Japan Oct Household Spending Dip Slows on Eased Covid Restrictions
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s household spending posted the third straight year-on-year drop in October but the pace of decline decelerated from September as the government lifted its Covid-19 state of emergency restrictions on Oct. 1, data released Tuesday by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed. The number of new Covid-19 cases […]
Italy-France Pushing for ‘Single EU Debt’ to Fund Post-Pandemic Growth; Germany’s Stance on Closer Fiscal Integration in Post-Merkel Era Uncertain – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy and France are pushing for issuance of a ‘common European public debt’ to fund long-term pro-growth investments with the additional goal of strengthening the single currency and boosting European integration, Italian official sources say. Sources say Europe faces a turning point with the departure of former Chancellor Angela Merkel, […]
No US Government Shutdown
By Eric Ham WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Senate late Thursday agreed with an earlier vote in the House and successfully avoided a government shutdown Friday night. The Senate vote was a bipartisan 69 to 28 to extend the current federal budget to Feb. 18. An earlier Senate vote that could have demolished the plan of […]
Election of Italy’s Next President Will Favor ‘Continuity of Policy’ with Draghi’s Cabinet – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – The appointment by parliament of Italy’s next head of state is likely to raise political tensions as parties seek a deal on the successor, with rising speculation that current premier Mario Draghi could be taking over the role, according to ruling coalition sources. Officials argued that coming weeks will […]
Eurozone Economic Confidence Fell in November, Matching Expectations
ZURICH (MaceNews) – Economic sentiment in the countries sharing the euro fell in November, falling 1.1 points to 117.5, according to the latest report from the European Commission. The result was exactly in-line with the median of an Econoday survey of economists’ forecasts. Among sectors for the eurozone in November the results were as follows: […]
Japan Oct Retail Sales Rebound on Fuel Price Spike, Eased Covid Restrictions
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese retail sales posted the first year-on-year rise in three months in October as fuel prices continued going up and the government lifted its Covid-19 state of emergency restrictions on Oct. 1, data released Monday by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed. The METI maintained its assessment that […]
Text of Pres Biden’s Announcement of Omicron Restrictions On Travel From SAfrica, 7 Other Countries
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is the text of President Biden’s announcement Friday of Omicron restrictions on travel from South Africa and seven other countries: Statement by President Joe Biden on the Omicron COVID-19 Variant This morning I was briefed by my chief medical advisor, Dr. Tony Fauci, and the members of our COVID response […]
Japan Nov Tokyo CPI Y/Y Rise Hits 16-Month High on Surging Energy, Food
— Utility Charges Following Lead of Soaring Gasoline, Heating Oil Costs— CPI Remains Under Pressure From Mobile Communication Fee Discounts By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The year-on-year rise in the core reading of consumer prices in Tokyo, the leading indicator of the national average, accelerated in November amid double-digit percentage gains in utility and fuel […]
Japan Govt Still Sees Economic Pickup But Notes Slower Exports, Output
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Thursday maintained its economic overview but pointed to a mixed bag of data showing a pickup in consumption on eased Covid restrictions against flat exports and stalling recovery in factory output amid protracted supply bottlenecks, according to its monthly report released by the Cabinet Office. The government said […]
FOMC Minutes: No Wage-Price Spiral But Ready to Accelerate Taper if Inflation More Persistent, Aggressive
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The minutes of the Nov 2-3 Federal Open Market Committee meeting released Wednesday repeated familiar themes about pandemic-caused inflation factors, labor supply issues and so far, the absence of a wage-price spiral. Members advocated contninued vigilance about the intensity of price pressures. Fears that inflation expectations were being elevated beyond previous ranges […]