Japan April Machine Orders Mark Unexpectedly Sharp Rise on Computer Demand
–Japan Government Upgrades View: Machine Orders Showing Signs of Pickup Vs. Previous Assessment that Pickup Stalling By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese machinery orders, the key leading indicator of business investment in equipment, unexpectedly posted a second straight sharp monthly gain in April on solid demand for upgrading computer systems, raising hopes that orders for […]
Japan May Producer Inflation Eases on Slower Crude Oil Rise After Hitting 41-Year High in April
–BOJ’s Kuroda Committed to Easing Stance Despite Weak Yen, Seeing Slower Prices in FY23 By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Producer inflation in Japan eased in May to 9.1% on the year as crude oil and non-ferrous metal prices fell from the previous month, reflecting recent international markets, but April’s 9.8% spike, although downwardly revised from […]
Preview: Japan Q1 GDP Slip Seen Revised Down Slightly on Softer Capex
–Forecasts for Weaker Capex, Higher Private Inventories Based on MOF Survey –Private Consumption Seen Flat, Unrevised from Preliminary Data –Q2 GDP Growth Expected to Rebound As Covid Restrictions Eased By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s economic slump in the January-March quarter, which was caused by the drag from Covid restrictions on consumer spending and a […]
Japan April Household Spending Dips Y/Y on Car Supply Delays, Less Cooking at Home
–Spending Up M/M As People Dine Out, Travel More Freely After Covid Rules Eased By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s real household spending posted the second straight year-on-year drop in April as supply bottlenecks hampered car purchases and people dined out more freely, spending less on groceries compared to a year earlier when a Covid […]
Japan April Retail Sales Rise Further After Govt Eases Covid Rules in Late March
–METI Upgrades View: Retail Sales Showing Signs of Pickup Vs. Being Flat–Shoppers Flock to Department Stores; Clothing Up on Summer Weather–High Fuel Costs Prop Up Retail Sales; Supply Delays Keep Auto Sales Down By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese retail sales in April posted solid gains for the second straight month both on the year […]
Japan April Industrial Output Slips on Dimmer Global Demand, Chinese Lockdowns
–METI Downgrades View: Factory Output Pausing Vs. Showing Signs of Pickup–METI Repeats: To Watch Effects of Pandemic, Parts Shortages, Inflation, Ukraine By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s industrial production posted the first month-on-month drop in three months in April as global reopening demand turned lower and Chinese Covid lockdowns caused further supply delays, preliminary data […]
Japan April Jobless Rate Edges Down to 2-Year Low; Payrolls Post 1st Y/Y Rise in 7 Months
–Number of Lost Jobs Down While More People Look for Other Openings–April Unemployment at 2.5% Lowest Since 2.4% in April 2020 By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese payrolls rose from year-earlier levels for the first time in seven months in April as easing Covid restrictions prompted various service providers to hire more people, while the […]
Japan May Tokyo CPI Y/Y Rise Around BOJ’s 2% Target but FY22 Uptick Seen Temporary
–May Tokyo CPI Annual Rate Highest in Nearly 3 Decades Excluding 2014, 1997 Sales Tax Hike Impact–Energy, Food Prices Lead Inflation; BOJ Sees Impact of Commodity Market Spike Fading in FY23–Gasoline Price Markups Smaller on Govt Subsidies; Utilities Costs High but Also Easing By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The year-on-year rise in consumer prices in […]
Japan Govt Sees Economy Fighting Off Covid, Wants BOJ to Achieve ‘Sustainable’ 2% Inflation
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Wednesday maintained its economic overview for May after upgrading it for the first time in four months in April as consumer spending appears to have overcome an Omicron-hit slump but it also warned about continued uncertainty over global growth amid Chinese Covid lockdowns and the Ukraine war, according […]
Japan April CPI Jumps as Mobile Phone Fee Discount Effects Fade; Energy, Food Up
–Core CPI +2.1% Y/Y Largest in Over 13 Years If 2014 Sales Tax Hike Impact Excluded–Total CPI +2.5% Y/Y Largest in Over 30 Years Excluding Impact of 2014, 1997 Sales Tax Hikes–Energy Costs High but Easing; Household Durable Goods Prices Post 1st Y/Y Rise in 6 Months By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Consumer prices in […]