Japan June Producer Inflation Eases Slightly on Slower Lumber, Steel Gains; Fuels Pick Up Again
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Producer inflation in Japan eased slightly in June after hitting a 41-year high in April as year-on-year gains in the costs for lumber and wood products as well as iron and steel slowed, while the prices of gasoline and other fuels picked up the pace of increase again, data released […]
Japan May Machine Orders Dip as Expected After Sharp Gains; Capex Plans Seen Solid
–Japan Govt Keeps View After Upgrade: Machine Orders Showing Signs of Pickup By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese machinery orders, the key leading indicator of business investment in equipment, posted the first month-on-month drop in three months, taking a breather after sharp gains led by computer demand, but capital spending plans are expected to be […]
Analysis: After Abe’s Death, PM Kishida Still Has to Show How His New Capitalism Works for Japan
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – After Friday’s assassination of Shinzo Abe, architect of the reflationary economic policy mix dubbed Abenomics, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has yet to show whether his “new capitalism” is a better alternative in revitalizing Japan. During the ruling party leadership election campaign last year, Kishida floated the idea of shifting from […]
News Reports: Former Japan Prime Minister Abe Shot During Speech; Japan Rocked by Incident
(MaceNews) – Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, known for his reflationary economic policy and nationalistic views, was shot from behind by a man in his 40s in the western prefecture of Nara on Friday, public broadcaster NHK and other news media reported. Ahead of Sunday’s upper house elections, in which the ruling coalition is […]
Japan May Household Spending Dips as Supply Crunch Dents Car Output, People Cooking Less
–Households Dining Out, Traveling More, Limiting Y/Y Drop in May Vs. April, March –Govt Official: Cannot Yet Say If Rising Inflation Hurting Spending; Covid, Weather Also Affect Consumers –Real Household Income Falls For 2nd Straight Month as Inflation Bites By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s real household spending unexpectedly fell on year for the third […]
Japan May Retail Sales Post 3rd Straight Rise on Eased Covid Rules, Hot Weather 
–METI Upgrades View: Retail Sales Picking Up Gradually Vs. Showing Signs of Pickup –Department Store Sales Surge; Summer Clothing Up on Heat Wave –High Fuel Costs Prop Up Retail Sales; Supply Delays Keep Auto Sales Down By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese retail sales posted the third straight rise in May both on the year […]
BOJ June Meeting Summary: Need Easing for Stable 2% Inflation, Wage Hikes
–Board Members See Uncertainty from China’s Covid Policy, Other Risks–Members Note Pickup in Service Sector on Japan’s Eased Covid Rules By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Bank of Japan board members argued that continued monetary easing is necessary to anchor 2% inflation in a “stable” manner, and to achieve that goal, fiscal support and labor market […]
Japan Govt Keeps View Economy Showing Signs of Pickup as Eased Covid Rules Prop Up Sentiment
By Mas Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Monday maintained its economic overview for June after upgrading it in April as the drag from the pandemic appears to have waned while continuing to warn about the impact of the protracted Ukraine war, Covid restrictions in China, supply bottlenecks and fluctuating financial markets, according to its monthly […]
Analysis: BOJ Easing Stance Set in Stone, Abenomics Ghost Haunts Japan’s Policymaking
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The latest message from Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda points to the bank’s long-term commitment to maintaining its monetary easing stance despite a rush of interest rate hikes by other central banks, as cyclical and structural issues are keeping Japan’s domestic demand sluggish and consumer prices relatively low. In […]
Japan May Exports Post 15th Straight Y/Y Rise on Reopening Demand for Steel, Electronic Parts
–Imports Hit Fresh Record High on High Energy Costs, Leading to 10th Straight Trade Deficit –Exports to China Mark 2nd Straight Y/Y Drop on Covid Lockdowns By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Global reopening demand for iron and steel and semiconductors continued driving Japanese exports to surpass year-earlier levels for the 15th month in a row […]