Japan Q3 GDP Slump Revised Down on Weaker Consumption, Exports

— Q4 GDP Rebound Expected Amid Uncertainty Over Covid Impact By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s economic contraction in July-September quarter was revised down sharply as consumer spending and net exports turned out to be weaker than previously estimated and a buildup in private-sector inventories was lower than thought, more than offsetting an upward revision […]

Japan Oct Household Spending Dip Slows on Eased Covid Restrictions

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s household spending posted the third straight year-on-year drop in October but the pace of decline decelerated from September as the government lifted its Covid-19 state of emergency restrictions on Oct. 1, data released Tuesday by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed. The number of new Covid-19 cases […]

Japan Oct Factory Output Shows Modest Rebound on Easing Supply Bottlenecks

— METI Keeps View After Recent Downgrade: Factory Output Pausing— METI Repeats: Watch Effects of Rising COVID Cases, Global Chip Shortages By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s industrial production posted a modest rebound in October amid easing disruptions of parts supply from Southeast Asia, which has forced automakers and other firms to reduce factory operations […]

Japan Oct Unemployment Edged Down to 7-Month Low But Job Growth Slows

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Japanese labor market showed a mixed picture in October as the unemployment rate improved slightly to a seven-month low while job growth continued slowing at the same time, data released Tuesday by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed. The seasonally adjusted average unemployment rate in Japan fell […]

Japan Oct Retail Sales Rebound on Fuel Price Spike, Eased Covid Restrictions

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese retail sales posted the first year-on-year rise in three months in October as fuel prices continued going up and the government lifted its Covid-19 state of emergency restrictions on Oct. 1, data released Monday by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed. The METI maintained its assessment that […]

Japan Govt Still Sees Economic Pickup But Notes Slower Exports, Output

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Thursday maintained its economic overview but pointed to a mixed bag of data showing a pickup in consumption on eased Covid restrictions against flat exports and stalling recovery in factory output amid protracted supply bottlenecks, according to its monthly report released by the Cabinet Office. The government said […]

Japan’s October Energy-Led CPI Rise Capped by Deeper Mobile Phone Discounts

— Gasoline, Heating Oil, Utilities Costs Up Sharply Amid Rising Energy Markets — Total CPI Marks 2nd Straight Y/Y Gain; Slower on Fresh Food Price Drop — Producer Price Spike Has Limited Impact on CPI But BOJ Sees Gradual Pickup By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Core consumer prices in Japan maintained a small step upward […]

Japan September Machine Orders Flat, Posting Only Small Q3 Gain

–Japan Govt Keeps View: Pickup in Machine Orders Pausing –Q3 Core Orders Far Below Official Forecast; Q4 Seen Up Moderately By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese machinery orders, the key leading indicator of business investment in equipment, were unchanged in September, coming in weaker than a rebound forecast by many and following a surprise slip […]

Japan Oct Exports Slow on Parts Supply Delays; Steel, Machine Demand Solid

— Imports Up on Rising Energy Costs, Leading to 3rd Straight Trade Deficit By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Year-on-year growth in Japanese exports continued to lose momentum in October as Covid-triggered delays in parts supply from Southeast Asia, microchip shortages and congestion at international ports have forced carmakers and others to trim output and shipments, […]