Japan February CPI Back on Gradual Rising Path, Led by Energy, Food

–Both Core and Total CPI Measures Mark 6th Straight Y/Y Gains –Utilities Continue Pushing Up Energy; Durable Goods on Downtrend –Hotel Fees Pick Up in February After Base Effects Fade in January –CPI Could Come Under Pressure Again If Govt Resumes Travel Subsidies By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Core and total consumer prices in Japan […]

Analysis: Japan PM Kishida to Face Bad Economic News After Omicron Storm

–Economists Revise Down Forecasts to Show Slight Contraction in 1Q By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is likely to face bad news on the economic front after barely surviving voter frustration over public health restrictions imposed about two months ago aimed at fighting a surge in Covid infections caused by the […]

FOMC Lifts Off from Zero with 25bp Rate Hike; 6 More Projected for 2022

– Powell Says FOMC May Move Faster If Needed To Reduce Inflation – Says Funds Rate Could Go ‘Beyond’ Downwardly Revised ‘Neutral’ Rate – Balance Sheet Reduction Plan Could Be Announced As Soon As May Meeting By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – After holding short-term interest rates near zero for two years to support a […]

FOMC: Qtr Point Hike As Expected; Few Specifics on Future Action

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Federal Open Market Committee Wednesday fulfilled expectations for a quarter-point fed funds rate hike, the first such since 2018, accompanied by a pledged to begin pulling back Treasury and Agency securities holdings “at a coming meeting.” The text follows: Indicators of economic activity and employment have continued to strengthen. Job gains […]

Strong Earthquake Hits Northeastern Japan, Causing Power Cuts

–Tokyo Electric Monitoring Spent Nuclear Fuel Facilities in Fukushima (MaceNews) – A powerful earthquake shook the northeastern Tohoku region in Japan late on Wednesday, triggering tsunami warnings along the Pacific coast of Miyagi and Fukushima, two prefectures hit hard by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster. The 7.3 magnitude tremor struck 60 km below the […]

Japan February Exports Post 12th Straight Y/Y Rise After Slower January Growth

–Imports Up on Rising Energy Prices, Leading to 7th Straight Trade Deficit –Exports to China Rebound After Irregular Shipments Around Lunar New Year –Auto Exports Rebound Amid Lingering Supply Constraints By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese exports rose from a year earlier for the 12th straight month in February, picking up from slower growth in […]

German Economic Sentiment Plunges on Ukraine, Sanctions, ZEW Reports

ZURICH (MaceNews) – Economic sentiment in Germany fell by a historic margin in March, as the war in Ukraine and resulting sanctions against Russia pushed the ZEW institute’s measure of economic sentiment into sharply negative territory. The ZEW measure of economic sentiment plunged 93.6 points in March to a reading of -39.3 from the February […]

Text: G7 Details Current and Future Sanctions Vs Russia

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is the joint statement statement Friday by the Group of Seven countries, detailing new current sanctions and anticipated future sanctions being imposed on Russia: We the Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) remain resolved to stand with the Ukrainian people and government who heroically resist Russian President Vladimir Putin’s […]