Japan December Retail Sales Turn Weaker as Pent-up Demand Wanes, Upward Price Pressures on Food, Fuels Ease
–METI Downgrades View: Retail Sales Taking One Step Forward, One Step Back Vs. on Uptrend–Department Store Sales Up but at Slower Pace after Already Recovering from Pandemic Slump By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese retail sales turned weaker in December, rising just 2.1% on the year, below the consensus forecast of a 5.3% rise and […]
Japan December Industrial Production Rebounds on General Machinery; Daihatsu Halt amid Crash Test Scandal Seen Hurting January Vehicle Output
–METI Survey: Factory Output Likely to Plunge in January, Rise Moderately in February–METI Keeps View: Output Taking One Step Forward, One Step Back–METI To Watch Effects of Global Growth, Auto Output Suspension, Drops Risk from High Costs Amid Easing Inflation By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s industrial production rebounded by a solid but lower-than-expected 1.8% […]
White House and Other Schedules for Tuesday, Jan 30
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following are Tuesday’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: GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2024 In the morning, the President will receive the President’s Daily Brief. This meeting will be closed press. […]
Japan December Jobless Rate Edges Down to 11-Month Low of 2.4% from 2.5% in November on Sharp Drop in Job Losses, Retirements
–December Also See Fewer Quits for Other Openings, Fewer New Job Seekers–Employment Up on Year for 17th Straight Month, Led by Factories, Hotels and Restaurants–Number of Unemployed Falls to Pre-Pandemic Level By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese payrolls posted a 17th straight rise on year amid widespread labor shortages at factories, hotels, restaurants and communications […]
White House and Other Schedules for Monday, Jan 29
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following are Monday’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 MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 2024 In the morning, the President will receive the President’s Daily Brief. This meeting in the Oval Office will […]
Japan January Tokyo Core CPI Annual Rate Eases Sharply on Further Energy Price Drop, Slower Food Markups, Hotel Fee Rise
–Total CPI, Core (Ex-Fresh Food), Both +1.6% Y/Y, Slowest in 22 Months–Core-Core CPI (Ex-Fresh Food, Energy) Moderates to 11-Month Low of +3.1% By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Consumer inflation in Tokyo, the leading indicator of the national average, eased at a much faster pace than expected in January in all three key measures as food […]
Japan Govt Keeps View on Moderate Economic Recovery with Pause in Export Pickup; Watch Effects of Earthquake
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government on Thursday maintained its overall assessment for the second month in a row, saying the economy is recovering moderately with some soft spots, but warned that the powerful New Year’s Day earthquake in the northwestern region of Hokuriku has reduced electronic parts supply and battered tourism, according to […]
Japan December Exports Rebound to Record High on Continued Strong Demand for Autos, Trade Balance Turns Positive
–Imports Mark 9th Straight Y/Y Fall on Lower Energy Prices –Exports to China Post 1st Rise in 13 Months, Climb to 2nd Highest on Record –Exports to US Hit Record High; Those to EU Rebound after 1st Drop in 33 Months in November–Japan 2023 Exports Also Reach Record High, Trade Deficit Cut in Half By […]
BOJ Keeps Easing Stance Under Yield Curve Control Framework as Policymakers Look for Clearer Signs of Sustained Wage Growth
–BOJ Repeats: To ‘Patiently’ Pursue Stable 2% Inflation –BOJ Maintains Negative Short-Term Rate, Zero Long-Term Rate; Keeps 1% Loose Upside Limit on 10-Year JGB Yield By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan said Tuesday its policy board decided unanimously, as expected, to maintain its seven-year-old yield curve control framework and retain its guidance […]
Preview: Bank of Japan Unlikely to Begin Unwinding Large-Scale Easing Until It Can Clearly Foresee Sustained Growth in Wages, Service Prices in Fiscal 2024
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan board is widely expected to retain its guidance in a unanimous vote at its Jan. 22-23 meeting that the bank will “patiently continue with monetary easing” in order to “achieve the price stability target of 2% in a sustainable and stable manner, accompanied by wage increases.” […]