Fed Officials Not Ready To Move Rates Either Way as Iran Uncertainty Continues
— Rate Hike Sentiment Rising, But Most Inclined to Be Patient — Easing Bias Seems Increasingly Likely To Go By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve officials leaned half heartedly toward a potential tightening of monetary policy this week, as they struggled to keep up with the vicissitudes of the Iran conflict and its […]
US ISM Services Sector Activity Picks Up in May but Faces Mideast Conflict Impact of Higher Costs of Fuels, Other Oil Products; Employment Remains Weak
–ISM’s Miller: Fed Likely to Hold Interest Rates Steady in Near Term as Inflation Mainly Due to Fuel Prices, Exerting Some Downward Pressure on Growth By Max Sato (MaceNews) – U.S. services sector activity accelerated in May after slowing in the previous two months thanks to higher new orders, but the sector continues to face […]
Preview: Forecasters See Japan’s Household Spending Hit By Rising Costs in April Report
Friday, June 5, 20260830 JST (2350 GMT/1930 EDT Monday, May 11) The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications releases the April average household spending.Mace News median forecasts: -1.6% y/y (range: -2.7% to 0.3%) vs. Mar -2.9%; +0.4% m/m (range: -0.5% to +2.0%) vs. Mar -1.3% By Chikafumi Hodo TOKYO (MaceNews) – Persisting geopolitical tensions in […]
US ISM Manufacturing PMI Expands for 5th Straight Month in May, Backed by New Orders, but Mideast Conflict Keeping Costs High
–ISM’s Spence: New Orders Up on Pent-Up Demand, Instead of Customers Stocking Up Before Iran War Causes Further Disruption–Spence: Employment in Contraction but Better in May, Elevated Prices Ease, Both in Right Direction By Max Sato (MaceNews) – U.S. manufacturing activity expanded for the fifth straight month in May backed by a solid gain in […]
Japan Week Ahead: MOF Business Survey to Set the Tone for Revised Q1 GDP, Household Data to Show Sluggish but Resilient Consumer Spending Amid Slow Real Wage Growth
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Here are the key Japanese events for the coming week. Lukewarm growth has been lingering in Japan for the past couple of years as the economy has largely weathered the drag from global shocks like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and protectionist U.S. trade policy but it could finally slip on […]
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 […]