/Y After Posting 1st Drop in 4 months in July –Number of Unemployed Marks 15th Straight Y/Y Drop; Still Above January 2020 Level By Max […]
Japan Govt Sees Gradual Economic Pickup, Plans Package to Ease Pain of Rising Prices, Weak Yen
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Tuesday maintained its economic recovery scenario amid strong catchup demand for business investment and solid spending on dining out and traveling, but continued warning about downside risks posed by global slowdown amid tightening by many central banks and the weak yen that is boosting already high import costs, […]
Japan Appears to Have Sold Dollars in Stealth Intervention to Slow Yen’s Slide
–Currency Intervention Suspected as Dollar Slumps from Above Y151 to Under Y146 in New York Friday –Vice Finance Minister Kanda Declines Comment to Reporters in Tokyo–Yen Remains Weak Amid Wide US-Japan Rate Gap; BOJ Seen Keeping Easy Stance By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Japanese government and the Bank of Japan appear to have stepped […]
Japan September Core CPI Hits 3% on Widespread Markups but BOJ Easing Seen in Place
–High Energy Costs Remain Largest Contributor, Processed Food Catching Up –Core CPI (Ex-Fresh Food) +3.0% Y/Y 31-Year High Excluding 2014, 1997 Sales Tax Hikes Impact–Narrow CPI (Ex-Fresh Food, Energy) +1.8% Y/Y, Close to BOJ’s 2% Inflation Target By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Consumer inflation in Japan continued its relentless upward march in September, reflecting high […]
Japan September Producer Inflation Unexpectedly Moves Up as Utilities Surge
–Weak Yen Continues Boosting Import Costs for Producers By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Producer inflation in Japan unexpectedly accelerated in September to just shy of a 41-year high hit in April, led by double-digit percentage gains continuing in utilities, nonferrous metals, iron and steel, chemicals and fuels while there was an uptick in highly weighted […]
Japan August Household Spending Up Y/Y But Slumps M/M on 7th Wave of Pandemic
–Spending on Traveling, Dining Remain Above 2021 When Covid State of Emergency Was in Place –Spending Down M/M Amid Record Covid Cases Hit Many Regions from Late July –Real Household Income Falls For 5th Straight Month on Rising Cost of Living By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s real household spending posted the third straight year-on-year […]