Category: Pandemic

Japan Oct Factory Output Shows Modest Rebound on Easing Supply Bottlenecks

— METI Keeps View After Recent Downgrade: Factory Output Pausing— METI Repeats: Watch Effects of Rising COVID Cases, Global Chip Shortages By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s industrial production posted a modest rebound in October amid easing disruptions of parts supply from Southeast Asia, which has forced automakers and other firms to reduce factory operations […]

Japan Oct Unemployment Edged Down to 7-Month Low But Job Growth Slows

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Japanese labor market showed a mixed picture in October as the unemployment rate improved slightly to a seven-month low while job growth continued slowing at the same time, data released Tuesday by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed. The seasonally adjusted average unemployment rate in Japan fell […]

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: […]

Germany’s Consumer Prices Rose 5.2% From a Year-Ago; Energy Costs up 22.1%

ZURICH (MaceNews) – Consumer prices in Germany increased 5.2 percent in November from a year ago, up from 4.5 percent in October and exceeding economists’ expectations, according to preliminary data released by the Federal Statistics Office Destatis. Prices were driven higher by a 22.1 percent annual increase in energy costs, but Destatis also noted a […]

ECB’S Schnabel: Forecasts Show November is High Point of Inflation

ZURICH (MaceNews) – Currently surging inflation is seen peaking in November and then moving lower to once again fall below two percent, ECB governing council member Isabel Schnabel said in an interview Monday with Germany’s ZDF broadcaster. Inflation in the coming year will recede in direction of the ECB’s goal of 2 percent and many […]

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 W.H.O. Warning Vs Omicron Variant’s Apparent ‘Growth Advantage;’ Data Pending on Transmissibility, Disease Severity; Renewed Emphasis on Masks

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Friday’s notification by the World Health Organization that the Covid variant now named “Omicron” is “of concern” and asking for worldwide efforts to assess its transmissibility and disease severity, its risk of reinfection for those already vaccinated and adding new emphasis on protective mask wearing: Classification of Omicron (B.1.1.529): […]

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 […]