Preview Update: Japan Q1 GDP Contraction Seen Amid Covid Restrictions, Supply Delays

–Consumption Hit by Public Health Rules During Most of January-March –Capex Slower on Supply Constraints, High Producer Costs Amid Ukraine War –Q2 GDP Rebound Expected as Economy Reopens but Uncertainty Lingers     –Japan GDP Report at 19:50 ET Tuesday By Max Sato  (MaceNews) – Japan’s gross domestic product for the January-March quarter is forecast by economists […]

Japan Economic Sentiment Picks Up in March but Uncertainty Lingers Over Costs, Ukraine

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese data and anecdotal evidence are pointing to a resilient economy after the number of Covid cases peaked in February, but households and business continued to face rising costs and uncertainty over the pandemic and geopolitical risks after an expected slump in the first quarter. Economic confidence in Japan partially […]

Japan Government Downgrades View: Some Weakness Seen in Pickup Hit by Covid

— Pickup in Consumption Pausing on Resumed Covid Restrictions — Business Investment Moving Upward as Seen in Q4 GDP Rebound By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Thursday downgraded its economic overview for the first time in five months, noting the recent spike in coronavirus cases sparked by the Omicron variant is hurting consumer spending, […]

Japan Dec Core CPI Rise Slows on Durable Goods, Hotels Amid Rising Energy

— Both Core and Total CPI Measures Mark 4th Straight Y/Y Gains— Utilities Push Up Overall Energy Costs, Offsetting Recent Pullback in Gasoline— Japan 2021 CPI Down 0.2%, 2nd Straight Annual Drop After -0.2% in 2020 By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Rising utilities and processed food costs propped up consumer prices in Japan in December […]

Japan Govt Upgrades View: Economy Pickup Firmer As Covid Rules Ease

–Upward Revision 1st in 17 Months Since July 2020, when Covid Cases Ebbed–Govt Sees Consumption, Business Sentiment Firmer But Capex Pickup Pausing By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Tuesday upgraded its economic overview for the first time in 17 months in light of a steady improvement in consumer spending after the government eased its […]

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 […]

Japan Oct Exports Slow on Parts Supply Delays; Steel, Machine Demand Solid

— Imports Up on Rising Energy Costs, Leading to 3rd Straight Trade Deficit By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Year-on-year growth in Japanese exports continued to lose momentum in October as Covid-triggered delays in parts supply from Southeast Asia, microchip shortages and congestion at international ports have forced carmakers and others to trim output and shipments, […]

Japan Aug Machine Orders Expectedly Dip After Recent Computer Demand

–Japan Govt Downgrades View: Pickup in Machine Orders Pausing–Cabinet Office Official: Demand for Computers Seen on Firm Trend–Q3 Core Orders Seen Unlikely to Grow 11% Q/Q, As Projected Earlier By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese machinery orders, the key leading indicator of business investment in equipment, unexpectedly slumped in August as demand for computers took […]