Japan Q3 GDP Slump Deeper Than Expected on Weaker Consumption, Capex
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s economy plunged at a much faster pace than expected in the July-September quarter, after a modest rebound in April-June, as a Covid resurgence dampened shopping and dining out while supply chain disruptions hampered business investment, Cabinet Office data released Monday showed. The gross domestic product slumped a preliminary 0.8% […]
PREVIEW: Japan Q3 GDP Seen Down as Covid Spreads, Supply Squeeze Lingers
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s gross domestic product for the July-September quarter is forecast by economists to show a 0.2% slump on quarter, or an annualized 0.8% drop, as consumers were cautious amid a resurgence in coronavirus infections and global supply chain disruptions slowed business investment and exports. The median forecast for Q3 […]
Japan October Producer Price Rise Fastest in 4 Decades on Energy, Commodities, Yen
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Producer prices in Japan surged at the fastest annual pace in four decades, as the pandemic-caused global supply chain disruptions, labor shortages and reopening demand have pushed up the costs for production and shipments, data released Thursday by the Bank of Japan showed. The depreciation of the yen has also […]
Japan Oct Tokyo Core CPI Posts Only Small Gain, Led by Higher Energy Costs
— Electricity Charges, Gasoline Prices Pick Up Pace of Y/Y Gains— Mobile Communication Fees Show Deeper Drop, Limiting CPI Rise By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The core reading of consumer prices in Tokyo, a leading indicator of the national average, posted the second consecutive but small year-over-year gain in October as higher electricity bills and […]
Japan Sept Factory Output Slumps; Autos, Others Hit by Supply Delays
–Output Posts Larger-than-Expected M/M Drop, 1st Y/Y Fall in 7 Months–METI Keeps View After Downgrade Last Month: Factory Output Pausing–METI Repeats: Watch Effects of Rising COVID Cases, Global Chip Shortages By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s industrial production posted the third straight monthly decline in September, coming in weaker than expected, as protracted global semiconductor […]
BOJ Kuroda: Current ‘Slight’ Yen Fall Beneficial for Japan’s Economy
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said Thursday that the recent depreciation of the yen has been limited in scope, and thus it is still good for Japan’s gradual economic recovery as its benefit of supporting exporter profits outweighs the cost of surging import prices. He also downplayed the risk […]
BOJ Keeps Easing Stance; Covid Risk Remains, Public Inflation Views Picking Up
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan said Thursday it is maintaining its stimulative policy, as expected, to support economic recovery from the pandemic-caused 2020 slump and continue guiding near-zero inflation toward its elusive 2% target. The central bank remains optimistic about the medium-term outlook for steady recovery following short-term weakness, but also […]
Japan Sept Retail Sales Dip on Pandemic Restrictions, Slashed Car Output
(MaceNews) – Japanese retail sales came in firmer than expected in September but they still posted the second straight year-on-year drop as Covid-19 restrictions remained in place until the end of the month and supply chain disruptions choked new car deliveries, data released Thursday by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed. The ministry […]
Japan Sept Core CPI Marks 1st Y/Y Rise in 18 Months on Utilities
— Overall Energy Costs Up; Pace of Gasoline Markup Eases Slightly— Total CPI Posts 1st Y/Y Gain in 13 Months on Rebound in Fresh Food— Downward Pressure From Low Cost Mobile Phone Plans Lingers By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Global supply chain disruptions and reopening demand led energy and processed food costs to rise further, […]
ANALYSIS: Japan Faces Cost Inflation Amid Weak Yen, Slow Wage Growth
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Rising energy and commodities prices may help lift Japan’s near-zero inflation rate but a further rise in the costs for daily necessities would dampen already wobbly consumer spending and surging producer prices would hurt small businesses that cannot pass higher input costs on to customers amid uncertain growth prospects. Japan […]