Japan Data Response Labour Cash Earnings (Jan.) Wage growth remained strong in January even though the winter bonus season came to an end, and may pick up further after the spring wage negotiations. 3rd March 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Capital Expenditure (Q4) The Ministry of Finance’s survey on corporate finances confirms that business investment stagnated last quarter. 2nd March 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Industrial Production, Retail Sales, Unemployment, Household Spending & Consumer Prices (Jan.) Industrial output surged last month and the job market remains tight despite a jump in the unemployment rate. However, consumer spending is sluggish and the ongoing slowdown in inflation increases the... 27th February 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Small Business Confidence (Feb.) Despite a modest rebound in February, small business confidence remains weak. 24th February 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response External trade (Jan.) Once seasonal factors are accounted for, last month's trade deficit was the smallest in nearly three years. The plunge in energy prices still hasn’t been fully reflected in the cost of imported fuels... 19th February 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response GDP (Q4 Preliminary) While Japan’s economy has finally left the tax-related weakness behind, the increase in Q4 GDP fell short of expectations and supports our view that the Bank of Japan will announce more stimulus in... 16th February 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Machinery Orders (Dec.) While machinery orders soared in December, they were broadly flat over the last quarter, so business investment should have been little changed. Nonetheless, business surveys suggest that the recovery... 12th February 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Economy Watchers Survey (Jan.) The jump in the outlook component of today’s Economy Watchers Survey (EWS) suggests that economic activity is picking up speed at the start of the new year. 9th February 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Consumer Confidence (Jan.) The rise in consumer confidence for the second straight month should be followed by a further improvement as households benefit from lower energy prices. 9th February 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Current Account (Dec.) The current account surplus rose to a fresh high in December, and should continue to improve in coming months as the trade balance may return to surplus. 9th February 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Labour Cash Earnings (Dec.) The surge in labour cash earnings in December reflects higher winter bonuses and is unlikely to last. A strong rise in base pay in the upcoming spring wage negotiations will be needed to improve the... 4th February 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Consumer Prices, Unemployment, Industrial Production & Household Spending (Dec.) The labour market continues to tighten, as the economic recovery is picking up speed. However, the continued slowdown in inflation suggests that the Bank of Japan still has more work to do. 30th January 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Retail Sales (Dec.) The drop in retail sales in December mostly reflects weaker gas prices and consumer spending likely accelerated last quarter. However, the outlook for private consumption remains mixed. 29th January 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Small Business Confidence (Jan.) The renewed fall in small business confidence this month underlines the fragility of the economic recovery. 27th January 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response External trade (Dec.) The trade deficit fell to the lowest level since June 2013 in December, and is set to narrow further as lower energy prices are still not fully reflected in import costs. 26th January 2015 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Flash Manufacturing PMI (January) The flash manufacturing PMI was virtually unchanged in January, and still points to a solid recovery in the sector. 23rd January 2015 · 1 min read
