Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: Weakness in wage growth probably not genuine While the trade deal agreed between the UK and the US this week sets an encouraging precedent, there are no signs of progress in the talks between Japan and the US. Meanwhile, the recent slump in... 9th May 2025 · 5 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: Bank of Japan too downbeat about inflation outlook The Bank of Japan slashed its GDP growth forecasts this week, arguing that global trade tensions are weighing on sentiment of households and firms. While consumer confidence has indeed plunged... 2nd May 2025 · 5 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: Strong inflation will prompt further policy tightening At its meeting next week, the Bank of Japan will reportedly push back the timing for meeting its 2% inflation target on a sustained basis. That would be a mistake though as the fallout from global... 25th April 2025 · 4 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: Mr Akazawa goes to Washington While the Bank of Japan will probably cut its forecasts for GDP growth at its May meeting, we still expect the Bank to signal confidence in meeting its 2% inflation target on a sustained basis. Indeed... 17th April 2025 · 4 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: What would it take to scupper further BoJ rate hikes? The Bank of Japan will keep policy settings unchanged for a few months to assess the fallout from the trade war. However, our base case is that the trade war won’t provide a large enough drag on... 11th April 2025 · 6 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: Tariff fallout reduces chances of near-term rate The uncertainty from the recent US tariff announcements has reduced the chances of a near-term rate hike by the Bank of Japan. But if we’re right that the hit to Japan’s economy will ultimately be... 4th April 2025 · 5 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Inflation overshoot will trump BoJ’s tariff concerns The new US auto tariffs and the looming reciprocal tariffs due next week pose clear downside risks to Japan’s economic outlook. But policymakers at the Bank of Japan have signalled that those tariffs... 28th March 2025 · 6 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: Tariff front-running will be followed by export slump The recent strength in export volumes seems to reflect efforts to front-run US tariffs. While that is providing a boost to activity now, it will only magnify the hit to exports once those tariffs are... 21st March 2025 · 4 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: Ueda cautious despite strongest pay hikes in 34 years Even though this year’s spring wage negotiations resulted in the largest pay hike since 1991, Bank of Japan Governor Ueda this week sounded worried about developments overseas. That creates risk to... 14th March 2025 · 5 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: Shunto bonanza points to more rate hikes Japan’s trade unions are requesting an even larger pay hike in this year’s spring wage negotiations than they did a year ago and we expect employers to comply. With inflation already on track to... 7th March 2025 · 5 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: Demographic crisis worsening as births keep falling Japan is now recording more than twice as many deaths as births, with that ratio only surpassed in war-ravaged Ukraine and celibate Holy See. While the number of employed people nonetheless hit a... 28th February 2025 · 4 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: Strong inflation underpinned by soaring labour costs With the economy growing well above trend and inflation double the Bank of Japan's target, the financial markets are starting to come around to our view that the Bank will lift its policy rate to 1%... 21st February 2025 · 4 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: Banks starting to benefit from higher interest rates The 10-year JGB yield rose to a 14-year high this week and we think it will reach 1.75% by the end of the year as the Bank of Japan tightens policy more rapidly than most anticipate. Banks were... 14th February 2025 · 6 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Bank of Japan will hike rates again soon While the surge in bonus payments in December in principle bodes well for the upcoming spring wage negotiations as it signals strong corporate profitability, it's worth highlighting that growth in... 7th February 2025 · 4 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Structural labour shortages point to more rate hikes The Tokyo CPI suggests that the Bank of Japan’s Board will need to revise up their inflation forecasts yet again at the May meeting. And with the expansion in employment running on fumes as the... 31st January 2025 · 5 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: Bank of Japan will lift rates above 1% next year The Bank of Japan signaled further tightening when it lifted its policy rate to 0.5% this week and we expect rates to climb further than most expect over the coming year. Meanwhile, the budget deficit... 24th January 2025 · 5 mins read
