Japan Chart Pack Increasing doubt over Yield Curve Control’s longevity In less than two months, we should know who will replace Bank of Japan Governor Kuroda Haruhiko, whose term ends on 8th April. Whoever replaces him will be under increasing pressure from the... 9th January 2023 · 11 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Manufacturing slumping, but tourism set to rebound Industrial production probably recorded the largest fall since the slump at the start of the pandemic last quarter. Q4 GDP will nonetheless rebound, helped by a strong recovery in services activity... 6th January 2023 · 4 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly New 10-year ceiling will be tested before long The widening of the tolerance band around the BoJ’s target for 10-year yields announced on Tuesday aims to improve bond market functioning. But if this week is any guide, that purpose remains out of... 23rd December 2022 · 9 mins read
Japan Economics Update Bank of Japan Meeting (Dec. 2022) The Bank of Japan today tweaked its Yield Curve Control (YCC) settings by widening the tolerance band around its yield target but we don’t expect it to hike its short-term policy rate anytime soon. 20th December 2022 · 3 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Inventory build-up points to looming recession Surges in manufacturing inventories in the BoJ’s Tankan have a strong record in providing early warnings of economic downturns. The strong rise in inventories over the last couple of quarters... 16th December 2022 · 5 mins read
Japan Data Response Japan Flash PMIs (Dec. 22) December’s flash PMIs point to further annual contractions in industrial output but suggest services spending rebounded towards year-end. 16th December 2022 · 2 mins read
Japan Data Response Japan External Trade (Nov. 2022) While the trade deficit narrowed sharply in November, most of that reflects falling import prices. Export volumes seem to hold up well but with the global downturn weighing on external demand next... 15th December 2022 · 2 mins read
Japan Data Response Japan BoJ Tankan (Q4 2022) & Machinery Orders (Oct. 2022) Today’s Tankan survey suggests that while the services sector is going from strength to strength, the outlook for the manufacturing sector continues to worsen. Meanwhile, machinery orders were flat in... 14th December 2022 · 3 mins read
Japan Rapid Response Japan BoJ Tankan (Q4 22) & Machinery Orders (Oct. 22) 14th December 2022 · 2 mins read
Japan Economics Update Food import price aftershocks to affect 2023 We expect inflation to remain above the Bank of Japan’s 2% target through the middle of next year despite government utility price caps and falling non-food inflation over that period. One reason is... 12th December 2022 · 3 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Consumers will struggle next year The strong rise in services spending in October suggests that consumers are finally learning to live with the virus so a rebound in Q4 GDP looks very likely. But with real incomes slumping, that... 9th December 2022 · 7 mins read
Japan Data Response Japan Labour Cash Earnings (Oct. 22) Labour cash earnings increased by a slower 1.8% y/y in October due mostly to a much smaller gain in volatile bonus payments. However, real wage losses have extended for a seventh consecutive month and... 6th December 2022 · 2 mins read
Japan Economic Outlook Global downturn will drag Japan into recession The global downturn will pull Japan into recession next year. And with government caps on utility bills pushing inflation below the Bank of Japan’s 2% target by mid-2023, the Bank will remain the... 5th December 2022 · 23 mins read
