Japan January Jobless Rate Dips to Nearly 4-Year Low of 2.4% from Upwardly Revised 2.5% in December Amid Lower Job Cuts, Quits for Other Openings
–Employment Up on Year for 18th Straight Month, Led by Surge in Communications Jobs, Rises at Hotels, Restaurants, Factories By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese payrolls posted an 18th straight rise on year amid lingering labor shortages at communications firms, hotels, restaurants and factories, while the unemployment rate fell to a nearly four-year low of […]
Japan January Industrial Production Index Sinks to Over 3-Year Low, Hit by Toyota Group Daihatsu Motor Suspension Over Crash Test Scandal
–METI Survey: Factory Output Likely to Rise Moderately in February, Gain Further in March–METI Downgrades View: Output Has Weakened While Taking One Step Forward, One Step Back–METI To Keep Watching Effects of Global Growth, Auto Output Suspension By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s industrial production plunged 7.5% on the month in January, hit by suspended […]
Japan Govt Downgrades Its View on Economic Recovery as Consumption, Production Turn Weaker
–Japan’s Economy still Faces Downside Risks from Chinese Slowdown, High Prices, January’s Earthquake By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government on Wednesday downgraded its overall assessment for the first time in three months, saying while the economy is recovering moderately, consumption has turned weaker amid elevated costs and production has been hit by suspended vehicle […]
Japan December Core Machine Orders Rebound on Higher Demand from Manufacturers; Computer Orders Remain Mixed
–Core Orders Dip in Q4 as Largely Expected, Seen Up in Q1 for 1st Rise in 4 Quarters–Core Orders Mark 10th Straight Y/Y Drop Despite Solid Capex Plans–Cabinet Office Keeps View: Machine Orders Pausing By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese core machinery orders, the key leading indicator of business investment in equipment, rebounded 2.7% in […]
White House and Other Schedules for Wednesday, Feb 14
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following are Wednesday’s schedules for the White House, Treasury, USTR, the State Department and Capitol Hill as well as U.S. economic data and Federal Reserve events: DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2024 In the afternoon, the President and the Secretary of State will have lunch. This meeting in the President’s […]
Japan January Producer Inflation Remains Tame with 0.2% Y/Y Rise as Subsidies Trim Utility Costs, Global Demand for Lumber, Steel Remains Soft
—Producer Prices Mark 35th Straight Y/Y Gain but Recent Figures Stay Lowest Since 0.9% Drop in February 2021–Producer Prices Flat Month on Month; Firmer Prices for Utilities, Electric Machines Offset Lower Costs for Farm Produce, Fuels By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Producer inflation in Japan rose 0.2% on the year in January, coming in higher […]
IMF: BOJ Should Consider Unwinding Monetary Easing Under Yield Curve Control Framework Now
–IMF: BOJ Then Should Gradually Raise Interest Rates–IMF Critical of Kishida Government’s ‘Untargeted’ Economic Stimulus Package By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan should consider unwinding its large-scale monetary easing now by exiting the seven-year-old yield curve control framework, the International Monetary Fund said Friday, noting that easing in the past decade has […]
Preview: Japan Q4 GDP Modest Rebound Expected, Led by Capex, Net Exports but Consumption Seen Weak Amid High Costs
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s gross domestic product for the October-December quarter is forecast by economists to rebound a modest 0.4 percent on quarter, or an annualized 1.6 percent, after suffering its first contraction in four quarters in July-September, led by a slight pickup in business investment and a temporary jump in service exports, […]
Japan December Household Spending Posts 10th Straight Y/Y Drop as Inflation Bites, Milder Weather Dampens Demand for Winter Clothing, Heaters
–Households Seeking Savings by Switching to Low-Cost Mobile Phone Plans–Eating Out Continues Growing, Vehicle Purchases, Car Services Rebound–Real Household Income Posts 15th Straight Y/Y Drop on Elevated Costs By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s real household spending posted its 10th straight drop on the year in December, down a deeper-than-expected 2.5%, following a 2.9% dip […]
Bank of Japan January Meeting Summary Shows Shift Toward More Specific Debate About Exit from Large Monetary Easing
–Members Continue to Link Timing of Exit to Clearer Signs of Sustained Wage Growth–A Few Members Warn About Falling Behind Curve in Unwinding Stimulus By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Bank of Japan board members continued to discuss the need to carefully unwind the bank’s monetary easing measures, with many linking the timing of an exit […]