Preview: Forecasters See Japan’s Industrial Output Down 0.4% on Month in December
Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 0850 JST (2350 GMT/1850 EST Thursday, Jan. 29) The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry releases December industrial production, outlook for January and February. Mace News median: -0.4% m/m (range: -1.5% to +0.3%) vs. Nov. revised down to -2.7% from -2.6%; +2.3 y/y (range: +1.2% to +3.0%) vs. Nov. revised down […]
Preview: Forecasters See Japanese Unemployment Rate Flat at 2.6% in Jan.
Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 0830 JST (2330 GMT/1830 EST Thursday, Jan. 29) The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications releases December jobs. Mace News median:2.6% (range: 2.5% to 2.6%)vs. 2.6% in the previous four months, over 5-year low of 2.3% in July, 2.5% from March to June By Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO (MaceNews) – Japan’s seasonally […]
Preview: Forecasters See Tokyo CPI +1.8% on Year in Jan.
Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 0830 JST (2330 GMT/1830 EST Thursday, Jan. 29) The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications releases January Tokyo CPI Mace News median: total CPI +1.8% y/y (range: +1.6% to +1.9%) vs. Dec +2.0%; core CPI (ex-fresh food) +2.2% (range: +2.1% to +2.2%) vs. Dec +2.3%; core-core CPI (ex-fresh food, energy) +2.6% […]
Japan Week Ahead: Lower House Election Campaign Underway Before Feb. 8 Vote as PM Takaichi Seeks Dual Fiscal Mandate, Stable Dollar/Yen
–December Factory Output to Show Slight Dip but Solid Q4, Sign for GDP Rebound; January Tokyo CPI Seen Tamer on Energy Price Drop, Erasing Food Pressures By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. Currency traders are on alert for a possible market intervention by the Ministry of […]
Japan Govt Continues to See Modest Economic Recovery on Sustained Wage Hike Prospects, Brighter Consumer Sentiment amid Easing Inflation
By Max Sato –Japan Downgrades View on World Economy For 1st Time In 8 Months Amid Weaker Chinese Data, Uncertainty Over US Trade Policy–Bank of Japan Expected to Stand Pat for Now, on Gradual Normalization Path After 25-bp Policy Rate Hike to 30-Year High of 0.75% in December (MaceNews) – Japanese government policymakers repeated their […]
Japan PM Takaichi to Call General Elections to Seek Dual Fiscal Policy Mandate of Boosting Economic Stimulus, Restraining Debt Issuance
By Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO (MaceNews) – Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has announced that she will dissolve the House of Representatives on Friday, seeking to justify with a dual fiscal policy mandate yet another snap election less than 16 months after her predecessor called and lost a majority. The conservative politician with right-wing views on […]
Japan Week Ahead: PM Takaichi’s LDP Faces Tough Headwinds from New Opposition Force in Upcoming General Elections; Economic Data to Show Export Resilience, Easing Inflation
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is scheduled to hold a news conference on Monday evening (in the early hours of Monday, Jan. 19 in the Eastern time zone) to officially announce that she will call a snap election at the start […]
Fed’s Bowman Reaffirms Support for Additional Cuts In Federal Funds Rate
– Warns Against Signaling ‘Pause’ By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – A number of Federal Reserve officials have expressed hesitancy, if not outright opposition, about cutting interest rates further in recent days, but Vice Chairman for Supervision Michelle Bowman emphatically renewed her support for additional rate cuts Friday. Bowman joined Governor Stephen Miran in supporting […]
Preview: Forecasters See Japanese Core Machinery Orders Falling Back by 8.4% in November from October
Wednesday, Jan. 19, 20260850 JST (2350 GMT/1850 EST Sunday, Jan. 18) The Cabinet Office releases November machinery orders.Mace News median: core orders -8.4% m/m (range: -9.4% to -4.9%) vs. Oct +7.0%; +1.0% y/y (range: -0.5x.x% to +5.8%) vs. Oct +12.5% By Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO (MaceNews) – Japan’s core machinery orders, a key leading indicator of […]
Fed Officials Signal No Rush to Reduce Federal Funds Rate Further in Near-Term
By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – With President Trump escalating efforts to get the Federal Reserve to slash interest rates, Fed officials have given very few indications this week that they will be ready to oblige when they meet later this month. While some officials have indicated a willingness to cut the key federal funds […]