Japan’s Government Still Sees Modest Economic Recovery Despite Sluggish Consumption, Flat Real Wage Growth Amid Food-Led Inflation
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government maintained its overall assessment that the economy’s “modest recovery” is set to continue despite sluggish consumer spending and flat real wage growth amid high costs for food and other necessities. In its monthly report for December released Friday by the Cabinet Office, the government said the economy is […]
Japan Still Sees Modest Economic Recovery but Warns It Now Needs to Watch Future US Policy amid Headwinds of Inflation, Middle East Tensions, Weak Yen
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government maintained its overall assessment that the economy’s “modest recovery” is set to continue thanks to wage hikes amid widespread labor shortages, but urged a close watch on the future U.S. government policy as well as lingering high costs for necessities, geopolitical risks and the weak yen. In its […]
Japan PM Ishiba Re-Elected in Run-Off Vote in Diet After Ruling Coalition Lost Majority in October Lower House Election
–PM Keeps Most Key Cabinet Ministers, Brings in 2 Younger Lawmakers By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was re-elected in a rare parliamentary run-off vote on Monday after the ruling coalition lost a majority in the Lower House general election about two weeks ago as many voters, weary of high costs, […]
Japan Government Slightly Upgrades Its View on Economic Recovery after BOJ Conducts 2nd Rate Hike in July
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government upgraded its overall economic assessment for the first time in six months, noting consumer spending is supported by wage hikes and temporary income tax credits, but the change in wording is subtle and it continues to say the economy is recovering “moderately.” In its monthly report for August […]
Japan PM Kishida Says He Will Not Seek Re-Election at LDP Leadership Convention Next Month, Hoping to Calm Voter Rage Over Political Funding Scandal
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday announced that he will not seek re-election at the Liberal Democratic Party leadership convention in late September, taking the blame for widespread political funding scandals at the ruling party, a key factor behind sluggish voter support for the administration. Kishida, 67, will step […]
Japan Government Keeps Its View on Economic Recovery amid Wage Hikes, Warns of Drag from High US, European Rates, China’s Real-Estate Woes
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government maintained its overall assessment that the economy is recovering “moderately” and is likely to stay on course as many firms are raising wages at a higher pace to secure workers and although exports are now largely flat. In its monthly report released Thursday by the Cabinet Office, the […]
Japan Govt Keeps Its View on Moderate Economic Recovery After Downgrade Last month, March BOJ Rate Hike as Many Firms Offer Higher Wages to Secure Workers
Japan sees moderate recovery continuing
Japan January Household Spending Posts 11th Straight Y/Y Drop as Vehicle Purchases Slip After Recent Rebound, Consumers Remain Frugal
–Home Maintenance, Repairs Also Down; Pent-Up Demand for Travel Wanes–Eating Out Continues Growing; Tuition, Medical Costs Also Rise on Year–Real Household Income Posts 16th Straight Y/Y Drop on Elevated Costs but Up in Nominal Terms By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s real household spending posted its 11th straight drop on the year in January, down […]
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 […]
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 […]