Japan Data Response External Trade (Jun.) The contribution of net trade to the quarterly increase in Japan’s GDP in Q2 was probably similar to the 0.7 percentage points in Q1, suggesting that overall growth was faster than generally... 26th July 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response All Industry Activity Index (May) Japan's equity markets have taken their lead today from the overnight weakness in the US and the strength of the yen, but the May activity index at least was consistent with another healthy gain in... 22nd July 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Consumer Confidence (Jun.) The further improvement in consumer confidence in June supports other survey evidence that Japan’s economic recovery still has plenty of momentum, despite the recent uncertainty in the financial... 13th July 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Machinery Orders (May), Bank Credit & EWS (Jun) The relapse in machinery orders in May was not quite large enough to conclude that the investment recovery is over before it has really begun, but it is unwelcome. The resilience of sentiment in the... 8th July 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Output, Spending, Labour (May) & SME Conf. (Jun.) The third successive monthly increase in the unemployment rate will add to concerns that the recovery in domestic demand is too fragile to offset any slowdown in exports as a result of weakening... 29th June 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response GDP (Q1 Revised) & Consumer Confidence (May) GDP growth was unexpectedly revised very slightly higher in the first quarter, keeping the Japanese economy on track to grow by at least 4% this year. Our well-above consensus forecast of 4.5% remains... 10th June 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Output, Wages, Housing (Apr) & PMI (May) Today's data were mixed, with weak industrial production and housing starts offset by better news from the manufacturing PMI and the labour market. However, all have been somewhat overshadowed by the... 31st May 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Unemployment, Spending & CPI (Apr 10) Today’s April data on unemployment (up), household spending and prices (both down) were all worse than expected, although they do not yet make a convincing case that the recovery is faltering. 28th May 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response External Trade (Apr.) Japan’s exports will continue to rebound for several quarters yet, despite the problems in Europe and the surge in the yen. A significant deterioration is unlikely until 2011, by when we expect the... 27th May 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Small Business Confidence (May) The continued rebound of small business confidence in Japan is a good example of the disconnect that sometimes happens between the worries of financial markets and reality on the ground. 26th May 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response GDP (Q1 Preliminary) Another large rise in GDP in Q1 and some upward revisions keep Japan's economy on course to grow by at least 4.0% this year, which would be well above consensus. 20th May 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Machinery Orders (Mar.) Machinery orders are now trending higher, which provides further evidence that business capital spending is picking up too. 17th May 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Economy Watchers Survey & Bank Lending (Apr.) The surge in the main balances of Japan’s Economy Watchers Survey (EWS) in April is further evidence of a strong and increasingly broad-based recovery, consistent with our well-above consensus GDP... 13th May 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Activity, Wages and Prices (Mar.) Today's rush of data showed no sign of the imminent double-dip in the Japanese economy that some still fear. 30th April 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Small Business Confidence (Apr.) In contrast to the position in many other major economies, notably the US, Japan’s relatively broad-based recovery is helping firms of all sizes. Indeed, April's buoyant survey of small business... 27th April 2010 · 1 min read
Japan Data Response Consumer Confidence (Mar.) The third successive monthly increase in consumer confidence suggests that household spending in Japan is unlikely to collapse once the initial boost from government measures has faded. Inflation... 19th April 2010 · 1 min read
