Japan Data Response Labour Cash Earnings (Aug) August's headline data on labour cash earnings were weaker than expected but the breakdown is reassuring and the underlying trends in employment income are continuing to improve. Meanwhile, the Bank... 4th October 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Unemployment, Spending & CPI (Aug.) This week's wave of Japanese data has ended on a more positive note, with the unemployment rate falling in August for the second successive month, household spending firm, and the CPI no worse than... 1st October 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Industrial Production etc. (Aug.) The third successive monthly fall in industrial production in August was a nasty surprise and there may be worse to come as auto firms slash output following the expiry of a government scheme to boost... 30th September 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Tankan Survey (Sep.) The Bank of Japan's quarterly Tankan confirmed that business conditions were still improving in the third quarter but will be tougher in the fourth. 29th September 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Turning more cautious Smaller businesses in Japan took a more downbeat view of the outlook in September as yen strength, domestic political uncertainties, and the spat with China all had an impact. But the survey does not... 28th September 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response External Trade (Aug.) Japan's exports are still holding up rather better in volume than in value terms, but there is no doubt that the strength of the yen is hurting. What's more, the export and import data combined... 27th September 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Consumer Confidence (Aug.) The pick-up in Japanese consumer sentiment appears to have run out of steam. On the bright side, confidence is not too far short of pre-crisis levels, in contrast to the subdued state of sentiment... 9th September 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Machinery Orders, Bank Credit, & EWS Today's batch of data showed that machine orders were strong in July but bank credit figures for August and the current conditions index of last month's Economy Watchers Survey (EWS) were... 8th September 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Industrial Production etc (Jul 10) The last of Japan's key activity data for July were pretty good, with industrial production, retail sales and housing starts all better than the consensus (as was last week's unemployment report). The... 31st August 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Unemployment, Spending & CPI (Jul.) The welcome fall in the unemployment rate in July starts to bring it back in line with the improving trends in other indicators of the health of Japan's labour market. Household spending fell back... 27th August 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response External Trade (Jul 10) Japan's July trade data confirm that the surge in the yen is hurting export revenues. Nonetheless, export volumes still picked up again at the start of the third quarter. Imports have also slowed... 25th August 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response GDP (Q2 Preliminary) Japan's economy barely grew at all in the second quarter as domestic demand fell and rising imports offset most of the smaller boost from slowing exports. The markets are still focused on the yen, but... 16th August 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Consumer Confidence (Jul.) A small fall in consumer confidence last month still leaves the headline measure at a high level, while the survey detail provides further evidence that the labour market is not as weak as the... 12th August 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Bank Credit & EWS (Jul.) The current conditions index of the Economy Watchers Survey (EWS) climbed back to a multi-year high in July. The survey raises some questions about the outlook, but, overall, its high level should be... 9th August 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Activity Data & CPI (Jun.) Today's headline data for June were bad, with the unemployment rate unexpectedly rising from 5.2% to 5.3% and industrial production unexpectedly falling by 1.5% m/m. However, these figures probably... 30th July 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Small Business Confidence (Jul.) Japan's smaller companies remain upbeat about business conditions, emphasising that fears of a double-dip here at least are exaggerated. 28th July 2010 · 1 min read
