Japan April Industrial Output Slips on Dimmer Global Demand, Chinese Lockdowns
–METI Downgrades View: Factory Output Pausing Vs. Showing Signs of Pickup–METI Repeats: To Watch Effects of Pandemic, Parts Shortages, Inflation, Ukraine By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s industrial production posted the first month-on-month drop in three months in April as global reopening demand turned lower and Chinese Covid lockdowns caused further supply delays, preliminary data […]
Japan April Jobless Rate Edges Down to 2-Year Low; Payrolls Post 1st Y/Y Rise in 7 Months
–Number of Lost Jobs Down While More People Look for Other Openings–April Unemployment at 2.5% Lowest Since 2.4% in April 2020 By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese payrolls rose from year-earlier levels for the first time in seven months in April as easing Covid restrictions prompted various service providers to hire more people, while the […]
Japan May Tokyo CPI Y/Y Rise Around BOJ’s 2% Target but FY22 Uptick Seen Temporary
–May Tokyo CPI Annual Rate Highest in Nearly 3 Decades Excluding 2014, 1997 Sales Tax Hike Impact–Energy, Food Prices Lead Inflation; BOJ Sees Impact of Commodity Market Spike Fading in FY23–Gasoline Price Markups Smaller on Govt Subsidies; Utilities Costs High but Also Easing By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The year-on-year rise in consumer prices in […]
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 Upgrades Economic View as Easing Covid Impact Supports Spending; Uncertainty Remains
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Thursday upgraded its overview for the first time in four months as the drag from an Omicron-led spike in coronavirus cases is easing to support consumption despite surging food and energy prices and uncertainty over the war in Ukraine, according to its monthly report released by the Cabinet […]
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 […]
Analysis: Bank of Japan to Keep Easing Stance, To Check 10-Year JGB Yield Rise Despite Yen Fall
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Japan is committed to maintaining its current monetary easing framework aimed at guiding low inflation toward its 2% target despite the recent rapid depreciation of the yen, which could further push up import costs amid rising food and energy costs. The BOJ on Monday resumed unlimited fixed-rate […]
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 […]