Supply Bottlenecks Punish German Economic Sentiment in October

ZURICH (MaceNews) – Economic sentiment in Germany fell in October as supply bottlenecks for raw materials and intermediate products hamper the economy, according to the latest report from the ZEW Institute in Mannheim. The ZEW index of economic sentiment fell 4.2 points to 22.3 in October, below the 24.0 median of an Econoday survey of […]

Japan Aug Household Spending Slips Amid 5th Wave of Pandemic, Bad Weather

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s household spending plunged in August as people were cautious about shopping or traveling amid the fifth wave of pandemic that was causing hospital bed shortages in major cities, data released Friday by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed. Heavy rains from mid-August caused damage and disrupted traffic […]

BOJ Sept Key Tankan Business Sentiment Up But Outlook Uncertain

— Higher Energy, Commodities Markets Support Some Producers— Automakers Report Worse Sentiment As Supply Constrains Linger— Face-To-Face Service Providers Suffer Amid Covid-19 Spike— BOJ Survey Also Shows Companies Revise Up FY21 Capex Plans By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Higher energy and commodities prices this year further boosted confidence among many manufacturers, big and small, while […]

Japan Aug Core CPI Flat Y/Y After Year-Long Drop; Energy Pickup Slows

— Total CPI Marks 11th Straight Y/Y Drop As Fresh Vegetable Prices Slump — Downward Pressure From Low Cost Mobile Phone Plans Intensifies By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Higher costs for energy and processed food continued easing the downward pressure on Japan’s core consumer prices, which was flat on year in August after a year-long […]

FOMC: Tapering ‘May Soon Be Warranted’ If Progress Continues

Half of FOMC Participants Now See Funds Rate Hike By End 2022 Powell Says FOMC Could Announce Bond Buying Cuts At Nov. 2-3 Meeting Powell Says Inflation Test More Than Met; Employment Goal ‘All But Met’ By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – The Federal Reserve took another incremental but very significant step toward making monetary […]

FOMC Policy Statement: Tapering ‘May Soon be Warranted’

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Federal Open Market Committee Wednesday put off any declarations on when it might begin the tapering process other than saying “it may soon be warranted.” Inflation? It’s still largely transitory.. The text of the statement follows: The Federal Reserve is committed to using its full range of tools to support the […]

BOJ Keeps Easing Stance, Sees Resilient Japan Economic Pickup Amid Pandemic

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan said Wednesday it is maintaining its stimulative policy, as expected, to support a gradual recovery from the pandemic-caused slump and continue its eight-year-old campaign to guide low inflation toward stable 2%. The central bank largely left its view on Japan’s resilient economic pickup amid the pandemic […]