Japan Data Response External trade (Sep.) 2013 The widening of the trade deficit to a record high in September highlights that the sharp fall of the yen over the past year has had little impact on export competitiveness. While lower import prices... 21st October 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Machinery Orders (Aug.) & Consumer Confidence (Sep.) A surge in core machinery orders suggests that business investment should continue to recover. Meanwhile, a strong rebound in consumer confidence highlights that households remain willing to spend... 10th October 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Economy Watchers’ Survey (Sep.) The first increase in the Economy Watchers’ Survey in six months brought the index to even more elevated levels. However, as households are suffering from rising inflation and falling wages, further... 8th October 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Labour Cash Earnings & Unemployment Rate (Aug.) The surge in the unemployment rate in August reflects a jump in the labour force participation rate and is at odds with other labour market indicators. Unemployment is likely to resume its downtrend... 1st October 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Industrial Production, Retail Sales (Aug.) & Manufacturing PMI (Sep.) The drop in industrial production in August is unlikely to last long. Companies predict a very strong rebound in the following months, and the manufacturing PMI climbed to a new high in September... 30th September 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Consumer Prices (Aug.) The ongoing rise in inflation is still mostly a reflection of the slump in the exchangeover the past year. While goods inflation has risen sharply, service inflation remainssubdued and the timelier... 27th September 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Small Business Confidence (Sep.) The ongoing improvement in small business confidence suggests that firms are shrugging off the looming consumption tax hike. With spare capacity gradually diminishing, their pricing power seems to be... 25th September 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response External trade (Aug.) There are tentative signs that the weak yen is having the hoped-for effect on external trade. In August, export volumes were growing faster than import volumes for the first time since last May. But a... 19th September 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Machinery Orders (Jul.) Even though machinery orders failed to reverse the previous month's dip in July, they still point to a further rebound in business investment in the third quarter. As capacity utilisation rises... 12th September 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Consumer Confidence & Economy Watchers’ Survey (Aug.) The ongoing falls in consumer confidence and the Economy Watchers’ Survey (EWS) indicate that confidence in "Abenomics" has faded. While other surveys remain at strong levels, the EWS has a better... 9th September 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response GDP (Q2 Revised) The upward revision to Q2 GDP growth strengthens the case for the government to press ahead with the consumption tax hike. However, the ongoing large reliance on consumer and government spending... 9th September 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Labour Cash Earnings (Jul.) Wage growth slowed in July and is likely to ease further in coming months as bonus season ends. Unless regular earnings pick up markedly, households’ purchasing power will therefore become further... 3rd September 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Industrial Production, Unemployment & Consumer Prices (Jul.) Today’s industrial production and labour market data show that the recovery should continue in the third quarter. Meanwhile, the ongoing rise in consumer price inflation is still largely a reflection... 30th August 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Retail Sales (Jul.) The sharp drop in retail sales in July casts doubt on the ability of “Abenomics“ to boost private consumption. While hot weather may have prevented consumers from spending, there are a number of... 29th August 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Small Business Confidence (Aug.) The pick-up in small business confidence in August shows that firms remain confident about the economic recovery. Spare capacity is also expected to shrink further and profitabilityis strong, which... 27th August 2013 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response External trade (Jul.) The first rise in export volumes since early 2012 is unlikely to be sustained amid sluggish external demand. Meanwhile, the weak yen continues to have little impact on the trade deficit, which has... 19th August 2013 · 1 min read
