PREVIEW: Japan Q4 GDP Rebound Seen on Easing Supply Bottlenecks, Covid Lull
— Consumption, Capex, Net Export Gains Behind Expected Solid Q4 Growth — Q1 GDP Face Downside Risks as Omicron-Led Covid Spike Hurts Sentiment By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s gross domestic product for the October-December quarter is forecast by economists to post a 1.4% rebound on quarter, or an annualized 5.8% rise, as easing […]
Japan December Unemployment Dips; Fewer Workers Quit To Look For Better Jobs
— Job Cuts on Year Linger in Industries Hit by Supply Delays, Covid Restrictions — Japan 2021 Jobless Rate Stays at 2.8%, Pace of Job Cuts Decelerates By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The pandemic is keeping the recovery in the Japanese labor market slow as some sectors continued to trim payrolls from year-earlier levels, but […]
Japan December Factory Output Dips After November’s Record High Rise
— General, Production Machine Output Lower; Autos Continue Picking Up— METI Repeats: Factory Output Shows Signs of Pickup— METI: Effects of Rapid Spread of Pandemic, Parts Shortages Emerging By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s industrial production posted the first drop in three months in December, taking a breather after a surge in November, but carmakers […]
Japan METI Unintentionally Posts +1.4% M/M Dec Retail Sales Hours Early
— METI Official: Data Embargoed on New Internal Computer System— METI Official: May Be Due To Human Error But Cannot Confirm Yet By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese retail sales rose modestly, posting the third straight year-on-year rise in December, when consumers appeared to have braved the early stage of the Omicron storm during the […]
BOJ Dec Minutes: Still Need Easy Money After Shrinking Covid Funding Program
— BOJ Members Also Debate Upside, Downside Risks Amid Uncertain Outlook By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Bank of Japan board members called for a continued accommodative monetary policy stance, saying the situation in Japan is different from other major economies where central banks are trying to control high inflation, the minutes of the bank’s Dec. […]
Japan Dec Core CPI Rise Slows on Durable Goods, Hotels Amid Rising Energy
— Both Core and Total CPI Measures Mark 4th Straight Y/Y Gains— Utilities Push Up Overall Energy Costs, Offsetting Recent Pullback in Gasoline— Japan 2021 CPI Down 0.2%, 2nd Straight Annual Drop After -0.2% in 2020 By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Rising utilities and processed food costs propped up consumer prices in Japan in December […]
Japan December Exports Continue Rising on Reopening Demand, Car Supply Pickup
— Import Gain Remains High on Energy, Leading to 5th Straight Trade Deficit By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese exports rose from a year earlier for the 10th straight month in December, thanks to reopening demand for iron and steel and electronic parts as well as easing supply constraints for the auto industry, data released […]
BofA Global Research Fund Manager Survey: Global Investors Expect Above-Trend Growth, Inflation Peak in 2022
–Hawkish Central Bank Hikes Still Biggest ‘Tail Risk’ By Vicki Schmelzer NEW YORK (MaceNews) – Global investors polled at the start of 2022 looked for above-trend growth and an inflation peak in the coming year, according to the findings of BofA Global Research’s monthly fund manager survey, released Tuesday. In January, a net 1% of […]
Japan Government Keeps Economic Pickup View After December Upgrade
— Consumers Brave Omicron Scare in Year-End, New Year Leisure Season — Production Improving on Easing Supply Constraints By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Tuesday maintained its economic overview after upgrading it last month for the first time in 17 months, saying consumer spending is picking up — despite rising Covid cases — and […]
BOJ Keeps Easing Stance, Sees Clearer Economic Pickup, Slight CPI Uptick
— BOJ Revises Down FY21 GDP Forecast, Upgrades FY22 Growth View — BOJ Board’s CPI Outlook for FY22, FY23 Revised Up Slightly to Just Above 1% — BOJ Vows to Continue Monetary Support Until 2% Inflation Target Achieved By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan said Tuesday it is maintaining its interest rate […]