Japan April Household Spending Slumps on Continued Shift to Lower Mobile Phone Plans; Traveling, Eating Out Remain Strong
–Spending Drop Also Due to Continued Cut in High School Supplementary Education; Housing Also Down –Spending on Packaged Tours, Train/Air Fares Continues Rising on Tourism Support Program –Real Household Income Posts 7th Straight Y/Y Drop on High Food Costs but Energy Subsidies Capping Utility Charges By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s real household spending […]
EXCLUSIVE: Ex-BOJ Momma Says BOJ May Raise Rates at Year End if Outlook for Sustained Wage Hikes Emerges; Initial Rate Move More Likely Next Spring or Summer
–Momma Sees 20% Chance of BOJ Achieving Stable 2% Inflation in A Year, Up from Zero 6 to 12 Months Ago –Momma: Cost-Push Inflation Prompting Wage Hikes Amid Labor Shortages By Max Sato TOKYO (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan is focused on riding the wave of wage hikes to achieve stable 2% inflation by […]
Fed’s Beige Book Survey Sees Little Slowing With Consumption Higher In Most Districts
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book survey of economic conditions coast-to-coast Wednesday found little change overall, with consumption “steady or higher,” labor still tight, manufacturing “flat to up” and supply conditions continuing to improve. The survey, assembled by the Chicago Fed, was tempered by some downsides, saying “high inflation and the end of […]
Japan May Tokyo Core CPI Y/Y +3.2% Vs. +3.5% in April; Processed Food Markups Lead Rise, Slower Pace Due to Energy Subsidies
–Total CPI Annual Rate Also Slows to 3.2% from 3.5% after Hitting 41-Year High of 4.4% in January –Narrow CPI (Ex-Fresh Food, Energy) Annual Rate Rises to 3.9% from 3.8%, Staying at 41-Year High By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Consumer prices in Tokyo, the leading indicator of the national average, decelerated in May to a […]
Japan Government Upgrades View on Economy from Pickup to Moderate Recovery, Condition Last Seen in February 2020
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Thursday upgraded its overall assessment for the first time in 10 months, saying the economy is improving to the state last seen in February 2020, when pandemic hadn’t had a full impact on economic activity, according to its monthly report released by the Cabinet Office. In its May […]
FOMC Minutes Show Uncertainty About Any June Rate Hike
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Federal Open Market Committee participants were not sure what is their most likely policy decision at their June meeting as the Fed staff repeated its outlook for a mild recession at year end or early next year, the meeting minutes showed Wednesday. In fact, the staff told the meeting that the […]
US NABE Panel of 45 Forecasters Show Wider-Than-Usual Disparity of Views on Key Metrics, Improve Outlook vs February
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The National Association for Business Economics Monday presented the results of its latest quarterly survey of forecasters, with the panel of 45 showing a wider degree of uncertainty over key etrics than usual, although somewhat improved over the previous survey. Some excerpts follow: GDP • Expectations for inflation-adjusted gross domestic product (real […]
Japan March Machine Orders Down for 2nd Straight Month, Q1 Up; Q2 Seen Rising Faster Amid Solid Capex Demand
–Machine Orders Seen +4.6% in Q2 Vs. +2.6% in Q1, Led by Strong Demand from Non-Manufacturers –Cabinet Office Keeps View: Machine Orders Pausing By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese machinery orders, the key leading indicator of business investment in equipment, came in much weaker than expected in March, posting drops on the month and year, […]
Powell: Fed Committed To 2% Goal but May Need To Do Less Given Bank Stress
– Williams Blames Demand, Shocks for Inflation – Not Past Monetary Ease – Fed Policymakers Divided on Where Funds Rate Needs To Go By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell renewed the Fed’s commitment to reducing inflation Friday, but gave no clear indication whether he thinks the central bank will need […]
Japan April Core CPI Up 3.4% Y/Y After Slowing to 3.1% Rise on Continued Markups in Process Food, Rebound in Hotel Fees
–Energy Subsidies, Softer Commodities Somewhat Easing Consumer Inflation –Total CPI +3.5% Y/Y V. +3.2% Y/Y in March, 41-Year High of +4.3% in January –Core-Core CPI (Ex-Fresh Food, Energy) Hits Fresh 41-Year High of +4.1% Y/Y, Largest Gain Since +4.2% in September 1981 By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Consumer inflation in Japan picked up to around […]