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 […]
<strong>Japan Sentiment Picks Up on Vaccine Rollout But Q3 GDP Seen Slower</strong>
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s sentiment surveys painted a rosier picture as the government has lifted its Covid-19 state of emergency on heavily hit regions, setting the stage for gradually reopening the economy, but global supply chain disruptions remain a major hindrance to recovery. The monthly Economy Watchers Survey, which was conducted by the […]
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 […]
ANALYSIS UPDATE: Japan PM Kishida Inherits Thorny Economic, Social Change Targets
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is facing the same tough economic and social challenges that his predecessors tackled or created, leaving him no choice but to draw up longer-term plans to embark on a fundamental change. The soft-spoken former foreign minister, who leads the conservative Liberal Democratic Party, has […]
Japan PM Suga Not Seeking Re-Election Amid Public Rage Over Covid Surge
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is dropping out of the ruling party leadership race this month, effectively stepping down at the end of his short term, amid public furor over his government’s failure to contain the pandemic. Suga told an extraordinary executive meeting at the Liberal Democratic Party Friday that […]