Fed Officials Grappling with Policy Import of Potential Iran Pact, Oil Price Dip
– After Rate Hike Odds Rose, Improved Prospect of Disinflation Causes Rethinking By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Over the course of Kevin Warsh’s first week as Federal Reserve chairman, Fed officials have been trying to factor a rapidly changing Middle East and oil market picture into their monetary policy calculations. It hasn’t been easy […]
Preview: Forecasters See Japan Unemployment Stable in April Data with Job Market Firm
Friday, May 29, 2026 0830 JST (2330 GMT/1930 EDT Thursday, May 28) The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications releases April jobs. Mace News median: 2.7% (range: 2.6% to 2.7%)vs. 2.7% in March after posting 2.6% in February. By Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO (MaceNews) – Japan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is expected to be little changed […]
Preview: Forecasters See Japan Tokyo CPI Restrained Again in May
Friday, May 29, 2026 0830 JST (2330 GMT/1930 EDT Thursday, May 28) The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications releases May Tokyo CPI.Mace News median: total CPI +1.6% y/y (range: +1.5% to +1.7%) vs. Apr +1.5%; core CPI (ex-fresh food) +1.5% (range: +1.4% to +1.7%) vs. Apr +1.5%; core-core CPI (ex-fresh food, energy) +1.9% (range: […]
Preview: Forecasters See Japan Industrial Production Hit by Input Disruption from Mideast War
Friday, May 29, 2026 0850 JST (2350 GMT/1950 EDT Wednesday, May 28) The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry releases April, and the outlook for May and June. Mace News median: -1.0% m/m (range: -2.2% to -0.4%) vs. Mar. revised to -0.4% from -0.5%; +0.6% y/y (range: -0.5% to +2.3%) vs. Mar. revised to +2.4% […]
Preview: Forecasters See Japan Retail Sales Momentum Continuing in April Report
Friday, May 29, 2026 0850 JST (2350 GMT/1950 EDT Thursday, May 28) The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry releases April retail sales. Mace News median: +1.7% y/y (range: +0.2% to +3.1%) vs. Mar. revised to +1.4% from +1.7%; +1.3% m/m (range: -0.7% to +2.2%) vs. Mar. revised to +1.0% from 1.3% By Chikafumi Hodo […]
Japan Government Still Sees Gradual Economic Recovery but Also Warns that High Import Costs, Tight Materials Supply to Weigh on Growth
–Some Economists Project Q2 GDP Dip as Effects of Mideast Conflict on Consumption, Capex to Become More Pronounced By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government is sticking to its gradual economic recovery scenario after the January-March GDP data confirmed a steady recovery from a mild slump two quarters earlier but officials continued to warn about […]
Japan Week Ahead: Consumer Inflation in Capital, Jobless Rate Seen Tame, Iran War Squeezing Factory Output, Retail Sales Sluggish on Falling Real Wages
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. The preliminary GDP data for the January-March quarter released last week showed the economy has overcome a temporary contraction recorded in July-September last year, thanks to rebounds in net exports and public works as well as sluggish but resilient private […]
Kevin Warsh Pledges ‘Reform Oriented Federal Reserve’ as New Fed Chair
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – In a White House ceremony attended by many dozens, Kevin Warsh Friday pledged to lead a “reform-oriented Federal Reserve” as the Dow industrials reached a new intra-day high. After being sworn in by Justice Clarence Thomas, whom Warsh called ‘a brilliant and independent thinker,” the new Fed chief said, “Chairman Greenspan was […]
Fed Officials Remain Wary of Changing Funds Rate, But Inflation Concerns Paramount
— Balance Sheet Policy Due To Come Into Focus As Warsh Takes Charge By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – As the Jerome Powell era gives way to the Kevin Warsh regime at the Federal Reserve, Fed officials continue to warily contemplate whether the U.S. central bank’s short-term interest rate settings need to be adjusted. For […]
Preview: Forecasters See Japan CPI Slowing in April as Government Softens Gas Price Blow
0830 JST (2330 GMT/1930 EDT Thursday, May 21) The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications releases April CPI.Mace News median: total CPI +1.8% y/y (range: +1.6% to +1.9%) vs. Mar +1.5%; core CPI (ex-fresh food) +1.7% y/y (range: +1.5% to +1.8%) vs. Mar +1.8%; core-core CPI (ex-fresh food, energy) +2.2% y/y (range +1.9% to +2.3%) […]